In a previous post I gave a list of possible readings you could start with when diving into Filipino Literature.  The catalog of books was realist in character, as most of the Filipino literature is realist in character.   There has been, however, a growth of books in Speculative Fiction, its ascent popularly attributed to the efforts of Dean Francis Alfar.   For Filipino Literature, fantasy, sci-fi, horror and other non-realist genres are bundled up in the umbrella genre of Spec Fic.   And, unlike the Filipino realist genre, there have been only a few efforts to generate a spec-fic novel–not that it isn’t popular, but the format usually used for Spec-Fic are anthologies of short stories.

Here then is a list of readings to start diving into Filipino Spec Fic:

UPDATE: Several books are now unavailable, but I’ve left them crossed out for future reference.   I’ve also added a very good book, Salamanca by Dean Francis Alfar, for those who might have missed Kite of Stars when it was available, as well as the Nikki Alfar collection Wonderlust.

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Novels

 1. The Hour of Daydreams – This is a retelling of an old folktale about the intermingling of lives of mortals and faeries.   For those familiar with the story, this would be a refreshing take on an old tale

–You can find a copy of the book in this link: Here

Kindle: Link

 2. Project 17 – Set in a future where robotic companions is the norm, this is a gripping dystopic thriller

You can find a copy of the book on Amazon in this link: Here

2. Salamanca – In this generations-spanning novel by Dean Francis Alfar, fantasy interweaves with an enduring love story

You can find a copy of the book in this link: Here

  3. Milagroso: A Tor.com Original – An exploration into the ethical ramifications and consequences of technological progress, in this case turning artificial product into real, organic food

You can find a copy of the book on Amazon: (Kindle) Here

3. After Lambana: Urban Fantasy  Link here

4. Wounded Gods: Link here

5. Plum Rains: Link Here

6. Dwellers: Link Here

Short Stories

 1. The Best of Philippine Speculative Fiction, 2005-2010 – Speculative Fiction owes much to the efforts of Dean Francis Alfar, who wanted to elevate the genre from the fringes

of Philippine Literature.  In this book he compiles a collection of the best Spec fic short stories for over half a decade, from the best Filipino writers

–You can find a copy of the book on Amazon in this link: Here

 2. The Kite of Stars and Other Stories – who can mention Dean Francis Alfar and not mention this iconic collection of short stories from the author?  The Kite of Stars is a must-read for those wanting some background on spec fic

–You can find a copy of the book on Amazon in this link: Here

 3. Diaspora ad Astra – Part of the Stranger Fiction Series, those wanting to explore Filipino science fiction might not want to miss this collection of short stories (hurry as this is the last supply!)

–You can find a copy of the book here: Link

 4. A Bottle of Storm Clouds – a personal recommendation, Eliza Victoria is one of the more popular writers in Speculative fiction, and in this collection she narrates fantasy, horror and sci-fi, all while keeping you glued to the page

–You can find a copy of the book on Amazon in this link: Here

4. Wonderlust – For those who might have wanted more of the magic of Kite of Stars, this collection of fantasy and science fiction might be perfect for your tastes.

–You can find a copy of the book on Amazon in this link: (Kindle) Here

5. Dear Distance – A personal recommendation, this is a masterpiece in fantasy and magical realism, and Luis Katigbak weaves intimate tales of the incredible with the personal

-You can find a Kindle copy: HERE

6. Infinite Library and Other Short Stories: Find the link HERE

7. Virtual Centre: A classic collection, Find the Link HERE

That’s a short list of Speculative Fiction I’ve read so far.   But from the genre is growing a community of writers waiting to pen their own creation and giving their much needed contributions.

It’s difficult to find Sci-Fi novels that do not have a “Western-ish” voice or towards the Filipino audience, though the Short Stories collection were easier to get