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The Rough Guide to Modern Malaysian Science Fiction andFantasy

The question of what exactly constitutes modern Malaysian science fiction and fantasy cannot be answeredwithout first addressing the integral question; Does science fiction and fantasy writing exist in Malaysia?This post is not aimed at being a definitive guide to particular literary forms but it will endeavour to sketch outa map to show that the writing exists in unexpected guises and places.

At first glance, a fertile potential exists; in Malaysia the past and the future are integrated. Kuala LumpurInternational Airport and The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the tallest twin buildings in the world,are coruscating, iconic and futuristic. Travel away from Kuala Lumpur and experience the old and rural; thehistorical city of Malacca, the island of Penang, the villages and beaches in the north, the archipelagoof Langkawi and the rainforests in East Malaysia. The demographic mix of Malaysia is a cosmopolitanmelange, made up primarily of Malays, Chinese and Indians, with indigenous groups and an array of foreignresidents and expatriates.

This mosaic of landscapes, cultures, and languages, ensures that while looking to the future, there is a

strong sense of history. The stimulus for literary culture has occurred, albeit with respect to Malaysiascolonial past. Notable writers such as W. Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad, and Leslie Charteris, thecreator ofThe Saint, have lived in Malaya (as Malaysia was known before gaining independence in 1957)and a few have found inspiration, such as Anthony Burgess whose dystopian novelA Clockwork Orangeuses the Malay word, orang (man) as a possible titular pun, as part of Nadsat, the novels fictional teenageslang*. Most recently, the shopping mall beneath the Petronas Twin Towers is mentioned as a virtual realityprojection in Geoff Rymans 2009 short story, Blocked.

If Malaysian science fiction writing by Malaysian writers have been scarce, signs of promise have manifestedin recent years. The shortlist for the 2009 MPH Alliance Bank National Short Story Writing Competitionfeatured the story, Pilling Time written by Frank OConnor International Short Story Award nominee Shih-LiKow; Pilling Time is about the price paid by an isolated community for prolonging human life-spans.

Speculative fiction written in Malay is burgeoning, as shown by the review website Sai-Fai, and a science-fiction novel writing competition held by UTM (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia) in 2009.

However, more fantasy short fiction written in English is published overseas such as, Biggest BaddestBomoh by Tunku Halim in The Apex Book of World SF(edited by Lavie Tidhar, Apex Publications 2009) andCrossing the Watersby Ika Vanderkoeck inAges of Wonder(editors Julie E. Czerneda and Rob St. Martin,DAW 2009). Short fantasy fiction by Malaysians is also featured online such as Into the Monsoon by A.MMuffaz at Fantasy Magazine (November 2009) and The Guest by Zen Cho atExpanded Horizons(November 2010). KS Augustin has blended romance with science fiction and fantasy. It is hoped that morewidespread publication will bring more attention to Malaysian fantasy.

If science fiction and fantasy has been a little late or slow to take hold in the print medium, a diversity of

voices are present in the local comics scene. Popular Malaysian comics publisherGempak Starz specialisesin graphic novels and comics written and drawn by local artistes that include science fiction and fantasy inthree languages: Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and English. Comic artist Benny Wong came third in the 2007International Manga Awards held in Japan for his manga Le Gardenie and Puppet Eyes by Kathryn Chongwon second prize in the 2007 Morning International Manga Competition.

Regardless of the current nascent status of Malaysian science fiction and fantasy writing, it is indeed evidentfrom the international distribution and acclaim that science fiction and fantasy hold great potential forexpansion and publication. The popular local slogan, Malaysia Boleh! which translates as, Malaysia Can DoIt!, best expresses future aspirations for writing in both genres.

*The attempt to impose upon man a creature of growth and capable of sweetness, to ooze juicily . . . lawsand conditions appropriate to a mechanical creation (A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, W.WNorton 1986, p 21-22)

http://e-morning.jp/mimc/result2/english.htmlhttp://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/7/8/lifebookshelf/18237148&sec=lifebookshelfhttp://www.gempakstraz.com/http://www.ksaugustin.com/http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/http://ikawrites.wordpress.com/http://www.czerneda.com/http://talyesin.com/http://www.penerbit.utm.my/cgi-bin/keratanakhbar/index.cgi?id=keratan35http://www.penerbit.utm.my/cgi-bin/keratanakhbar/index.cgi?id=keratan35http://www.penerbit.utm.my/cgi-bin/keratanakhbar/index.cgi?id=keratan35http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih-Li_Kowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih-Li_Kowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih-Li_Kowhttp://sffportal.net/2011/01/the-rough-guide-to-modern-malaysian-science-fiction-and-fantasy/http://e-morning.jp/mimc/result2/english.htmlhttp://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/7/8/lifebookshelf/18237148&sec=lifebookshelfhttp://www.gempakstraz.com/http://www.ksaugustin.com/http://expandedhorizons.net/magazine/http://expandedhorizons.net/magazine/?page_id=1964http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/2009/11/into-the-monsoon/http://talyesin.com/http://www.czerneda.com/http://ikawrites.wordpress.com/http://lavietidhar.wordpress.com/http://tunkuhalim.wordpress.com/http://www.penerbit.utm.my/cgi-bin/keratanakhbar/index.cgi?id=keratan35http://sai-fai.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih-Li_Kowhttp://www.sfsite.com/fsf/toc0910.htmhttp://sffportal.net/2011/01/the-rough-guide-to-modern-malaysian-science-fiction-and-fantasy/

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About Eeleen Lee

Lee Ee Leen was born in London, UK. She has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of York, UK,and an M.A. in Postmodern Literature and Culture from Royal Holloway College, University of London. Hershort fiction is published by Monsoon Books, Singapore, and MPH Publishing, Malaysia. In 2009 she wasshortlisted for MPH Alliance Bank National Short Story Award and her reviews are included in The Directoryof World Cinema: American Independent (2010, Intellect Books) and The Directory of World Cinema: Great

Britain (2011, Intellect Books). Visit her blog at http://eeleenlee.wordpress.com/