SingLit Spotlight: Spend Halloween With These Supernatural Singaporean Stories
If you think Singapore has no horror stories – think again. Some of the dates we've been on can qualify, but that's a whole other story.
With Halloween coming soon, we thought there’s no better time to indulge in some supernatural lore right from the Lion City. Of course, you can visit a haunted site, or hit up extravaganzas like Haw Ror Villa or Halloween Horror Nights, but if you’d rather stay home this season, then why not curl up with books featuring supernatural Singapore?
The Minorities by Suffian Hakim
This book follows what happens to four housemates who share a flat in Yishun. No, that's not the scary part. They each have their own issues to deal with: the main character is a Malay-Jewish man attempting to summon his father back from the dead; he enlists help from a Bangladeshi artist fleeing a construction company, a Chinese illegal immigrant obsessed with Forest Gump, and a talented Indian lab technician escaping her abusive spouse. But first, they have to help the pontianak get back to her home in Meleka, after they realise that she is also an outcast like they are.
Like Suffian's other books (The Keeper Of Stories, Harris bin Potter And The Stoned Philosopher), this one has supernatural elements, but that's tempered by his inimitable humour, making this more funny than scary.
The Miss Cassidy trilogy by Meihan Boey
Comprising three books – The Formidable Miss Cassidy, The Enigmatic Miss Ingram and The Mystical Mister Kay – these stories are set in colonial Singapore and feature a fascinating supporting cast of ghoulies from local and regional folklore.
Book 1 takes place after Miss Cassidy arrives in Singapore. On the face of it, she seems to be yet another governess sent to work for a family. But the family has a secret no one talks about: a malevolent spirit is threatening their lives. Fortunately, Miss Cassidy has a way to deal with these things.
In Book 2, Miss Letty Ingram, who has suffered under a strange curse her whole life, comes to Singapore to seek help from a Chinese medium, Madam Kay. But Madam Kay’s whole family soon gets involved, and they have to call on the formidable Miss Cassidy.
In the final book, Mister Kay, ghost-seer from Singapore, arrives in the English city of Tolwich to search for Miss Cassidy, who's since returned to the UK. But his investigation takes a darker turn: a princess is found dead, a cult-like fashion house holds the city in its grip, and a seminary for Asian royals hides secrets no one dares name. Mr Kay is pulled into a mystery that spans continents and mythologies – one that may destroy him.
Meihan Boey's award-winning books are packed with thrills and ghouls – with each sequel darker than the last, but they're laden with enough charm that tempers the scare factor. Must-reads for those who enjoy supernatural stories, but who still want to sleep in peace.
Fright 1
Speaking of Meihan Boey, she contributes the lead story to this collection, which features winners of the Storytel Epigram Horror Prize. Her creepy tale, "The General's Wife", sets the tone for the rest of the stories, which range from unexplained family tragedies to supernatural situations with spirits. As the editors say, ghost stories and tales of fright have a long verbal and written tradition in Singapore, but we'd argue that all 11 stories here have universal themes that anyone around the world can relate to.
A Mosque In The Jungle: Classic Ghost Stories by Othman Wok
Othman Wok may be best known as a politician, but did you know that he was also a prolific writer of horror fiction? A writer for Utasan Melayu and Mustika magazine between 1952 and 1956, he penned dozens of folksy ghost stories, many of which have since been translated into English. This collection of stories was edited by award-winning poet/author Ng Yi-Sheng and assembles two dozen of his best tales from the dark side, including the titular tale, "Mermaid's Tears" and "Under The Banyan Tree".
The New Singapore Horror Collection by SJ Huang
From a mysterious death of an office worker in a stairwell to a man who comes into possession of a vintage instrument that's rumoured to be cursed, this collection offers 13 stories set in modern Singapore revolving around a cast of characters who deal with what we cannot see or understand. Not all the stories are haunting or out-and-out scary, but they do showcase a new take on the classic Singapore Scary Story.
True Singapore Ghost Stories by Russell Lee
How could we not include the OG which launched in 1989? Nearly everyone has read at least one instalment of this iconic book series, not just here in Singapore but across Southeast Asia. Why does it work? Its spine-chilling collections of supernatural encounters, local urban legends, and folklore are born from the authors' imagination but also draw on accounts from real people. The latest instalment (book 27) includes a tale of a World War II spirit, a pontianak, and a hefty dose of social commentary. (Read our True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 27 review.)
Some of the more outrageous storylines apparently came from real-life experiences, lending credence to the whole "stranger than fiction" adage. Fun fact: the author "Russell Lee" is actually a pseudonym, and his face is always covered when he appears in public, but that Lee’s identity is a secret contributes to the allure of this series.
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