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downwards47's review
4.0
TLDR: This book can draw emotion well in its best parts; at worst, it is anvilicious and as heavy-handed as your discipline teacher's rotan.
Having been a fan of Fixi Novo's output over the last few years, due to its emphasis on urban Malaysian fiction, I picked this up on its concept alone.
Some of the best stories in this anthology deal directly at the heart of the matter. 0202 was a particular standout in this case, highlighting the stark disparity between both the expected 2020 and the 2020 we have, as well as the divide between Malaya and Borneo (though this may be my Sarawakian roots showing). Other stories in this book use the idea of 2020 as a way to highlight the growing disparity of old and new in Malaysia, namely Masalodeh's pitting of a tradition-based vendor against a changing World around her in her daughter and the stalls surrounding her. Others take the theme more loosely; take The Dyed Society for example; with the protagonist being thrust into a future 2020 years from the present.
The anthology really shines where its authors use the imagery at hand to make its story more vivid. The usage of firmly local imagery in stories like 0202 and 2020 Calling strongly evoke the spirit of the stories they are trying to tell. Awakening and Hindsight also use their story elements very well to convey the messages they want to deliver in a very interesting and powerful way; Hindsight being an interesting sci-fi short in and of itself. The lighter side of this group of stories also helps round the emotional side out, with Batteries being an interesting mix of scare and fun, and Is It Safe to Come Out Now? having a good share of cute moments to close the book.
Some of the weaker points of this book fall in their messages, unfortunately. A running theme seems to be the nigh-unresolvable ethnic tension in Malaysia. Some address this in a way that gives some interest to the reader; Dye Society being of particular note in this case. However, some do this with a particularly heavy hand, namely Raja Ummi's The White-Dyed Society being a particularly transparent and frankly tired critique of Malay Muslim culture in Malaysia, and Awakening feeling like an overly dystopian view of the future. In other places as well, stories try to end with a vague feeling to lead the reader, that doesn't really land that well. The Last Malayan did this ending well; The Accidental on the other hand felt more like an ice-cream koan.
As a whole, this anthology is worth reading on its own merit. If you're a Malaysian, some stories will be more resonant with you than others. Although some pieces suffer from reciting the same critiques and fun-poking at current society that most people have today, the great writing and the other strong stories in this book will keep you reading on to the end. Was it worth RM30? Definitely.
Having been a fan of Fixi Novo's output over the last few years, due to its emphasis on urban Malaysian fiction, I picked this up on its concept alone.
Some of the best stories in this anthology deal directly at the heart of the matter. 0202 was a particular standout in this case, highlighting the stark disparity between both the expected 2020 and the 2020 we have, as well as the divide between Malaya and Borneo (though this may be my Sarawakian roots showing). Other stories in this book use the idea of 2020 as a way to highlight the growing disparity of old and new in Malaysia, namely Masalodeh's pitting of a tradition-based vendor against a changing World around her in her daughter and the stalls surrounding her. Others take the theme more loosely; take The Dyed Society for example; with the protagonist being thrust into a future 2020 years from the present.
The anthology really shines where its authors use the imagery at hand to make its story more vivid. The usage of firmly local imagery in stories like 0202 and 2020 Calling strongly evoke the spirit of the stories they are trying to tell. Awakening and Hindsight also use their story elements very well to convey the messages they want to deliver in a very interesting and powerful way; Hindsight being an interesting sci-fi short in and of itself. The lighter side of this group of stories also helps round the emotional side out, with Batteries being an interesting mix of scare and fun, and Is It Safe to Come Out Now? having a good share of cute moments to close the book.
Some of the weaker points of this book fall in their messages, unfortunately. A running theme seems to be the nigh-unresolvable ethnic tension in Malaysia. Some address this in a way that gives some interest to the reader; Dye Society being of particular note in this case. However, some do this with a particularly heavy hand, namely Raja Ummi's The White-Dyed Society being a particularly transparent and frankly tired critique of Malay Muslim culture in Malaysia, and Awakening feeling like an overly dystopian view of the future. In other places as well, stories try to end with a vague feeling to lead the reader, that doesn't really land that well. The Last Malayan did this ending well; The Accidental on the other hand felt more like an ice-cream koan.
As a whole, this anthology is worth reading on its own merit. If you're a Malaysian, some stories will be more resonant with you than others. Although some pieces suffer from reciting the same critiques and fun-poking at current society that most people have today, the great writing and the other strong stories in this book will keep you reading on to the end. Was it worth RM30? Definitely.
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