Ibne Safi's Work
a) Mystery novels - "Jasoosi Duniya" and "Imran Series"
b) Short stories and articles containing humor and satire
- Complete List of Jasoosi Duniya (English)
- Complete List of Jasoosi Duniya (Urdu)
Jasoosi Duniya (The World of Espionage)
Jasoosi Duniya is Ibne Safi’s first best-selling Urdu spy novel series. The first novel, Dilaer Mujrim (The Brave Criminal) was published in March 1952. The central idea and theme of this novel was taken from Victor Gunn’s novel Ironsides Lone Hands. However, the main characters Inspector Faridi and Sergeant Hameed were Ibne Safi’s own creation.
As mentioned by the author in the introduction of Zameen Kay Baadal, the plots of Purasrar Ajnabee, Raqqasaa Ka Qat'l, Heeray Ki Kaan, and Khoonee Patthar were also adopted from various English novels. The characters of Professor Durrani from Khaufnaak Hangaama, and Chimpanzee and The White Queen from Pahaaroan Ki Malikaa, were also borrowed from characters found in English literature. The rest of Ibne Safi’s novels have original plots and characters, conceived by the author himself.
- Complete List of Imran Series (English)
- Complete List of Imran Series (Urdu)
Imran Series
The Imran Series is Ibne Safi’s second best-selling Urdu spy novel series, the first novel, Khaufnaak Imarat, was pulished in August 1955. Following in the footsteps on the earlier Jasoosi Duniya, this series is centered around the adventures of one main hero, Ali Imran – a playful yet deceptive personality. A bright young graduate with both M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Oxford, his comical and seemingly incompetent persona is a façade for his true identity as head of the Secret Service. This series has been widely acclaimed for its high literary quality and strong character development.
- Complete List of Other Work
Other Work
Ibne Safi initially started writing short stories, humor and satire under various names such as “Sanki Soldier” and “Tughral Farghan.” In the Nakhat magazines, he published several satirical articles which commented on various topics ranging from politics to literature to journalism. He used the double-edged sword of his beautiful language to cut through the ailing body of pre-partition India’s slave society.
Besides humor and satire he also wrote some short adventures, namely Baldraan Ki Malika, Ab Tak Thee Kahaan?, Shimal Ka Fitna, Gultarang, and Moaziz Khopri. In these adventures, Ibne Safi takes the reader to various fictitious lands similar to the ones created by Rider Haggard.
In 1959, Ibne Safi started writing "Aadmi Ki Jarain", a social novel based on human psychology. However, it remained incomplete due to his illness.