Naermyth by Karen Francisco
A long-overdue commentary on Miss K’s awesome post-apocalyptic novel where aswang roam the shadows, mananangal rule the skies, and the protective chant, “Tabi-tabi po,” is no more than an obsolete gobbledygook. In the story, you still get killed by nuno regardless of being polite. In fact there are a lot of things that can kill you in Karen Francisco’s desolated world.
Naermyth integrates local mythology and other magical creatures of the world creating a cohesive atmosphere of death, destruction…and action-packed excitement. In the novel, the Philippines is NOT the only country ravaged by former bedtime-story monsters. Nowhere is safe. Which means the continuous survival of those who did not end up as Naermyth snack lies in a group of people who use salt for main ammo and who protect themselves against Naermyth mind control techniques under (usually) cool codenames: the Shepherd. Apart from the action scenes and the heart-racing romance, what I really love about Naermyth is the subtle comedy that would strike many creatives dumb with admiration. Here’s another cool thing: despite being written by a girl, having love story angles, and the having a girl heroine (although Aegis is the kind of girl who would punch you in the face if you even suggest she wears make-up), Naermyth is far from a girly-girl story. The fight scenes are mucho awesome, and there is a fair share of gory stuff involved as well. It is all good.
After reading Naermyth for the third time (and certainly not the last time), I still feel the need to stock up on salt and be on the lookout for things that go bump in the night.
Price: PHP200.00
Trese by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo
I am not really a comics fan, but this one really got me hooked. Barilan, upakan and witty, in-your-face exchanges between the supernatural-arse-kicking chick Alexandra Trese (usually with her sexy sidekicks, the Kambal) and her gun-wielding foes from the pages of lower Philippine mythology are just some of the things I got out of Trese. Subtle humor, a dash of practical magic, and Pinoy legends with a modern twist, lamay nights for reading and re-reading the entire series are all worth it. What makes Trese unique from all other comic books I know is that I can pick up a collection, say Trese 4, read it as a separate package from the rest of the books slash the requirement of knowing the first three books to enjoy it.
Another thing that I thoroughly enjoy is the stark, almost dark-minimalistic way Kajo Baldisimo drew Trese. A far cry from overly-embellished characters and scenes, Kajo’s use of shadows and contrasts is more than enough to tell a striking story. In fact, I cannot imagine Trese being told in any other style.
Walking through Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo’s dark Manila is like taking a trip to some warped-up parallel world. Like a kiss in the night, the stories are brief, sharp and spine-tingling.
Price: Ranging from PHP120.00-PHP200,00
News of the Shaman by Karl de Mesa
This one totally blew my mind… Like, put a .45 on my temple and fire five rounds without delay. News of the Shaman is something that is languid in its narrative and must be savored by readers to be truly appreciated. It is a mind-f*cking experience that any PG-specfic fan must have. Forgive the French.
Four interconnected novellas with independent plotlines and sub plotlines tell very blatant stories of what seem to be drug-induced hallucinations that might actually be real, creatures of the night coming out to party with the living, sadistic/masochistic love and sex, and other such topics that I personally do not often see in Philippine literature. At least, not in the way Karl De Mesa tells them.
The essence of the stories is raw and almost supernatural-primal in nature, but written with undeniable elegance with words that intimidate, arouse, and take any decent reader into the depths of the old gods’ spirituality, rock/goth music, and drugged minds.
This is the kind of book I’d read if ever I’m stuck in a nasty traffic jam, or lining up for FX during Monday mornings. It passes the time, it occupies the senses, it plays with your mind – my definition of great literature.
Price: PHP200.00
Filipino Heroes League (FHL) by Paolo Fabregas
What actually caught my eye is the premise behind FHL: doing good is not easy in a corrupted society. This is exactly what FHL’s claim to fame tells readers. After all, running after the bad guys in a padyak is anything but easy.
Social issues: something that is dealt with in passing in many works of fiction, but is written all over FHL. Set in a society where the best supers have long migrated abroad as the superhero-version of OFW, in a world much like ours where people who work for the people are underpaid and underappreciated, FHL takes on the elements of real life and integrates it in a flawless narrative. Our heroes here are flawed, has-beens, second-raters, and like most of us ordinary citizens, poor… but they are ready to show us just how badass they could be.
FHL doesn’t spare you from kids spewing profanities, so this is not for the humorless. It also does not spare you from laughing until your tummy hurts… or at least sniggering in the attempts of holding back a crazy fit of laughter.
Price: PHP200.00
100% Pinoy Specfic: what are you waiting for? Go and get ‘em! Available at most bookshops near you.
Now excuse me as I once again pay homage to these awesome pieces of literary art.
Fantastic I love the fact that all of these are in English so an Expat like me who is living in the Philippines and loves Pinoy culture can enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteThanks a million for the recommendations!