Honford Star unveils trio of contemporary fiction titles for 2020

Indie publisher Honford Star is expanding into contemporary fiction with three new books by up and coming east Asian fiction writers.

The publisher is working with ex-Hodder publicists Nikki Mander, of Mander and Barrow PR, and Lyndsey Ng to promote the books after securing funding from Arts Council England.

First title Hunter School by writer and forest rancher Sakinu Ahronglong, translated by Darryl Sterk, will be published in May 2020. It is described as a work of fiction consisting of recollections, folklore, and autobiographical stories from the perspective of an aboriginal Taiwanese man aiming to reconnect with his lost tribal identity.

Astral Season, Beastly Season by poet Tahi Saihate was inspired by a line an English textbook. Translated by Kalau Almony, the book is published in July 2020.

Also publishing in July is third title Tower by Bae Myung-hoon, translated by Kalau Almony. The novel, by one of South Korea’s most popular sci-fi writers, consists of six interconnected stories set in a 674-story skyscraper that functions as a sovereign state.

Anthony Bird, founder and publisher, said: “Although all the books could be lumped together as of being from ‘East Asia’, in reality the voices are massively disparate and come from different socio- political and cultural perspectives. Readers who delight in new voices, new literary forms, and want to learn more about the cultural landscape from outside Europe will greatly enjoy the titles. Honford Star’s drive to bring these titles to the English-speaking world comes from the belief that these books are different from the vast majority of what’s currently available to English-language readers, and we believe readers in the UK have thus far been greatly missing out.”

Honford  was set-up in 2017 and has previously published four translations of classic 20th century literature from east Asia.

Mander said: “Honford Star is an exciting proposition for these socio-political times, bringing different perspectives, impact and texture, and voices with different priorities and messages to the cultural scene. The attention Honford Star brings to every aspect of their titles shows unfailing care and consideration”