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ufvrhvnv's review
3.0
Some of the short stories left good impression, invaded my thought for a while, made me wonder.
Hang Terbang, Hukum, Program Angkasaraya 2030 & Masalodeh are some of my favourites.
Some are just mere filler. Good read, though.
Hang Terbang, Hukum, Program Angkasaraya 2030 & Masalodeh are some of my favourites.
Some are just mere filler. Good read, though.
misspalah's review
5.0
“You have memorized the multiplication table that is found at the back of your exercise books where the rukunegara may be found or perhaps you have one of those that include a different sort of pledge, with words like ‘liberal’ or ‘equitable’ and things you do not understand, nor important to understand for you to appreciate - the blessedness of your land as shown in the way it is mapped out upon the wall of your study : your country praises the land that it made on, because it yielded for you rubber, pepper, mineral, petroleum and palm oil”.
- 0202 by Catalina Rembuyan (2020 An anthology)
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3.27? 3.27? My eyes almost popped out when i saw the rating in goodreads. (I know its a matter of preference but i am honestly shocked by it). I actually enjoyed about 80% of the featured stories in the collection. As a Malaysian, whether you were born in the 80s, 90s or even 2000s, you have heard of vision 2020 / wawasan 2020 and it somewhat has been embedded deep inside of our core memory. Tun Mahathir really did brainwash majority of us with how 2020 will looks like - a flying car as an epitome of the technological advancement year, Malaysia achieved developed country status by then, economy is stable and prosperous and we are being looked up as an ideal nation. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Malaysia were known for its kleptocracy, 2.6 billions scandal, A short-lived Pakatan Harapan government and even the direction of this country seems uncertain. That being said, 2020 - An anthology served as a reminder : what it’s like to envision of Wawasan 2020. Some stories simply is here to remind us that No, we did not achieve those visions. Some stories provides hope - don’t give up yet, together we can change this country. Some stories demonstrated what the future might look like - if we did no do anything. Overall, i thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this to if you want a book to read for ‘Merdeka Day’ or ‘Malaysia Day’. P/s : The book is published in January 2020 but i still find it eerie when there’s a few story mentioning Pandemic-like plot (Considering the world were hit with Covid in March 2020) and Anti Vaccine movement that creeping up social media.
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Easily 5 stars rating :
1. Skin Dyes by Chris Quah (Forget ancestry, forget your history, we live in the world we choose our skin color now)
2. Awakening by Terence Toh (The combination of Matrix and Inception story only this time make it Malaysian)
3. The Last Malayan by Zed Adam Idris (A great escape of The last were-tiger from her confinement in a world which Malayan tiger already extinct)
4. 0202 by Catalina Rembuyan (An ode to Malaysia by Sarawakian)
5. Masalodeh by Paul Gnanaselvam (Is it food appreciation or appropriation?)
6. Geographical Constant by William Tham Wai Liang (I think Malaysians that live or lived abroad may love this writing - it encapsulates what it’s like leaving your country and coming back after years of staying away)
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4 stars because something is missing but i cannot point it out - but the story still good tho :
1. Hang Terbang by M. Kumar (Can you imagine ‘babi’ shaped flying car?)
2. Hukum By Natasha Gideon (Revenge is sweeter if this can be a reality - the world which criminals were being punished in prison to taste their own medicine repeatedly every day)
3. The White Clothed Society by Raja Ummi Nadrah (An allegory to the repressive regime? government? regime? you decide.)
4. Batteries by Anna Tan (When technology forced us to forego the sense of community, confine us to isolation and we did not realize it at all until its too late)
5. Standing in the eyes of the world by Chris Quah (Back then when people knew Singapore but not Malaysia)
6. 2020 calling by May Chong (2020, are we there yet?)
The rest that is not listed i would just rate them 3 stars. It was okay but none of the 3 stars stories were bad, TBH. It just didn’t connect with me personally.
- 0202 by Catalina Rembuyan (2020 An anthology)
.
.
3.27? 3.27? My eyes almost popped out when i saw the rating in goodreads. (I know its a matter of preference but i am honestly shocked by it). I actually enjoyed about 80% of the featured stories in the collection. As a Malaysian, whether you were born in the 80s, 90s or even 2000s, you have heard of vision 2020 / wawasan 2020 and it somewhat has been embedded deep inside of our core memory. Tun Mahathir really did brainwash majority of us with how 2020 will looks like - a flying car as an epitome of the technological advancement year, Malaysia achieved developed country status by then, economy is stable and prosperous and we are being looked up as an ideal nation. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Malaysia were known for its kleptocracy, 2.6 billions scandal, A short-lived Pakatan Harapan government and even the direction of this country seems uncertain. That being said, 2020 - An anthology served as a reminder : what it’s like to envision of Wawasan 2020. Some stories simply is here to remind us that No, we did not achieve those visions. Some stories provides hope - don’t give up yet, together we can change this country. Some stories demonstrated what the future might look like - if we did no do anything. Overall, i thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this to if you want a book to read for ‘Merdeka Day’ or ‘Malaysia Day’. P/s : The book is published in January 2020 but i still find it eerie when there’s a few story mentioning Pandemic-like plot (Considering the world were hit with Covid in March 2020) and Anti Vaccine movement that creeping up social media.
