At Sea

A Novel

Y. M. Abdel-Magied

A propulsive novel of ambition, greed, and the deadly fury of Mother Nature, as a female driller takes charge of an isolated offshore oil rig with an entirely male crew.

When Zainab, an expert driller, is tasked with overseeing a high-stakes oil rig operation, she leaves behind her pregnant sister to embark on the most challenging assignment of her career. But there’s a catch. The rig is teetering on the edge of disaster—and Zainab is the only woman among a crew of hardened men who want absolutely nothing to do with her.

At the helm, but forced to prove herself at every turn, Zainab investigates the issues that have plagued the operation. When all her warnings are ignored, she quickly grasps that the real danger may lie in the cold calculations and base desires of the men determined to finish the operation as quickly and cheaply as possible. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Zainab races to prevent the looming catastrophe that threatens the rig, the lives of the crew and the welfare of the sea before it’s too late.

Haunting, original, and as poetic as it is gripping, At Sea is a thrilling and distinctly modern novel that meditates on science and faith and reckons with ethics, prejudice, and the capitalist endeavors that overlook our humanity—and of Mother Nature herself.

Born in Sudan, Y.M. Abdel-Magied's first job as a teenager was in a coal mine in rural Australia. After graduating with first-class honours in Mechanical Engineering, Abdel-Magied trained and worked as an MWD (Measurement While Drilling) contractor and drilling engineer across Europe, Australia, Asia and the United States. She is the founder of the organization Youth Without Borders and the author of six books (three works of non-fiction and three books for children). At Sea is Abdel-Magied's first adult novel and will be her American debut. She lives in England.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"Written with the urgency of a thriller and the distress signal of an allegory, At Sea is a smart, razor-sharp takedown of the machismo of big oil and what it is to be a woman operating in such a hostile industry. Abdel-Magied tells this compelling story with a fresh, authoritative voice." Caoilinn Hughes, author of The Alternatives 

"Zesty, intense and thrilling. At Sea is a wonderful achievement. This is a jarring exposé of the satisfactions and brutality of the workplace—the joys of career success, the power struggles with colleagues, the humiliations and bruised sense of worth. We witness how ambition can become a trap, and how structure and mental absorption can be an escape from family difficulties." Leila Aboulela, author of River Spirit, a New York Times notable book

"A thrilling and emotionally complex ride. At Sea is a story of gender and power politics and the cost of capitalism and unhealed wounds. It is a masterclass in drawing a reader into worlds unknown and making it consume their every waking thought. Abdel-Magied has written a carefully composed novel that pulls no punches as it deftly explores the painful reality of life on the rig that is both compelling and captivating." Ore Abaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us

"Fast-paced, gripping and gloriously entertaining. At Sea exposes the social dynamics we all recognise— power, gender, and ambition." Tilly Lawless, author of Nothing But My Body