Journey to Heading 270 Degrees

Journey to Heading 270 Degrees is a novel by Ahmad Dehqan, set during the Iran–Iraq War. The book focuses on the experiences of Naser, a high school student who participates in several operations throughout the war. Over 15,000 copies were published in Iran. The novel is noted as a successful narrative of the Iran-Iraq War, and has received numerous awards.

In 1996, the book received the award for Best Novel in the War-Themed category. In 2006, the book was translated from the Persian language to English by Paul Sprachman, a professor at Rutgers University, and published by Mazda Publishers. The novel is available at the Library of Congress and at several other libraries of many higher education institutions such as Harvard University, Rutgers University, Berkeley and other Universities of California, Georgetown University, and Princeton University. The book is also used as reading material in the "Introduction to the Literature of the Modern Middle East" course available at Rutgers University.

Publisher
The first edition of the book was published by Sarir Publication Company in 1996. It was reprinted several times after. In 2005, the Soreie Mehr Publication Company published the second edition. In 2006, Mazda Publishers printed a paperback edition in the United States.

Synopsis
The book "Journey to Heading 270 Degrees" is a novel about the Iran-Iraq War. It tells the story of Naser, a veteran of several battles, though not quite yet out of high school. Unable to resist the pressure to join the military, he returns to the war front to find himself in the midst of one of the war’s most decisive clashes. The Iraqis attack the Iranian fortified positions in tanks while Naser’s unit repels them on foot. During the battle, Naser loses several comrades but gains an understanding of the futility of conflict.

Author
Ahmad Dehqan was born in the Karaj Province in 1966. He was a soldier in the Iran-Iraq war. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 2007, and then went on to study Communication Sciences in which he earned a bachelor's degree. He also pursued a master's degree in Anthropology, which was noted to be Dehqan's favorite field of study.

Mr. Dehgan now works as a literary expert in the Office of Literature and the Art of Resistance at the Center for Literary Creations in Howzeh Honari. He wrote several collections of stories and novels including the following: "Untold about The Iran-Iraq War", "A Division with four Persons", "Liberation of Khorramshahr", "The Stars of Shalamcheh", "The Last Days", "The Mission Complete", "I am the Murderer of your son, Invasion", and "Dashtban". Many of Dehqan's books have been published by Soreie Mehr Publication Company and translated into various other languages.

Awards
After the first publication of "Journey to Heading 270 Degrees", Dehqan received numerous awards including the 20 Years Literature Story Award, 20 Years Literature Resistance Award, and first place in the 4th Sacred Defense Book of The Year award in Iran.