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Easily 5 stars rating :
1. Skin Dyes by Chris Quah (Forget ancestry, forget your history, we live in the world we choose our skin color now)
2. Awakening by Terence Toh (The combination of Matrix and Inception story only this time make it Malaysian)
3. The Last Malayan by Zed Adam Idris (A great escape of The last were-tiger from her confinement in a world which Malayan tiger already extinct)
4. 0202 by Catalina Rembuyan (An ode to Malaysia by Sarawakian)
5. Masalodeh by Paul Gnanaselvam (Is it food appreciation or appropriation?)
6. Geographical Constant by William Tham Wai Liang (I think Malaysians that live or lived abroad may love this writing - it encapsulates what it’s like leaving your country and coming back after years of staying away)
.
.
4 stars because something is missing but i cannot point it out - but the story still good tho :
1. Hang Terbang by M. Kumar (Can you imagine ‘babi’ shaped flying car?)
2. Hukum By Natasha Gideon (Revenge is sweeter if this can be a reality - the world which criminals were being punished in prison to taste their own medicine repeatedly every day)
3. The White Clothed Society by Raja Ummi Nadrah (An allegory to the repressive regime? government? regime? you decide.)
4. Batteries by Anna Tan (When technology forced us to forego the sense of community, confine us to isolation and we did not realize it at all until its too late)
5. Standing in the eyes of the world by Chris Quah (Back then when people knew Singapore but not Malaysia)
6. 2020 calling by May Chong (2020, are we there yet?)
The rest that is not listed i would just rate them 3 stars. It was okay but none of the 3 stars stories were bad, TBH. It just didn’t connect with me personally.
mobyskine's review
3.0
The 'futuristic anthology in the present tense' from the blurb caught my attention at first, I was never a fan of fancy future science-fic stuff but somehow was attracted to try this one out. Consist of 20 short stories by 19 authors, it was a mixed of various genres and not really focusing on the 'futuristic' part. Some are, but most of it were honestly fun and witty, pinch of relatable current issues-- family and friendship, lifestyle and career also about one's concern and responsibilies. Few stories that I personally love:
Masalodeh (Paul Gnanaselvam): cynical and humorous, great and fun characters-- I love Rajamah and Rani, and Kak Su really potrayed that annoying human who tried to be nice in front but actually having fishy plan on your back
Last Farewell (Tina Isaacs)-- witty and honestly the beep beep was a bit irritating but I guess it needed to the plot considering the hidden plan they both had (more suspense!), a heartache family stuff despite the wittiness, another group of fun characters
The Alley (Linges)-- a bit thrilling involving crime and revenge, narration based on a character's point of view, unique and engaging, love the human-animal interactions
Hukum (Natasha Gideon)-- heavy issue of 'haruan makan anak', quite psychological and I love the development of the narrative-- gripping, sorrowful and the ending was a bit.. it would be awesome if we can have that kind of simulation in the future!
Others were okay too-- I like the relationship view in Batteries (Anna Tan), interracial issue in Program Angkasaraya2030 (Anuar Shah) and LGBT concerns/problems in Is It Safe To Come Out Now? (Nathaniel Sario).
Because of its varied themes, I had fun reading most of them. Fairly great compilation. Actual rating 3.5 stars.
Masalodeh (Paul Gnanaselvam): cynical and humorous, great and fun characters-- I love Rajamah and Rani, and Kak Su really potrayed that annoying human who tried to be nice in front but actually having fishy plan on your back
Last Farewell (Tina Isaacs)-- witty and honestly the beep beep was a bit irritating but I guess it needed to the plot considering the hidden plan they both had (more suspense!), a heartache family stuff despite the wittiness, another group of fun characters
The Alley (Linges)-- a bit thrilling involving crime and revenge, narration based on a character's point of view, unique and engaging, love the human-animal interactions
Hukum (Natasha Gideon)-- heavy issue of 'haruan makan anak', quite psychological and I love the development of the narrative-- gripping, sorrowful and the ending was a bit.. it would be awesome if we can have that kind of simulation in the future!
Others were okay too-- I like the relationship view in Batteries (Anna Tan), interracial issue in Program Angkasaraya2030 (Anuar Shah) and LGBT concerns/problems in Is It Safe To Come Out Now? (Nathaniel Sario).
Because of its varied themes, I had fun reading most of them. Fairly great compilation. Actual rating 3.5 stars.
qomareads's review
3.0
I actually really enjoyed this anthology better than I expected. Wanted to read this before we hit the new year and super glad this was so good I finished it early than I anticipated. Some were very astounding, pretty okay-ish and some I don't think it went with the 2020 theme.
I love how some of it associated with sci-fi and dystopian world. And it's nice reading about equality, racism and what the future maybe can offer us in alternate universe.
I love how some of it associated with sci-fi and dystopian world. And it's nice reading about equality, racism and what the future maybe can offer us in alternate universe.
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