According to Tolstoy, there are only two possible stories: a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town. Riwoe gives us both. The Burnished Sun – its title taken from The Merchant of Venice (“Mislike me not for my complexion, / The shadow’d livery of the burnish’d sun”) – brings together the … [Read more...]

Alexander Wells on breakthrough gay Indonesian author Norman Erikson Pasaribu and his new short story collection. Photo: Tilted Axis Press A new voice in global queer fiction is always cause for celebration. In a conversation dominated by the US and UK, the emergence of – and growing curiosity … [Read more...]

An award-winning author, Norman Erikson Pasaribu is part of a tradition of queer Catholic writers, who challenge heterosexual traditions and constrictions in an attempt to open up his work to alternative – and more inclusive – perspectives. Merging his Christian heritage with his Batak cultural … [Read more...]

Meddy Chan works for her family’s event company, which specializes in wedding services like hair styling, make-up, cakes, flowers, musical entertainment, and photography. For the upcoming Tom Cruise Sutopo / Jacqueline Wijaya wedding, Meddy also provides a dead body. Jesse Q Sutanto’s entertaining … [Read more...]

In the ten years since I set out to read the world, I have interacted with thousands of book lovers, writers, academics and curious readers around the globe. Many of the most illuminating of these discussions have been with translators – people who, by virtue of having expertise in two or more … [Read more...]