Home | Writers | Headlines | Writer Spotlights | Contributing Authors

If you are a writer yourself, join our growing literary network. Be seen. Be read. Get listed today!
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Koh Su

Works in Translation

Puthut EA, translated by Annie Tucker
Published as a part of Transpacific Literary Project: Residue, Nov 08, 2017

First published in Drama Itu Berkisah Terlalu Jauh

“Koh Su” evokes the particular melancholy of Indonesians born well after 1965 and its immediate aftermath—left trying to trace a sociopolitical history of state terror and mass trauma that is always oblique, puzzling over a residue of loss that remains intangible and yet clings to everything. In Bahasa Indonesia, the spirit of a situation is known as its “rasa,” which also means flavor, or taste. “Koh Su” uses literal taste to capture the rasa of this psychological or existential position with a story about a vanished town cook and his fabled signature dish. In the story it is implied that Koh Su, a mysterious, mythologized cook of fried rice, was murdered during the mass killings of 1965. At the risk of stating the obvious, to Indonesians Koh Su is a Chinese name, and Chinese Indonesians were targeted in these killings, ostensibly because of links to communism but also due to long-standing racial tensions expressed in numerous incidents of violence both before and since. The town has never forgotten him, however, and seems to be in a state of unresolved grief that takes the shape of a constant search for any trace of Koh Su’s legacy.

Read the full story here.

At a Glance

As of now, our resource library is a powerhouse: 622 writers, 856 books from 270 publishers, 802 contributing authors, and a total of 1187 pieces— 403 news coverages, 233 clippings, and 551 book reviews. We've sourced from 373 distinct outlets to enrich our content. Add 81 translated works and 58 standout resources, and you’ve got a snapshot of our dedication to cultivating a vibrant literary landscape.

About Us

Ready to explore our writer's directory? It’s not just a cool space for writers to connect—it's the ultimate toolkit for event hosts, lit organizers, librarians, book nerds, and anyone curious about Indonesian writers. Think of it as the cozy home for Indonesian writers, breaking language barriers and opening up our literary scene to the world. Read more!

Got questions, comments, or contributions? Reach out via email, or say hi on X, Facebook, Instagram, or through our contact form.

You cannot copy content of this page