We were once again going on a cross-country tour.
In November 2013, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Ali Eskandarian was murdered alongside two members of the Iranian band, The Yellow Dogs. In the months leading up to this terrible event, Ali had been in correspondence with a friend and Dutch publisher, Oscar van Gelderen, about his semi-autobiographical novel. Golden Years is that book.
Set in the first decade of the 21st century in New York, Teheran and Dallas, Golden Years is a novel perfumed with excess and spirited decadence. It tells the story of a group of Iranian musicians in their twenties and our narrator, in his 30s, who is in thrall to the great American beats and has visions of Ancient Assyrian Futurism. Hungry and poor, high and hopping from bed to bed, and lover to lover, the characters in Golden Years are romantic exiles living with rock n roll as their religion.
Dive into the raw, vibrant, and tragically poignant world of Ali Eskandarian's *Golden Years*, a semi-autobiographical novel unearthed from the ashes of a real-life tragedy. Published posthumously by Faber & Faber, this Main edition paperback offers a compelling glimpse into the lives of Iranian musicians navigating the complexities of identity, exile, and artistic passion in the early 2000s. More than just a work of fiction, *Golden Years* carries the weight of Eskandarian's own experiences as a member of the Iranian rock band, The Yellow Dogs. The author, along with two bandmates, tragically lost his life in a 2013 shooting in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, casting a long shadow over the band's promising future and the vibrant underground music scene they helped cultivate. This context imbues *Golden Years* with a profound sense of authenticity and a bittersweet awareness of the fragility of life. *Golden Years* isnt a direct account of The Yellow Dogs' story, but a fictionalized exploration of similar themes. The narrative follows a group of Iranian musicians in their twenties and a narrator in his thirties, all grappling with their identities as exiles, fueled by youthful energy, and captivated by the allure of American rock n roll. Set against the backdrop of New York City, Tehran, and Dallas, the novel pulsates with a heady mix of cultural clashes, artistic ambition, and the reckless abandon of youth. The book is a sensory experience. Eskandarians prose paints vivid portraits of characters chasing fleeting pleasures, caught between tradition and modernity. Readers will find themselves immersed in a world of smoky bars, late-night jam sessions, and impulsive romances. The characters are driven by a hunger for something more, a desire to create, to belong, and to leave their mark on the world. The "Ancient Assyrian Futurism" visions of the narrator, mentioned in the book's synopsis, hints at a blend of historical longing with aspirations for innovation, reflecting the band's own sonic experimentation. Imagine *Almost Famous* with a Middle Eastern twist. Readers have compared its gritty realism and exploration of the music scene to works by authors like Jay McInerney. But Eskandarian's unique voice and perspective bring a fresh and vital energy to the coming-of-age narrative. Oscar van Gelderen, the Dutch publisher who championed the project and worked with Eskandarian in the months before his death, has described *Golden Years* as a testament to the author's talent and vision. The novel stands as a powerful reminder of the creative spirit that continues to thrive even in the face of adversity. This book is a must-read for fans of rock music, stories of cultural identity, and anyone looking for a deeply moving and unforgettable literary experience. Weighing only 205 grams and spanning 243 pages, *Golden Years* packs an emotional punch far beyond its physical size. Don't miss the opportunity to discover this hidden gem and experience the legacy of Ali Eskandarian's extraordinary voice.
