Perhaps our young Muslim Egyptian author would thereby be convinced and, perhaps, he would convince those of his fellows who think like him.

Let us then return to the last point in the letter of our young Muslim Egyptian author.

Gamal al-Banna (1920-2013) - an Egyptian author, and trade unionist.

The Egyptian author, a slim gray-haired man, commented, "Clarity is valuable, but ambiguity sometimes has its values, too."

During that period and even before Haqqi championed budding Egyptian authors whose works he admired and believed in.

"Progressive people like us, we were closed down," said the feminist Egyptian author Nawal al-Sadawi in an interview last fall.

Idris, apparently, is not the only Egyptian author who has reservations about the role of the novel in Arab culture.

For the last four years the actions of this brave, independent Egyptian author has been a thorn in the flesh of his colleagues.

This response did not, however, satisfy the Egyptian authors, publishers, and booksellers who have expressed dismay over the sale.

A leading Egyptian author said threats against Mr. Rushdie amounted to "intellectual terrorism."