Theme: Get to Know Singapore Horror Literature
Adults & Seniors
by LearnX Reading
Get To Know: Singapore Horror Literature
Singapore's horror genre has a distinct flavour, deeply rooted in local folklore and supernatural beliefs from various ethnic communities. Drawing from a rich tapestry of cultural myths like the pontianak (female vampire), toyol (child spirit), and hungry ghost traditions, Singaporean horror often blends modern urban settings with traditional Asian supernatural elements. Well-known literary works like Russell Lee's True Singapore Ghost Stories series and Damien Sin's Classic Singapore Horror Stories captured the zeitgeist of urban legends in Singapore's rapidly modernising society. This localised approach to horror resonates particularly well with domestic audiences who recognise these cultural touchstones and shared spaces, creating a more intimate and relatable sense of dread.
If you are looking for some frightfully good reads, check out some of the recommendations below:
1. A Mosque in the Jungle: Classic Ghost Stories
By Othman Wok, edited by Ng Yi-Sheng
Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibrary username is required to access the eBook).
2. The New Singapore Horror Collection by S.J. Huang
Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibrary username is required to access the eBook).
3. The Minorities by Suffian Hakim
Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibrary username is required to access the eBook).
4. The Black and White House: A Haunting Tale of Friendship and Fear in Singapore
By Karien van Ditzhuijzen
Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibrary username is required to access the eBook).
5. The Howling Silence: Tales of the Dead and Their Return by Catherine Lim
Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibrary username is required to access the eBook).
6. Fright 1: Winners of the 2022 Storytel Epigram Horror Prize
By Annaliza Bakri (Ed.), Gwee Li Sui (Ed.), Jason Erik Lundberg (Ed.)
Retrieved from NLB Overdrive (myLibrary username is required to access the eBook).
Check out these resources as well
A History of Singapore Horror
Singaporeans have always had a morbid fascinaion with the supernatural. Ng Yi-Sheng examines the culture of horror in our oral folklore, books and films in this issue of BiblioAsia here.
The Popularity of True Singapore Ghost Stories
Most of us have read a story or two from this anthology – True Singapore Ghost Stories. To date, 28 volumes have been printed since its inception in 1989. Why is this series so popular to local readers? Can it be truly considered a classic because of its enduring popularity? Catch Gwee Li Sui in this episode of “How to Fall In Love with Classics” as he argues the case of True Singapore Ghost Stories being an indelible part of Singapore literature and its place in our cultural psyche. Watch it now.
Ghost in the Shelves - Exploring Singapore's Horror Culture
Librarian Jacqueline Lee embarks on a journey through Singapore's published horror heritage and its evolution, while reflecting on the wider culture of horror in Singapore. Watch this programme session here.