It is Fiction.

In chapter three, Steiner discusses the controversial novel The Satanic Verses. It is a fictional novel written by Muslim author Salman Rushdie. As a child Rushdie lived in India until he moved to the United Kingdom as an adult. In 1988, when the novel was first published, it was well received in the United Kingdom and critics. In the Muslim community, however, the novel caused great controversy for what many Muslims believed were ridiculous and false references. As the controversy spread, the book was banned in India and burned in demonstration in the United Kingdom.

Eventually Salman Rushdie had to go into hiding for fear that he would be targeted by the Muslim community for what he had published. I find it hard to believe that a fictional novel could cause so much controversy and potentially bring harm to the creator of it. Myself not knowing the Muslim community or traditions and beliefs that they hold, I can only express my personal opinion on the situation. I guess it is the same thing as what one thinks of as being aesthetically pleasing. Everyone's personal opinions are different and often times their beliefs and values can play a big role in what they find aesthetically pleasing. The case of Rushdie and his controversial novel proves that when you step outside the norm of some things, it can sometimes have negative effects.

Questions:
1. Would the effect of the novel have been different if it was published today?
2. What came of Salman Rushdie?