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GEORGE TOWN – Head on over to the English fantasy section in bookstores and you’ll see many stories inspired by European mythologies. They are very much read, loved and talked about. But what about tales inspired by the Nusantara region that reflect cultures that Malaysians can identify with?
Here comes Anna Tan, a former auditor-turned-fantasy novelist from Penang, who put pen to paper, creating a fictional world that is heavily based on the archipelago’s historical maritime era.
“I was mainly looking at power structures that Malaysia has had. Obviously, the current parliamentary system was a no-go, and the rotating Agong system is even more confusing.
“So going further back, the most well-known structure was the Malaccan sultanate, from which most of the current sultanates stem from anyway, after the fall of Malacca.
“Also, I like Hang Tuah,” she quipped.
As an avid reader, she wanted to see more of Malaysia and the world she grew up in reflected in fiction.
“It's very much a backlash reaction in some ways. And at the same time, I have no interest at all in wuxia (low-fantasy) and xianxia (high-fantasy) direction where a lot of Malaysian Chinese writers head towards.
“I didn't quite grow up watching kung fu movies, except during Chinese New Year,” the Malaysian Writers Society president said.
Thus, she dived into a world painted by Malaysian history books and intertwined it with a Bible story.
'Amok' is her retelling of Samson and Delilah set in a power structure similar to the Malaccan sultanate. It starts off feisty with a scene in a fighting ring. The Crown Prince of Maha, Mikal, trains silat with his mentor, Tok Yaakub, who happens to be the Temenggung of the sultanate.
It then develops into a dramatic tale with ingredients almost all great books have. From the desire to be granted supernatural strength to a friendship and betrayal between the Mikal and his servant Yosua and having faith in the unseen, the fast-paced action draws you in, making it unputdownable.
It was originally supposed to be named 'Berserker'. But at the final edits, she found that the phrase to run amok came from the local Malay phrase "mengamuk" and was similar to the concept of the berserker.
“Since I was using Malay already, I decided that 'Amok' would fit the world better.”
Tan’s newest book release makes part one of her three-book duology titled Absolution. Two more books will be released shortly, one that continues where the story left off from the first book and another written from Yosua’s point of view.
E-books are now available at all major ebook retailers. Due to the movement control order (MCO), Tan’s paperback edition remains at the pre-order status. It will only be released depending on when the restrictions ease.
Pre-orders can be made at https://teaspoonpublishing.com.my/tag/anna-tan/. – The Vibes, July 17, 2021
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