The novel is set in a small frontier town of an unnamed empire, where the magistrate lives a life of civil service and relative peace. His world is disrupted when the Empire declares a state of emergency due to rumors of barbarian uprising. The magistrate becomes a critic of the Empire's brutal and inhumane methods of dealing with the perceived threat, which leads to his arrest and torture. As he tries to understand his role in the vast political machinery, he also grapples with questions of power, justice, and humanity.

Set in South Africa during a civil war, the novel follows the journey of Michael K, a simple gardener with a cleft lip. When his mother falls ill, he attempts to take her back to her rural birthplace. After she dies en route, Michael continues the journey alone, struggling to survive in a war-torn landscape, while also being caught up in the bureaucratic red tape of the dystopian society. The story explores themes of freedom, survival, and the human spirit's resilience against adversity.

The book tells the story of Hai Ebn Yokdhan, a self-taught man who grows up on a deserted island, isolated from human society. Through his observations of nature and innate curiosity, he embarks on a journey of intellectual and spiritual discovery. Without guidance from others, he uses reason and empirical evidence to unlock the mysteries of the natural world, the human soul, and the divine. His quest leads him to profound insights about the nature of existence, the pursuit of truth, and the path to enlightenment, demonstrating the power of human reason to transcend the need for external instruction in the quest for knowledge and understanding.

"ḥayy Ibn Yaqẓān" is a philosophical novel that tells the story of Hayy Ibn Yaqzan, a child who is spontaneously generated on a desert island and raised by a doe. Growing up in isolation from human society, Hayy discovers knowledge through his own observations of nature and through rigorous reasoning. As he matures, he delves into profound inquiries about the nature of the human soul, the existence of God, and the path to true enlightenment. Eventually, he encounters another human being, which leads to a deep exploration of the differences between a life guided by pure reason and one shaped by societal norms and religion. The narrative serves as a meditation on the limits of human understanding and the pursuit of spiritual truth.

"Foe" is a novel that reimagines the classic tale of "Robinson Crusoe" through a postmodern lens, exploring themes of language, power, and colonialism. The story introduces a female character, Susan Barton, who finds herself cast away on the same island as Crusoe and Friday. Upon her return to England, she seeks out a writer to help tell her version of the events, but struggles with the erasure of her voice and the complexities of storytelling. The narrative delves into the silent history of Friday, whose tongue has been cut out, and the power dynamics between the characters, ultimately questioning the nature of truth and the ownership of stories.