Silverfish Books
Raman Krishnan
by Umapagan Ampikaipakan
For over a decade now, the independent bookseller and publisher Silverfish Books has been an absolute Godsend for the Malaysian reader. A breath of fresh air. An unique voice in Malaysian letters, the brainchild of Raman Krishnan, Silverfish Books has been at the very forefront at providing an avenue for new Malaysian writing. For voices both young and old. For writers both new and established.
With 21 Immortals, it introduced us to the wonderful pulp fiction of Rozlan Mohd. Noor. With Qur’an and Cricket, it showed us another - more intimate - side of Farish Noor.
It has opened our eyes to so much new and hidden talent; to the likes of Kow Shih- Li and Chua Kok Yee. Which isn’t to say that everything it publishes are hits. For they too have had their fair share of misses. Including numerous collections of short stories that are a mixed bag at best.
But there is something to be said about passion for publishing. And Silverfish Books does so much more than just publish local writing. It initiates. It encourages. It develops. It grows. And for that alone, it is something altogether indispensable.
There has always been a certain romance to the independent bookseller- cum- publisher. There has always been a sense of literary adventure. In the endless search for talented new voices. In the sheer pleasure that comes with discovery. In offering something so wonderfully - and carefully - curated. In the accomplishment of presenting literary Malaysia to the world.
For over a decade now, the independent bookseller and publisher Silverfish Books has been an absolute Godsend for the Malaysian reader. A breath of fresh air. An unique voice in Malaysian letters, the brainchild of Raman Krishnan, Silverfish Books has been at the very forefront at providing an avenue for new Malaysian writing. For voices both young and old. For writers both new and established.
With 21 Immortals, it introduced us to the wonderful pulp fiction of Rozlan Mohd. Noor. With Qur’an and Cricket, it showed us another - more intimate - side of Farish Noor.
It has opened our eyes to so much new and hidden talent; to the likes of Kow Shih- Li and Chua Kok Yee. Which isn’t to say that everything it publishes are hits. For they too have had their fair share of misses. Including numerous collections of short stories that are a mixed bag at best.
But there is something to be said about passion for publishing. And Silverfish Books does so much more than just publish local writing. It initiates. It encourages. It develops. It grows. And for that alone, it is something altogether indispensable.
There has always been a certain romance to the independent bookseller- cum- publisher. There has always been a sense of literary adventure. In the endless search for talented new voices. In the sheer pleasure that comes with discovery. In offering something so wonderfully - and carefully - curated. In the accomplishment of presenting literary Malaysia to the world.
One of the many book-related events at Silverfish
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Umapagan Ampikaipakan is a freelance writer and columnist with the New Straits Times, Malaysia
Umapagan Ampikaipakan is a freelance writer and columnist with the New Straits Times, Malaysia
