Infinite Lives, Infinite Deaths
A collection of surreal stories set in a nightmarish Manila by Douglas Candano
Candano constructs a macabre world where reality fractures under the weight of history and myth. The narratives shift rapidly between domestic spaces and institutional horrors. One story examines the transformation of a family business into an exotic bar. Another details the bureaucratic procedures governing a camp for elderly prostitutes. A third follows a medical professional confronting alternate life paths. These vignettes draw heavily on Philippine society and Chinese-Filipino identity. The author blends applied folkloristics with speculative fiction to create unsettling scenarios. The collection avoids conventional resolution, leaving readers with lingering questions about memory and existence.
The book is set in a nightmarish version of Manila. It draws on Philippine history and society alongside the Chinese-Filipino experience. The narratives incorporate world mythology and folklore to examine cultural intersections and historical trauma within this specific geographic and social context.
📝 Description: Infinite Lives, Infinite Deaths
💎 Our verdict on Infinite Lives, Infinite Deaths
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers seeking a departure from conventional linear plots will find profound value in Candano’s genre-defying narratives. The book appeals to those interested in surreal horror, cultural intersectionality, and complex mythological blending. By stitching together world mythology, folklore, and Philippine history, the text offers a unique examination of memory and existence through the lens of the Chinese-Filipino experience. It is ideal for readers who enjoy societal critique woven into unsettling scenarios. The collection rewards those willing to engage with layered narrative structures that avoid straightforward horror tropes. Those fascinated by speculative fiction that fractures reality under the weight of history will gain a deeper understanding of how identity and myth interact in nightmarish settings.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Candano constructs a macabre world where reality fractures, blending applied folkloristics with speculative fiction to create deeply unsettling scenarios. The vignettes traverse borders between horror, magic realism, metafiction, and science fiction, offering diverse insights into Philippine society. From bureaucratic procedures in elderly camps to traumatic field trips, the narratives draw heavily on Chinese-Filipino identity and societal critique. The collection avoids conventional resolution, leaving lingering questions about memory and existence. It suits readers interested in surreal horror and cultural intersectionality. While it may not suit those seeking traditional linear plots, it excels in its complex mythological blending. This volume is a compelling study of how history and myth shape contemporary nightmares.
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🏛 Books from this publisher Penguin Books
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