Category: “Singaporean Speculative Fiction”

Beyond Text: Redux

Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment

Thank you to the National Library Singapore for inviting multidisciplinary artist Debbie Ding, playwright Johnny Jon Jon. and myself to last night’s Beyond Text panel, where we had a (very spirited) discussion on the intersection of new technology and the arts. Thank you also to Maliah Zubir for facilitating the event. Most of all, thank you to the 72 folks (plus or minus a few AI transcription bots) who tuned in on a Wednesday night!

You can watch the recording of the event here: https://www.facebook.com/readingnationsg/videos/1255765222448043

The Infinite Library back in print in SG

Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment

Very pleased to announce that The Infinite Library and Other Stories is now back in print in Singapore! You can get it online at https://lnkd.in/gf78f56Z

“Ocampo’s collection is simultaneously a meaningful addition to the genre of speculative fiction and a powerful manifesto laying out the possibilities of Southeast Asian literature.“ – Elise J. Choi, book review for Necessary Fiction

The Infinite Library and Other Stories

Late Post: Pocket Cities in Singapore Speculative Fiction

Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment

Thank you to Olivia Ho for including my short story “Big Enough for the Entire Universe” in her article “Pocket Cities in Singapore Speculative Fiction”. This story first appeared in the OG Fish Eats Lion anthology (Math Paper Press, 2012) edited by the inimitable Jason Erik Lundberg . 

Read about it here.

Very Late Post: Rachel’s Now Reading Review of TILAOS

Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment

This review was actually posted 5 years ago. I had meant to RT it but for some reason, it got buried under all my other work. I am rectifying this grievous error now.

Thank you so much to Rachel’s Now Reading for your kind words. Please subscribe to her page to get book reviews on a wonderfully eclectic range of reading material.

“This is a book review of Victor Fernando R. Ocampo’s The Infinite Library and Other Stories. It’s a book containing 17 speculative fiction short stories somewhat linked together to make a whole.

If you’re a sci-fi fan, this is definitely the book for you. The presence of queer elements helped as I always love an inclusive book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection and hope you will too!”

You watch her great review here.

Take note that the Youtube link to purchase a copy is outdated. You can get one (and other fine Gaudy Boy Books) at Singapore Unbound instead.

Get Luckier: The Reading

Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment

Reading-Dialogue across the Sea between Get Luckier Sg/Phil writers

This Poetry Festival Singapore will take place from July 29 to August 10 this year in various locations across the island. Please join us this 30 July for a special event “Reading-Dialogue across the Sea” between Get Luckier Sg/Phil authors, with Singapore-based writers Paul Jerusalem, Migs Bravo-Dutt, Victor Ocampo, Reah Maac, Cathy Candano and Filipino poets Wilson Lee Flores, Wendell Capili, Jo Em Antonio, Cristina Montes, Mariela Lansang with spoken word poet LKN as host (and Cathy Candano as technology expert). The recording will be done from 8pm onwards. Stay tuned for the announcement of the online broadcast.

Get Luckier – An Anthology of Philippine and Singapore Writings II (Editors Migs Bravo Dutt, Claire Betita de Guzman, Aaron Lee Soon Yong and Eric Tinsay Valles) is the sequel to the much-loved original Get Lucky from six years ago. It features writing that illustrate how technology, the pandemic and other current events have impacted the fellowship between Singaporeans and Filipinos.

Fish Eats Lion Redux TOC Announced

Victor Fernando R. OcampoLeave a comment
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The landmark anthology Fish Eats Lion: New Singaporean Speculative Fiction collected the best original speculative fiction written in Singapore in or around 2012. It was the first local anthology that treated the literature of the fantastic as bona fide literary work, instead of simply just genre. Edited by Jason Erik Lundberg, this book included stories by Ng Yi-Sheng, Neon Yang, Daryl Yam and Shelly Bryant, who would all become leading lights in the APAC Spec Fic sphere, as well as works by mainstream fictionists who were not generally known for fantastical writing such as Grace Chia, Dave Chua, Noelle de Jesus, Isa Kamari, and Cyril Wong.

It’s been ten years since the original FEL and Jason has commissioned a follow-up anthology. I am very happy to be part of both books but it’s also a bit of a shock to realize that I’ve been getting published for so long. In my mind I am still a new writer struggling to get stories written and published (when I am not doing my day-job or house work, that is).

Congratulations to our evergreen editor Jason Erik Lundberg and to everyone on the new antho’s TOC. I can’t wait to read these new stories!

  • Stay in the Sun | Meihan Boey
  • L’Appel Du Vide | Victor Fernando R. Ocampo
  • Tiger Girls | Felicia Low-Jimenez
  • Insert Credit to Continue | Stuart Danker
  • Longkang at the End of the World | Kimberly Lium
  • Down Into the Waters | Wayne Rée
  • Road Trip | Izzy Liyana Harris
  • Blood Double | Sithuraj Ponraj
  • Blue | Cyril Wong
  • Wife, Skin, Keeper, Slick | Wen-yi Lee
  • 315 | Daryl Qilin Yam
  • Asha Hanar’s Dowry | Nuraliah Norasid
  • Multiversal Adapter | Suffian Hakim
  • The Dog Frontier | Inez Tan
  • Sejarah | Ng Yi-Sheng

More info here.