Sunday, August 06, 2006

I've been banned!

Would you believe it? I've been banned by the Singapore National Library. They refused to stock my book in all their branches, citing 'It's too explicit and graphic" after reading a few chapters.

The outrage!

At least I haven't been banned here by our own Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka. They took 5 copies to keep as 'National Heritage.' I'm not sure I can quite call Dark City a national heritage, but at least I can count on my own countrymen/librarians to support me.

Aside, I've been offline for several days now, thanks to Streamyx. But those TM guys have been working around the clock to restore it. And they have. Kudos. They get a bad rap, but sometimes they get it right.

8 comments:

Lydia Teh said...

Huh? If you get this news out to the Singaporean public, they'll prob be flocking to the bookstores to get Dark City.

Anonymous said...

Lydia's is probably right.

Anything that kena banned, becomes more popular. Anyway, let's pray that Dark City will be able to see light at the end of the tunnel. We're all behind you.

Artemis Hunt said...

Guys, thanks. But I don't really think the Singapore National Library will relent. But Lydia, you are right too. I'll just have to leak the news out :)

Anonymous said...

Tsk, tsk, tsk, what were those Singaporeans thinking? How can they possibly be such puritans compared to our own country?? It certainly beggars belief!

Oh, Xeus, you're in good company...I read somewhere that the children's book "The Bad Book" by popular Aussie writer Andy Griffiths, so go figure!

Dark City is too cool to be overlooked by the Singaporean public. I'm sure if they heard about the ban, Singaporeans will probably be flocking to Johor bookstores to get a copy!

Ted Mahsun said...

Leak the news out? No problem... *wink wink* Bans always bring in the crowds.

Funny how they can bring in the films we ban, and ban the books we're fine with. Anyways, at least not banned from shops ya?

Anonymous said...

From IZ Reloaded:

Malaysian author Xeus says that her book Dark City -an entertaining and creditable collection of short stories that draws on the dark and unsavoury sides of human nature festering in urban life - has been banned in the Singapore National Library...

Anonymous said...

You had me at 'banned'. No lah, I've never heard about this book until I read Iz reloaded's blog. Seems interesting enough for me to want to rush to 1 utama to get a copy, which i will do so right after work :)

Artemis Hunt said...

Dear Eternal Wanderer, lucky banned only by the Singaporean library. Not banned at Singaporean bookstores :)

Borders Singapore gave me a good display in front, so I hear....

Ted (wink back)