Singapore-based publisher Kitaab launched 4 titles at this year’s Singapore Writers Festival. They were: The Best Asian Short Stories 2018 edited by Dr. Debotri Dhar, The Best Asian Speculative Fiction edited by Rajat Chaudhuri, Turtle City: Cavity Monsters by Tienny The and Mid-Autumn Musings by Dr. Aruna Shahani.

The second volume in the series, The Best Asian Short Stories 2018 contains well-crafted stories with innovative characters, gripping plots, diverse voices from 24 writers in 13 countries, including Singapore.  These contain three stories by Singaporean writers Vanessa Ng, Greg Tan and Miggs Bravo Dutt. The book was launched by series editor Zafar Anjum and moderator Dr. Pallavi Narayan together with contributors Vanessa Ng and Miggs Bravo Dutt.

The second anthology which was an immediate sell-out was The Best Asian Speculative Fiction 2018. It is being seen by industry pundits as the most comprehensive speculative fiction collection from the continent. The anthology contain over 40 stories from 16 countries, including Singapore. Five writers from Singapore have made it to the anthology. Five contributors to the anthology from Singapore and Thailand read from their stories and talked about their brush with speculative fiction at the book launch.

The third title, Turtle City: Cavity Monsters, was launched by the author Tienny The who talked about why she wrote this book. There has been a rising trend of tooth decay among children due to unhealthy habits and poor oral hygiene. The author hopes to address this issue and raise awareness on it through her comic book story.

Mid-Autumn Musings, Dr. Aruna Shahani’s debut collection of poetry, was launched by the poet herself together with Dr. Nilanjana Sengupta.