“What the Future Brings” features short stories by 15 young Malaysian authors, each themed on the world of tomorrow.
Some stories take place in the distant future, where technology has advanced to extraordinary levels. Others take place not so very far from now, often showcasing a character who must deal with challenging circumstances to come.
Regardless of the time of their setting, each story is immensely readable, making this anthology a fine showcase of the talent and creativity of these authors.
“What the Future Brings” is the brainchild of editor and writer Brigitte Rozario, who earlier published six books through her Junior Writer’s Programme. Established in 2018, the programme was a way for Rozario to encourage youth, aged 11-14, to write.
With this anthology, however, Rozario worked with slightly older writers. She recently organised a writing competition for 15- to 19-year-olds, and was impressed by the level of talent in the entries.
She contacted 15 alumni of her Junior Writer’s Programme, inviting them to submit to a new anthology.
The authors are Aisha Azizul, Alicia Joy Prakasa Rau, Amir Ridzuan Bahari, Asha Arriana Murugan, Colin Pui, Helena Aysera Hishamuddin Hud, Lim Xi, Louise Marie Chew, Nuur Qistina, Raihanah Razrim, Rheya Naidu, Tan Yuan Guan, Theivanai Natarajan, Tiffany Tan and Vinoshini Pregalathan.
“The writers did very well. Many had developed maturity, and a few had really blossomed. Some who were already good writers had become even better,” Rozario told FMT Lifestyle.
What makes the book extra fun to read is its diversity of voices and subject matter. No two stories are alike, and readers can go from a science fiction-esque exploration of futuristic technology directly to a moving slice-of-life drama of family conflict.
In Asha’s “A Perfect World,” for example, the sudden appearance of mysterious twins results in a girl uncovering a dark conspiracy.
Pui’s “For A Better Future” links the lives of four individuals through a sinister painting.
And Rheya’s “Belong” tells the relatable tale of a student torn between home and foreign shores.
Aisha’s “Perfume” uses the story of a character grieving the loss of a loved one to explore a hot-button contemporary issue: the use of artificial intelligence. The precocious 17-year-old student of Epsom College, Negeri Sembilan, said her story was inspired by French author Albert Camus’s 1942 novella “The Stranger.”
“Hopefully, readers can reflect on the use and limitations of AI today, especially on its role in schools and so on,” Aisha said.
“Yes, the book is about the future. But I hope people who read my story are also inspired to appreciate the present. There are so many incredible things happening today. No matter what fantastic technology we develop, there will never be moments like now again.”
Theivanai’s “Behind Bars,” on the other hand, tells the story of a man whose life is shaken up after his brother, his family’s “perfect boy,” does something shocking in the days leading up to his marriage.
The 15-year-old author, a student at SMK Seksyen 4 Bandar Kinrara, said the theme of her story was the fear of change.
“At the end of the day, you should do what you feel is right, and not just be influenced by supposed ‘role models.’ And you should never be afraid of change, because that is the one thing that will always happen,” Theivanai said.
Both authors agreed that they learnt a lot from Rozario’s tutelage and the Junior Writer’s Programme, and hoped to keep writing.
Rozario intends to publish more anthologies like this in the future (pun not intended).
“We have so much creativity in Malaysia. And I think this is a good way for youngsters to share their opinions and their thoughts. There are probably a lot more of them out there, undiscovered, and I hope this will help discover them, and offer them a platform to express themselves,” Rozario concluded.
‘What The Future Brings’ can be purchased online and from bookstores.