A courtesan who secretly controls flame; A baby that eats soil; A professor tasked with proving the masculinity of a national hero; A quest to create a kite that reaches the stars. Philippine Speculative Fiction Vol. 1 is the first of several anthologies that showcases the rich variety of Philippine literature: between these covers you will find magic realism next to science fiction, traditional fantasy beside slipstream, and imaginary worlds rubbing shoulders with alternate Philippine history --demonstrating that the literature of the fantastic is alive and well in the Philippines.

Stories from this series have been included in the Honorable Mentions list from The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror edited by Ellen Datlow and Kelly Link & Gavin Grant.

"[I] have been impressed with the quality of the fiction and the scope of it -- quiet, personal stories of the fantastic, real science fiction, tales based on traditional Philippine folklore and mythology, structurally experimental pieces, and humorous commentaries on life in the 21st century." - World Fantasy Award-winning author Jeffrey Ford

Contributors include:

Cyan Abad-Jugo
Tyron Caliente
Andrew Drilon
Francezca C. Kwe
Nikki Alfar
Joseph Nacino
Angelo R. Lacuesta
Dean Francis Alfar
Jay Steven Anyong Uy
Pauline Orendain
Gabriela Lee
Ian Rosales Casocot
Vincent Michael Simbulan
J. Pocholo Martin Goitia
Khavn
Sean Uy
K. Mandigma
Douglas L. Candano