Full Court Press
MOJORAG's first book, Capsule - A Dose of New Singaporean Writing, hit bookstores in 2000. Known affectionately as the 'little red book that could', Capsule is an indie literary anthology featuring poetry and fiction by nineteen new Singaporean writers. For many of the authors, it was their first crack at getting published; for the editors, it was a knuckled jab at a publishing establishment that has routinely shied away from testing the boundaries of local literary conventions. Tower Books Singapore hosted Capsule's launch, a frantic and freewheeling literary journey hosted by poet (and Capsule contributor) Jonathan Lim. By April 2000, Capsule was Tower Singapore's best-selling book. Three months later, MOJORAG landed a U.S. distributor for Capsule in the Berkeley-based Small Press Distribution.

Buy it!
Capsule is available in Singapore at Select Books, Tango Mango, The Substation and p-10.
In the U.S., Capsule is distributed by Small Press Distribution.

Capsule - A Dose of New Singaporean Writing
Published by MOJORAG
Editors: Chang Yujen and Jennifer Teo
ISBN: 981-04-2031-5
Size: 12 cm x 16 cm; 120 pp (paperback)
Retail price: $9.00 in Singapore (US$8.00 in US)
Distributed by Select Books in Asia. Distributed by Small Press Distribution in the U.S.

"Capsule infuses Singapore's hitherto predictable literary scene with some true grit." - East magazine.

Capsule was conceived as Singapore's 'first indie literary anthology', a collection that reflected the underdogs and undercurrents of Singapore's literary culture. The editors hoped to offer a much needed publishing opportunity to local young writers, and also to generate greater awareness of contemporary Singaporean literature. The end result is a rootsy anthology of poetry, fiction, and narratives by 19 new Singaporean writers, most of whom were previously unpublished.
For the last several years, major Singaporean publishers have relied on established writers to define (and confine) a small and incestuous local literary market. Capsule bucks the trend, introducing a new guard of exciting writers that includes Jonathan Lim, Yvonne Tham, Terry Johal, and Chiong Waun Sun. What is 'Singaporean writing'? Capsule gives you a rebellious, experimental, and uncompromising answer.

Author List
Cindy Mavis Chan, Emil Cheong, Chiong Waun Sun, Gui Wei Hsin, Jason Hahn, Terry Johal, Jonathan Lim, Sharon Koh, Vvyne Lim, Eric Low, Christopher Ong Ujine, Mohan Sachdev, Kim-Kyna Tan, Jaki Teo, Keiv Teh Mingen, Yvonne Tham, Toh Hsien Min, Cyril Wong, Wong Ting Hway.

More reviews of Capsule
"If this is the way local literature is going, then we're doing all right. There's lots of new talent sprouting from the barrenness of straight and narrow Singapore, but reading this indie book of random prose and poetry is rather like watching an art movie. You emerge feeling broody and disoriented ... Most of these bright writers will surely mellow into less melancholic people, I hope." - Tan Shee Lah, NTUC Lifestyle (April 2000)

"This little pill, I believe, will keep us awake and waiting for more. Highly recommended for its diversity and almost unconventional writing clearly lacking in most [Singaporean] books." - Charles Tan, myScissors.com

"The writings in the collection are mostly reflections and observations of life and love, written in a gritty, edgy style befitting an indie collection." - East magazine (June 2000)