Spirits Abroad Stories

Spirits Abroad Stories by Zen Cho, published by Small Beer Press in 2021, is an expanded edition featuring 338 pages of engaging narratives. This collection presents nineteen stories that traverse the realms of the living and the dead, showcasing a blend of fantasy and literary elements. The book includes nine additional stories, among them the Hugo Award-winning tale “If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again,” enriching the original Crawford Award-winning debut collection.

Readers will discover a variety of characters and situations, such as a Datin reflecting on her romance with an orang bunian and a teenage pontianak navigating the complexities of adolescence alongside her supernatural challenges. The stories delve into themes of ghostly encounters and cultural nuances, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between different worlds. This edition invites exploration of the fantastical while addressing relatable human experiences, making it a noteworthy addition to the genres of fiction and fantasy.