2015 EPIGRAM BOOKS FICTION PRIZE
“I don’t aspire to be nice. I do what is necessary to get what I want.” Born on the night of the nation’s independence, Gimme Lao is cheated of the honour of being Singapore’s firstborn son by a vindictive nurse. This forms the first of three things Gimme never knows about himself, the second being the circumstances surrounding his parents’ marriage, and the third being the profound (but often unintentional) impact he has on other people’s lives. Talented, determined and focused, young Gimme is confident he can sail the seven seas, but he does not anticipate his vessel would have to carry his mother’s ambition, his wife’s guilt and his son’s secret. Tracing social, economic and political issues over the past 50 years, this humorous novel uses Gimme as a hapless centre to expose all of Singapore’s ambitions, dirty linen and secret moments of tender humanity.
Epigram Books Fiction Prize
The Epigram Books Fiction Prize promotes contemporary creative writing and rewards excellence in Singaporean literature. The richest literary prize in Singapore is awarded to the Singaporean, permanent resident or Singapore-born author for the best manuscript of a full length, original and unpublished novel written in the English language.
— PRAISE FOR SURROGATE PROTOCOL —
“Memorable characters, great evocation of a sci-fi-cum-everyday reality, exciting plot twists, philosophical insights into human psychology and the nature of eternity: a thrilling ride from start to finish!”
“A very ambitious novel, able to successfully blend science fiction and contemporary drama, with a narrative covering almost two centuries. The setting is Singapore, but with a twist – places and journeys are familiar, yet we also encounter a historical Singapore skilfully created as a refreshing perspective.”
ALSO FROM THE EPIGRAM BOOKS FICTION PRIZE
The Gatekeeper by Nuraliah Norasid
State of Emergency by Jeremy Tiang
Fox Fire Girl by O Thiam Chin
Now That It’s Over by O Thiam Chin (winner)
Sugarbread by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Let’s Give It Up for Gimme Lao! by Sebastian Sim
Death of a Perm Sec by Wong Souk Yee
Annabelle Thong by Imran Hashim
Kappa Quartet by Daryl Qilin Yam
Altered Straits by Kevin Martens Wong
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 by Tham Cheng-E
Cover art by Cho Zhi Ying
All rights reserved
Published in Singapore by Epigram Books
Published with the support of
National Library Board, Singapore
Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Name: Tham Cheng-E, 1979–
Title: Surrogate Protocol / Tham Cheng-E.
Description: Singapore : Epigram Books, 2017.
Identifier: OCN 973573437
ISBN 978-981-17-0091-0 (paperback)
ISBN 978-981-17-0097-2 (ebook)
Subject(s): LCSH: Longevity—Fiction.
Amnesiacs—Fiction. Singapore—Fiction.
Classification: DDC S823—dc23
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First Edition: April 2017
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Back Cover
