Of Shapes & Shadows June 2005   Click to view Table of Contents Click to view photo gallery Click to view cover story

Editorial

Of Shapes & Shadows
By EMILY DING


Dear Readers,

The first thing this issue’s theme brings to my mind is nightmares. The obvious, I suppose, but seeing as how my sleep has been plagued by inconsistencies and strange images these insomniac nights, it is not surprising.

None of our contributors seem to have tackled the theme from such a perspective, however, and for this I am particularly happy about as I think the idea somewhat too cliché. Oh, but what’s revolutionary, what’s really revolutionary, is my brilliant Co-Editor’s cover story. A woman like an avocado. A non-shape. Brilliant. (And just for everyone’s information, anyone is welcome to submit a cover story. No longer than 300 words, mind you.)

Shit, I still can’t believe it. Here we are on our third issue. Talk about posterity. First year law school, let me tell you, is hectic stuff, and that I still have time for this is a miracle. But no, I’m just being an insufferable hot-air balloon again. Come to think of it, that’s the only thing law school’s taught me – to puff and put on airs. The truth is, I have (unfortunately) been neglecting my work in the academic department, which explains why I have more time to kill in this creative arena.

Again, a gargantuan thank you to those who have contributed their work. Obviously, this issue couldn’t possibly have materialized otherwise. Oh, do I need a few nudges in the right direction! I must be the laziest editor on earth. Thank you to both Krys and John for keeping me in line. Hah. Everyone should check John out, by the way. It’s an exciting time for him now, living the writer’s life, book signings and all, except he’s younger than most. He’s just recently published ‘Fourteen Bullets’, which seems to have been warmly received by the critics back home in Malaysia. (See his website http://johnling.net/ to keep up!)

You’ll be glad to see some new names in this issue, but you will also see one or two familiar faces from our last issue. Like Tom Sheehan and M. Marcus A. Lopés. We seem also to have attracted quite a number of poetry submissions this time around, more so than usual.

I admit that sometimes I am still confused about what specific direction I want to take Melange in. If you look at our first issue, you will see that the flavour of it is quite different from this issue, which is much more closely oriented to the second. But I suppose that is what we are here for. We are still here to experiment, still here to bring to you readers the wealth of experiences out there, the diversity of people and minds and lives. Until we find a niche we can comfortably settle in, I suppose we will continue experimenting, continue to find the edges of our comfort and expertise, continue to lavishly imbue ‘Melange’ with meaning.

Like I said, we are experimenting. Thus we are now tampering with a new feature, i.e. a column by Miss Luzajic, who will talk about reading and books in general. Look out for ‘Shelf Life’ and tell us what you think. If response is good it might turn out to be a regular. Wherever the wind blows. So if anyone has any new, interesting ideas to develop Melange, just holler. You should be able to tell by now that we’re open to suggestions. Anything.

Busy trying to make sense of London's tumultous weather,
-- Emily