Page turners on 2001's literary scene<\/p>\n
-----------------
\nLie Hua
\nContributor
\nJakarta
\n------------------<\/p>\n
The country's literary arena was shaken in 2001 by the
\nappearance of Supernova, a novel written by a real newcomer, Dee
\n(Dewi Lestari).<\/p>\n
This breakthrough work fostered an unusually rich literary
\ndebate. But it was not the only happening during the year.<\/p>\n
Writers, including a crop of first-timers, do not seem to be
\ndaunted by the protracted economic and political crisis gripping
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
World-famous Pramoedya Ananta Toer came out this year with two
\nbooks -- Cerita dari Digoel (Tales from Digoel) which he edited,
\nand Perawan Remaja dalam Cengkeraman Militer (Girls in the
\nmilitary's grip), his account of a group of Indonesians forced to
\nbecome comfort women by the Japanese occupation forces. This
\naccount, based on data collected while he was exiled on Buru
\nIsland, shows great literary flair and reads like a novel of
\nsorts.<\/p>\n
This year also saw the publication of some of Pramoedya's
\nworks in English translation: Tales from Djakarta, It's Not an
\nAll-Night Fair and The King, the Witch and the Priest (or Calon
\nArang). These translated works will surely make him more
\naccessible to foreign readers.<\/p>\n
An epic novel of sorts -- in terms of geographical setting,
\nparticularly -- was also released: Perang dan Kembang (War and
\nFlowers) by Asahan Alham. Dwelling on the period spanning the
\nlate 1960s to the early 1980s, this novel, which is partly
\nautobiographical, graphically describes for readers what life was
\nlike in Vietnam and later in China during those years. Asahan --
\nformerly Asahan Aidit, youngest brother of slain Indonesian
\ncommunist leader, DN Aidit -- lived through this period himself.<\/p>\n
The year also saw the release of works by noted writers
\nexploring unfamiliar genres. Well-known poets Sutardji Calzoum
\nBachri and Sapardi Djoko Damono each published collections of
\nshort stories, entitled respectively Hujan Menulis Ayam (Rain
\nWriting Chicken) and Pengarang Telah Mati (The Author is Dead).<\/p>\n
In the hands of both Sutardji, the self-styled president of
\nIndonesian poetry, and Sapardi, a highly skilled lyricist, the
\nstories read more like long poems. However, their attempts to
\nwrite in a different genre deserve praise.<\/p>\n
Another fresh addition was The Rite of the Bali Aga by Sitor
\nSitumorang. This is his first collection of poems, originally
\nwritten in English. Here, as in his usually lyrical poems, Sitor
\nshows his skill in bringing together English words to form
\nharmonious strings of verses.<\/p>\n
At least two noted poets saw the publication of their complete
\nworks: Goenawan Mohamad with his Sajak-Sajak Lengkap 1961-2001
\n(Complete Poems 1961-2001) and Toto Sudarto Bachtiar with his
\nSuara, Etsa, Desah (Voice, Etches, Sighing). Complete works allow
\nreaders to observe the literary development and achievements of a
\nwriter.<\/p>\n
Writers have benefited from the increasingly widespread use of
\nthe Internet in this country. An anthology of cyber poems called
\nGraffiti Gratitude has been published, containing works by new
\nand established poets, including foreigners writing in English.
\nObviously the world, even in literature, is becoming increasingly
\nborderless. Just try any search engine and look for sites on
\nIndonesian literature. There are a few that may interest you.<\/p>\n
It was also during this year that a number of Indonesian
\nliterary works were published in English translation. Apart from
\nPram's works, we could also enjoy Kill the Radio, a collection of
\npoems by Dorothea Rosa Herliany, The Magician, a collection of
\nshort stories by Bakdi Soemanto and Beautiful Eyes, a
\ncompilation of the best short stories published in Kompas.<\/p>\n
Amid the threat of national disintegration, Indonesian writers
\nof Chinese origin, some of them writing in Chinese and
\nIndonesian, have continued to make their presence felt. In
\ncooperation with the Indonesian Literature Committee (KSI), in
\nNovember 2001 they launched verse collections by two Chinese
\nIndonesian writers, Jeanne L. Yap and Mingfang. Translated into
\nIndonesian by Wilson Tjandinegara, these poems introduced a wider
\nreading audience to what Chinese Indonesian writers were feeling
\nand experiencing.<\/p>\n
Also worthy of mention were the tireless efforts to popularize
\nliterature under the sponsorship of the country's only literary
\nmagazine, Horison. The program included a series of visits to
\nschools and universities to acquaint students with writers, and
\nthe release of a book, Dari Fansuri ke Handayani (From Fansuri to
\nHandayani), a collection of literary pieces from both past and
\npresent.<\/p>\n
A number of other books representing all literary genres,
\nparticularly short stories, saw the light of day during 2001,
\nincluding Larung, the sequel to the phenomenal Saman.<\/p>\n
Newspapers like Media Indonesia, Kompas and Republika still
\nfeature a regular literary page. The Jakarta Post also deserves
\npraise for regularly publishing Indonesian short stories in its
\nSunday edition.<\/p>\n
In addition to Horison there are two other magazines offering
\nliterature buffs fresh articles, stories and poems. They are
\nKalam (Pen) and Media Kerja Budaya (Cultural Work Medium). Like
\npoems? Then Puisi (Poetry) magazine may interest you.<\/p>\n
Last but not least, we have Di Bawah Langit tak Berbintang
\n(Under a starless sky) by Utuy Tatang Sontani, one of Indonesia's
\nmost important playwrights, victimized after the bloody 1965 coup
\nallegedly involving the Indonesian Communist Party. Utuy died in
\nself-imposed exile in Moscow. This book is an account of how he
\nbegan writing and how he spent his years of exile in China and
\nRussia.<\/p>",
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