Alternative Alamat: An Anthology
Myths and Legends from the Philippines
Paolo Chikiamco author Mervin Malonzo illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Tuttle Publishing
Published:16th Aug '22
Should be back in stock very soon
An anthology of speculative short fiction from 12 talented Asian authors!
Dip into the rich treasure trove of Filipino alamat (legends) with this new collection of contemporary short stories. This anthology includes works by a dozen talented and award-winning Filipino writers including Budjette Tan (Trese) and Eliza Victoria (Dwellers). Explore richly imagined realms where powerful gods and magical creatures are responsible for the twists and turns of fate in the lives of ordinary people.
The 13 amazing stories in this collection include:
- The fate of the lingering Sky Maiden
- The diwata Maria Makiling seeking romantic partners in the human world
- Depictions of Philippine deities, including Balitok, Bangunbangun, Dagau, Haliya, Hukloban and Melu
- Encounters with celestial power beneath the sea, at the movies and in a pawnshop
- And many more!
Each tale is reimagined for a modern sensibility and reinvented for the current generation of fantasy fiction fans. This gripping collection is essential reading for anyone interested in magical realism and contemporary Filipino fiction.
"This delightfully illustrated dive into the relatively unknown Indigenous mythology, or alamat, of the Philippines brings together 13 fables and foibles that deliver modern takes on classic legends while honoring the original stories and preserving their poetry. Combined with an informative introduction, glossaries of gods and terms, and a list of further reading, this proves a welcoming and thoroughly entertaining introduction to Filipino mythology." —Publishers Weekly
"We love retellings of Greek mythology. We love retellings of Norse mythology, but have you tried Filipino mythology? These are three really fun, essential fantasy reads. If you want to get more into Filipino mythology. Alternative Alamat is a really, really great compilation of short stories from a lot of very prominent Filipino writers." — Deanna Duxbury, TikTok / #BookTok @deannajduxburywrites
"This is such a beautiful book.…these stories are personal and ancestral. Reading this felt like going home." —Jasmine-Grace Nacu (@steepedinstories), Bookstagram
ISBN: 9780804855570
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 397g
224 pages