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Almost 4 years after the publication of the first collection of translated stories by  Balinese writers Bali Behind the Seen comes this anthology, which also has a Balinese focus.

Although it is good to see the appearance of a second collection, it is also some what disappointing that the editor has not chosen a completely new selection of short stories. Three of the stories are translations of stories which were included in previous anthologies: "The Wrong Kind of Death", "Luh Galuh" and "Putu Gives God a Hand". Two of the stories are written by a writer from Lombok, Putu Arya Tirtawirya, and none of the stories are very new, although many short stories that have appeared in the past ten years are worthy of note.

The editor's basis for selection is not clear, although there are several stories dealing with the problems of caste, which he explain. has been a major theme of modern Balinese literature, and two stories deal with Balinese relationships with foreigners, an ongoing culltural dilemma.

On the positive side are the two essays by the editor Nyoman Darma Putra, one tracing the development of modern literature in Bali and the other essay on poetry in Bali giving due credit to Umbu Landu Paranggi for his crucial  role in the stimulation of young poets for the last twenty years in Bali. It is good to see a rare translation of one of Umbu's poems in this anthology in an excellent translation by Thomas Hunter. In the Other Stories section is a striking collection of political short stories ranging from Death of a Journalist, based on the recent murder of an outspoken journalist, to Putu Wijaya's exploration of the meaning of being Indonesian presented through the feelings of a student studying in America.

For me personally the most memorable story is l also one of the oldest, Death Star, by Ki Panji Kusmin, which deals grippingly with the personal dilemmas experienced by so many Balinese during the mass killings of 1965-1966. This story's appearance is timely as currently moves are being encouraged by President Gus Dur for Indonesians to acknowledge the massive trauma endured silently for so long and which must of necessity be part of national reconciliation. I was interested that the mysterious writer Ki Panji Kusmin had written such a story although I had known him because of his story Langit Makin Mendung, which is Indonesia's equivalent of Salman RusUdie's Satanic Verses, involving a famous court case and Indonesia's leading literary critic H.B. Jassin. This story also is included in Menagerie 4 as the Darkening Sky translated by John McGlynn the founding editor of the Lontar Press and Menagerie series of anthologies of Indonesian literature. Following the same format, the latest in the series  includes poetry, in this volume primarily from Bali, and photographs of a variety of scenes preceding the elections of 1999 called Party Time.

There is also a collection of political posters from the grass roots activists group Taring Padi (Fangs of Grain) from Central Java.

Once again Lontar is to be congratulated on the quality of their latest publication. They continue to play an essential role in the presentation of a Aide range of aspects of Indonesian culture, including literature, for the enjoyment and information of an international audience.

The reviewer, Vern Cork, is the translator of Bali Behind The Seen and The Sweat of Pearls. He is currently working on a poetry anthology to appear shortly - Bali The Morning After.

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