Hardly a month after its launch on Jan 12, Silverfish New Writings 1 is already into its second print. Edited by the incorrigible Amir Muhammad, this anthology of stories from Malaysia, Singapore and beyond contains 26 short stories, some of which are good, especially the Hand of Glory and the one on self-immolation.

But before you read the stories — should you get a copy of the book — heres a suggestion thats open to criticism.

Start from the back, where it says: Notes on contributors. Theres a real foo-yo (meaning fantastic, or terror in local lingo) list of them.

Why is this book (or rather its contributors) so foo-yo? Check this out  an Asiaweek writer and published author; a writer once dubbed Queen of Malaysian Short Stories; and a writer who has many cums - cum-playwright-cum-tv producer-cum-entrepreneur whos an ethnic Indian, a Malaysian national and a British resident rolled into one.

Succulent thighs

Theres also a Sabah-born literary hustler, musician and publisher who mostly wants to get laid.

Then theres a lecturer from a Canadian university whose interdisciplinary doctoral thesis focused on Malaysian post-NEP literature and film (I swear I didnt make this one up).

Another is a 28-year-old screenwriter, director and father — how come some people get to have it all, and at 28?

More: a lecturer from UKMs Faculty of Language Studies whos working on her PhD thesis; a government school teacher; a newspaper columnist; and a dead person.

The trick with the next one is to say it all in one breath — a typographer, copywriter, researcher with ISIS (wah! work for Egyptian goddess, one) Malaysia, and wannabe scriptwriter for stage and film who studied economics at the University of Chicago. And yes, this is one person.

And there is this guy with succulent thighs whos the type youd want to bring home to meet your parents (for roasting, too).

Had enough of the list of contributors? But theres more  a writer half yours trulys age; a writer 13-years younger than yours truly, who has acted in plays such as The Crucible, and Reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated which she also co-wrote; and a top 10 winner in New Century Writer Awards 2000, who likes a Singapore Maugham on one hand and Somerset Sling in the other (oops, this one was so foo-yo my eyes got crossed. Just shuffle the names around a bit).

Mat Salleh-fy

As for the stories, are they refreshingly new? Not particularly. They are surely readable, to say the least. And interestingly the vocabulary is quite colourful (yes, theres the F*** word and the C*** word, too).

One or two of the writers do indulge in a bit of government bashing. But political outspokenness is hardly a measure of a books worth and quality.

At times the writing seemed showy, as if it was saying Look how well I can write instead of Look, I have a story to tell.

Adding to that, there is a prevailing tendency to Mat Salleh-fy the content as well as the writing, making it less honest. It didnt come from the heart, and it showed in the writing. We do not have to write like anyone else but ourselves — to tell it like you see it.

However, this is just one sods comment. After all thats said and done, Silverfish New Writings 1 is certainly a commendable effort as it is a step in the right direction — to widen the outlet for expression. And as we learn to stick to honest writing, well be among the best in no time.

Happy fishing, folks! Silverfishing, that is.

(On a more personal note: By the way, Amir, who is this judgmental dingbat you mentioned in the preface? Yes, the one who wrote for Rhino press Black and White series, but which one?)