Writer Bissme S ventures into the dark side of human relationships

KUALA LUMPUR: In a desolate future where humanity has fallen, the last person alive is held captive by a mysterious figure known only as the Queen of Fire.

What does she demand? Stories.

Over the course of 18 days, the final human on Earth must tell her 18 tales, each one buying another day of life. Fail to satisfy her, and death awaits.

Such is the surreal framing device that links the intimate and unsettling tales in “Stories Between Us”, the third short-story collection by former journalist and author Bissme S, published by Fixi Novo.

“Whenever I start a book of stories, I try to find a connecting theme. Here, it’s relationships. The characters could be friends, mothers and sons, or strangers, but something develops between them.

“Unfortunately, these relationships aren’t always smooth sailing, and some turn out quite twisted,” Bissme, 58, told FMT Lifestyle.

A journalist for three decades, Bissme has won several accolades including Best Entertainment Writer from the Malaysian Press Institute in 1996, and the Samad Idris Trophy from the National Film Development Corporation in 2000 and 2010.

His previous collections, “Doubt” and “Bitter”, were published by Merpati Jingga in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

The Kuala Lumpur-born said he learnt the art of storytelling from his grandmother, who, ironically, could not read or write. He remembers being captivated by the stories she told him, many of which she had heard from her own mother.

“She would also tell me about movies she had seen. As a child, I thought she had created them! Later, I would watch these movies and think my grandmother’s versions were better,” Bissme with a laugh.

“It’s a shame many children nowadays are not that close to their grandparents. They miss out on experiences like this. She really made me want to be a writer.”

“Stories Between Us” is filled with haunting scenarios. After a one-night stand, a man awakens in the body of the opposite gender. A housewife insists someone has broken into her home just to steal a story she wrote.

In another tale, a woman encounters a clown on her porch, eager to sell her a refrigerator. When she rejects him, she discovers a terrifying surprise.

One of Bissme’s favourite stories is “His Wife, My Wife, Our Wives”, in which two men bond over the loss of the loves of their lives.

Another is “Ocean”, where a woman rescues a journalist from drowning – only to realise he never wanted to be saved.

Each story is written in Bissme’s distinct style: simple yet effective prose, where seemingly straightforward plots carry layered meanings and unsettling undertones.

After three short-story collections, Bissme has clearly developed a deep affinity for the form. While he once dreamed of writing a novel, he now feels content working within the format and no longer sees the need to “switch lanes”.

His next challenge is even more constrained: a flash-fiction collection, in which each story is told in under 600 words.

Many readers describe his stories as dark, a characterisation he finds amusing.

“I’ve never thought of my stories as dark. I understand they might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But I encourage readers to try them and see what they think. I think labels are for bottles, not for literature.”

He went on: “Yes, not everyone may like the things that I write about, but if we were all to write the same kind of stories, what a boring world it would be!”

While his stories can be unsettling, readers will rarely encounter ghosts or monsters within them. For Bissme, human nature is capable of far greater horrors than anything supernatural can offer.

With vampires and zombies, he said, you know what to expect. “Human beings, one moment they tell you they adore you, then in the next, they betray you for their own benefit.

“They hide their intentions. They hide who they truly are. And to me, that is far scarier than any ghost story.”

Get your copy of ‘Stories Between Us’ here.