Desi and SEA Book Review Contest

in #contest6 years ago

Here we go again, friends. This contest is for book or story reviews of works by authors who are Desi or South East Asians. I'll definitely accept work by authors who are of Desi or South East Asian descent who live elsewhere. I will not accept works by authors of European descent who live in the Indian subcontinent or South East Asia.


The National Library of China. Image by IQRemix CC BY-SA 2.0

Much like in my previous contests, I can provide some names: Aliette de Bodard, Zen Cho, JY Yang, Yoon Ha Lee, Marjorie Liu, Jeannette Ng, Vina Jie-Min Prasad, and Fonda Lee were all listed in my previous contest, but since this one doesn't have any gender specific rules, lets add some cis dudes: Ken Liu, John Chu, Wesley Chu. And some more names: Joyce Chng, S. Qiouyi Lu, Alyssa Wong, Isabel Yap, S.B. Divya, Vandana Singh, Hao Jingfang, Malinda Lo, Cassandra Khaw, and Hiromi Goto.

As usual, I am happy to provide recs. If you list 5 works you like in the comments, I will recommend a specific work by a Desi or South East Asian author. Much like in the previous contest, short fiction is fine.

This is a 1 week contest. Most of these authors have short fiction that is available to read for free online, so no extra time this go around.

The contest prize will, once again, be 10 SBD. With 5 SBD possibly going to a strong second place.

The Rules

  • The review must be in a post on the Steem blockchain, and must include a link to the book. Goodreads or any online store.
  • The book or story must no older than 2010.
  • The book or story must be science fiction or fantasy, though I support a broad definition of those.
  • It must be a book or story you liked or loved. Not here for fiction hate.
  • Can be either YA or for adults.
  • You have one week to post the review.
  • You have to comment on this post with a link to the review.
  • The author must be Desi or South East Asian or of Desi or South East Asian descent.

Start reading!

Previous contests:

200 Followers and a 10 SBD Contest!
Book Review Contest: Winners and Thoughts
WOC and Trans Author Book Review Contest
WOC and Trans Author Book Review Contest results

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Cool contest! What about something similar to amy tan or isabel allende... in the magical realism/ generational storylines type of way?

If The Kitchen God's Wife actually had a kitchen deity, I'd accept it. And Allende could be appropriate for a Latinx contest, which is definitely gonna happen, but I'd generally prefer writers who aren't household names.

The idea of these contests is to highlight authors people are less likely to know, and to get people reading outside of their comfort zone. So when the Latinx contest does happen, I'm probably going to exclude Allende, Marquez, and Borges. And when I do the Arab/Muslim contest, Salman Rushdie is likely to be excluded. They don't need me and my little contests.

For sure and I agree!! I was wondering if you had any authors of like recommendation from your lists above ;) sorry I didn’t make that more clear.

Oh! Sorry for the misunderstanding. How about... The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere by my pal John Chu. It won the Hugo award for Best Short Story, and bigots super hate it, which is a nice bonus.

ahaha sounds good. thanks for the rec. i'll look into this one. any you'd recommend by women along those lines? perhaps i'll do two ;)

Here's your bonus story, Milagroso by Isabel Yap.

okay just read this story you shared and i loved it... i will be writing on it ;) <3

here's my entry! thanks :)

Um, geez, wow. I am here two weeks later to say I just read this story (because of @mountainjewel's review) and now I'm dying from how sublimely perfect it is. 'Kay, thanks, bye.

Didi, would you work your magic again? I'd love to read some short fiction. Maybe a children's story or short cultural/history prose? I feel like you get me at this point... so I trust your recommendation. 🤓

I am not as well versed in kidlit. I'll offer you two very different things. Select one, and I'll give you the rec.

  1. A story steeped in Chinese myth and history, but remixed with European myth.
  2. A story about Singapore's flawed meritocracy system. With clones.

The first one is funny.

Dang. The first one. And if I finish in time, the second one as a bonus read.

That's Monkey King, Faerie Queen by Zen Cho. It is a delight.

ooooh that first one sounds awesome!

I hope I haven't missed the deadline! Here is my review: Monkey King, Faerie Queen by Zen Cho.

You missed the original deadline, but I've already got a post ready to go announcing a 1 week extension.

YAAAAS So my review still stands and is in the running? ☺️

I need to get on your timezone. 😂

Let's see... will I make it ???
I chose Indonesia and asked already my OCD fellows @macchiata and @mariska.lubis for suggestions.
I definitely have no time for a book so I'll go with a story - so in this case, I need to ask: what if there's no online purchase for the story? It would be online somewhere, that's how I'll read it anyway...
I presume it has to be read in English or...other translations [or original language] are also accepted?
Last but not least, only Sci-Fi or Fantasy then...? :/

If there's no purchase link, a direct link to the story is fine. That would usually be the link to the people who paid for it, and hits are measured.

Story can be read in any language. Review can be in any language, as long as I can get an okay google translate of it.

Story can also be horror, if it's supernatural horror. But, yeah. I'm an sff person. That's what I'm promoting here. Some people still have this view of science fiction and fantasy as a genre by and for straight white cis dudes, and while that has never been true, it has never been less true than it is now.

Also? Why are you asking other people for recs and not taking advantage of my offer of same? I am legit good at this. Just name 5 books you liked, and I'll have a rec for you. If @macchiata and @mariska.lubis have recs, they should review them!

Horror is definitely my thing, and Indonesia the best place for it ! So maybe I can find something !!
Ahahaha well, I would and I will but they're Indonesians so they might have a different view (?) I also wanna do my own research, not just 'accepting recs' anyway ;)))
Haha they're busy ladies -busier than me- so not sure they have time to participate, but I'll tell them ;)
Also, for a book-eater like me....too hard to only choose 5....but I could try ;) I'll keep you posted on everything but I think I'm doing this !!! :D

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