Friendly Fire by Alaa Al Aswany (2009) is a novella accompanied by a collection of short stories. Known for his acclaimed novels The Yacoubian Building and Chicago, Al Aswany here turns his focus to the intimate struggles of individuals, families, and relationships within modern Egyptian society. With sharp observation and irony, he explores themes of hypocrisy, abuse of power, alienation, and the clash between religiosity and human decency.