Victor Ocampo’s speculative fiction collection launched to the media

𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗭𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬, 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝟮𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨–an exciting collection of loosely connected stories that push the boundaries of form and genre, blending realism, speculative fiction, and experimental narrative–was launched to the media today by award-winning Filipino short fiction writer Victor Fernando Ocampo at Big Sky Mind along Broadway Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City.

Published by Vibal Foundation Inc., this new book is part of a new catalog of trade publishing titles under new imprints. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 is under Paradox, Vibal’s imprint for speculative fiction that offers readers “the fruits of unfettered imagination.” Fantasy, science fiction, and horror tales celebrate Filipino creativity, simultaneously anchored in the here and now while soaring to far-flung futures and diving deep into the mythic past.

Serving as editor–at-large of this collection is Dean Francis Alfar, an award-winning author, pioneer of Philippine speculative fiction, and Chairman of the Filipino Critics Circle. In his review, Alfar states that ”Ocampo’s strengths are beautifully evident” in this collection, with “an eye for the smallest of details that contribute to a powerful sense of place, an ear for dialogue that emanates from the hearts of his characters, and a passion-fueled imagination that recreates the past and constructs the future in bold and satisfying ways.”

The Singapore-based Ocampo is the author of the International Rubery Book Award shortlisted 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 (Math Paper Press, 2017; US edition: GaudyBoy, 2021; Philippine edition: Vibal, 2024) and 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙨 (Canvas Press, 2015), which won the Romeo Forbes Children’s Story Award in 2012. His interactive fiction piece “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴” debuted at the Singapore Writers Festival in 2020.

The collection features 17 stories that have been published across various prestigious collections and journals over several years, showcasing the author’s evolution as a writer. Notable works include “Mene, Thecel, Phares,” which first appeared in Philippine Speculative Fiction Volume 10 (2016), edited by Dean and Nikki Alfar. “An Excerpt from the Philippine Journal of Archaeology, 04 October 1916” was published in Likhaan: The Journal of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing Volume 8 in December 2014.

The award-winning children’s story “Here Be Dragons” won the 2012 Romeo Forbes contest and was published by CANVAS in August 2015. Other stories such as “Synchronicity” were featured in Bewildering Stories (2012) and won a Mariner Award in the same year.

The author’s journey began with “Resurrection,” his first published work, appearing in Philippine Speculative Fiction Volume 6 in September 2010, which received an honorable mention in Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror of the Year 2011.

Over the years, additional stories have been published in various anthologies and magazines such as Apex Magazine, Lakeside Circus, and Science Fiction: Filipino Fiction for Young Adults, with some stories even being translated into other languages, including Mandarin Chinese and Tamil.

“The Ocean Above Her” a recent addition to the collection, first appeared in Philippine Genre Stories in December 2024, demonstrating the author’s continued relevance and contribution to contemporary speculative fiction. The collection encapsulates years of dedication and recognition in the literary world, featuring stories that highlight Filipino culture and themes of identity, existence, and the human experience.

During the media launch presented by Vibal Foundation and Mulles & Ocampo Infinite Library Pte Ltd (M&O) at Big Sky Mind, Ocampo narrated his arduous writing journey. “It was a tedious process and an emotional journey including a lot of self-doubt and rejection from local editors who preferred more traditional forms of storytelling,” he revealed.

A transformative moment occurred however when his partner submitted one of his stories, leading to an unexpected acceptance and gradually reshaping Ocampo’s perception of his own voice. True enough, after years of effort, the author’s collection found a home with Math Paper Press in Singapore, followed by subsequent editions from different publishers, including Gaudy Boy.

The journey took nearly a decade, facing numerous hurdles, including a publisher’s scandal that temporarily derailed distribution in the Philippines.

“Ultimately, it was Vibal that secured the publication rights, resulting in a definitive edition of The Infinite Library and Other Stories. This edition symbolizes the culmination of our efforts and experiences, finally allowing my transnational Filipino characters, who navigate complex cultural and existential spaces, to come home to their intended audience,” Ocampo noted.