First off, while I'm always admired the awesome Cecilia Tan--prolific writer, activist, and founder/publisher of Circlet Press--I didn't get confirmation until recently that she's actually part Filipino. Hello Cecilia!
When it comes to magazines, June seems to be spec fic heavy. "Downfall," by Crystal Koo (Philippines Graphic, June 13, 2011) is remarkable (unfortunately the Philippines Graphic seemed to have "skipped" two months in their online edition so we may never see this story nor "The Many Flavors of Paz del Rosario," by Kate Osias).
Other published speculative fiction stories include "Suggested Reading," by U Eliserio (Philippines Free Press, June 11, 2011), "Gadium," by Rina Caparras (Philippines Graphic, June 15, 2011) (part two here), and "The Confessional," by Cyan Abad-Jugo (Philippine Genre Stories edited by Yvette Tan) (part two here).
In related news, it's the first birthday of the (first?) Filipino fiction podcast Pakinggan Pilipinas. The finalists for the 2011 Philippines Free Press Literary Awards has just been announced, and there's some speculative fiction authors (although their nominated work might not necessarily be spec fic) in the running including: Russel Stanley Geronimo, Marguerite Alcazaren de Leon (the first part of "Sweet" is now up at Philippine Genre Stories), Irene Carolina Sarmiento, U. Eliserio, and Eliza Victoria (anyone who can share with us more info, please do so in the comments).
There's also a couple of book releases:
While not a "new" novel (Hontiveros started posting chapters of the novel as far back as 2007 and was completed in 2008; you can read the first four chapters here), this is the first time it's released as an eBook.
Heartbreak & Magic by Ian Rosales Casocot
Anvil Publishing compiles Ian Rosales Casocot's fantasy, science fiction, and horror stories. Eight stories are in the book, including stories which have won the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards and the Fully Booked Graphic/Fiction Awards.
Another short story collection, this one compiles thirteen of Javier's stories (some are speculative fiction, others not). One of the few local books that has a simultaneous (more or less) release of the print and eBook version.
Thanks for the mention!
ReplyDeleteI WAS wondering about how the Graphic site seemed to have skipped quite a bit. Maybe I can ask the editor very politely about it, but is that standard? (Or frowned upon?)