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Track Faults and Other Glitches: Stories of the impossible in Singapore
Shortlisted for the 2017 Singapore Book Award for Fiction
Deep in the heart of the Zombie Civil Service, a secret meeting is held to preempt an impending disaster. In the heartlands, a devoted Shiba Inu, a dog breed from Japan, seeks the divine in her quest for answers. And what happens when an MRT train goes underground, and never comes back out? This collection of 10 short stories transports you from the deeply familiar to the supernatural, exploring things that cannot and should not be. In Track Faults and Other Glitches, Nicholas Yong takes us on a journey into an alternate Singapore, where the impossible becomes real.
Deep in the heart of the Zombie Civil Service, a secret meeting is held to preempt an impending disaster. In the heartlands, a devoted Shiba Inu, a dog breed from Japan, seeks the divine in her quest for answers. And what happens when an MRT train goes underground, and never comes back out? This collection of 10 short stories transports you from the deeply familiar to the supernatural, exploring things that cannot and should not be. In Track Faults and Other Glitches, Nicholas Yong takes us on a journey into an alternate Singapore, where the impossible becomes real.
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
200 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Yong
6 books22 followersAuthor and journalist. Tell me what you think of my stories, and feel free to be brutally honest about it.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 15, 2021
thought i should leave a little TW here as i wasn’t prepared for it when i read it so it kinda affected me that i had to pause for a while :') - TW: mention of self-harm, suicide, panic attack, depression
track faults and other glitches is a collection of 10 short stories, bringing impossible stories to life using environments and situations that we are locally familiar of like our local kopitiam, MRT faults, supernatural encounters during army and the government bureaucracies. 🚇🍜👻🪖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. this was recommended by a dear friend 💚 and im so grateful?????? :") super rare to find myself enjoying short stories and this turned out to be way beyond my expectations like leGit omg i loveeee each and every one of them!!! they are so engrossing and engaging!!! and there were some that i could relate so much as i see myself in them. very surprised how its such an easy read too probs bc the writing is to my liking. i really admire its weirdness and simplicity yet hold a very strong/deep message whenever i think about it. 🌱
abit side track but reading this actually reminded me of reading japlit??? 🤔 of course, in a really good way!!! esp when it comes to uniquely strange yet good stories, abstract concepts & imagination 😍 my favourite ones would be you'll believe a man can fly, haru and hui ling.
but ok tbh i really really cant believe how underrated this book is cos bruhhhh it definitely deserves more attention. 😩 made me reflect a lot about my life too :") i will think about this book for a long time. ✨ its probably already one of the best singlit that i have read so far 🥰 gonna end off with a v relatable quote:
"your job isnt your life. when you get sick, your job wont take you to the doctor. when youre sad, it wont come and comfort you. when youre happy, your job wont congratulate you or go out with you or share happiness with you. dont let the job be everything to you. you'll regret it". 💫
track faults and other glitches is a collection of 10 short stories, bringing impossible stories to life using environments and situations that we are locally familiar of like our local kopitiam, MRT faults, supernatural encounters during army and the government bureaucracies. 🚇🍜👻🪖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. this was recommended by a dear friend 💚 and im so grateful?????? :") super rare to find myself enjoying short stories and this turned out to be way beyond my expectations like leGit omg i loveeee each and every one of them!!! they are so engrossing and engaging!!! and there were some that i could relate so much as i see myself in them. very surprised how its such an easy read too probs bc the writing is to my liking. i really admire its weirdness and simplicity yet hold a very strong/deep message whenever i think about it. 🌱
abit side track but reading this actually reminded me of reading japlit??? 🤔 of course, in a really good way!!! esp when it comes to uniquely strange yet good stories, abstract concepts & imagination 😍 my favourite ones would be you'll believe a man can fly, haru and hui ling.
but ok tbh i really really cant believe how underrated this book is cos bruhhhh it definitely deserves more attention. 😩 made me reflect a lot about my life too :") i will think about this book for a long time. ✨ its probably already one of the best singlit that i have read so far 🥰 gonna end off with a v relatable quote:
"your job isnt your life. when you get sick, your job wont take you to the doctor. when youre sad, it wont come and comfort you. when youre happy, your job wont congratulate you or go out with you or share happiness with you. dont let the job be everything to you. you'll regret it". 💫
November 9, 2021
My first review in a few months after a review break! and I'm glad this is the first book I review. Rarely do I come across short story collections where I vividly remember most of the stories. I enjoy good scifi/fantasy that jolts the readers into reflecting about mortality, social issues, climate change, and more.
My thoughts on some of the stories:
Track Fault: I'm a huge sucker for stories about strange happenings in trains or planes and so this is naturally my favourite. I'm also a fan of existential horror so this fits the bill. It started off promising but I wish it could be longer, or the ending a little less anti-climatic. And there is so much space to explore more! Do the commuters eventually realise what is happening? What happens if they do? What if there's a single person who knows and tries to break out? Will the train ever re-emerge? What about lingering effects on other rides in the same station?
I recall reading a short horror story set in the London Underground where the train gets unimaginably more and more packed as each station passes. Every time you think that's the max capacity of the train, it gets more packed. Eventually the protagonist realises that it's never going to end. I love that sort of stuff (and a bit sad that I cannot remember the name of the train horror anthology - does anyone know?). Maybe something like that could have been explored in Track Faults.
Haru & Hui Ling: Two related short stories that made me cry like a baby. Very well-written and the image of the little dog performing a ritual makes me laugh.
The Uncle in the Kopitiam: Not usually a fan of monologues and the 'sitting in a bar talking about old times' trope so I really surprised to enjoy this. I always feel like there is so much untapped wisdom from old uncles and oral history that should be told so this really touched my heart.
My thoughts on some of the stories:
Track Fault: I'm a huge sucker for stories about strange happenings in trains or planes and so this is naturally my favourite. I'm also a fan of existential horror so this fits the bill. It started off promising but I wish it could be longer, or the ending a little less anti-climatic. And there is so much space to explore more! Do the commuters eventually realise what is happening? What happens if they do? What if there's a single person who knows and tries to break out? Will the train ever re-emerge? What about lingering effects on other rides in the same station?
I recall reading a short horror story set in the London Underground where the train gets unimaginably more and more packed as each station passes. Every time you think that's the max capacity of the train, it gets more packed. Eventually the protagonist realises that it's never going to end. I love that sort of stuff (and a bit sad that I cannot remember the name of the train horror anthology - does anyone know?). Maybe something like that could have been explored in Track Faults.
Haru & Hui Ling: Two related short stories that made me cry like a baby. Very well-written and the image of the little dog performing a ritual makes me laugh.
The Uncle in the Kopitiam: Not usually a fan of monologues and the 'sitting in a bar talking about old times' trope so I really surprised to enjoy this. I always feel like there is so much untapped wisdom from old uncles and oral history that should be told so this really touched my heart.
May 9, 2020
Track Fault and Other Glitches by Nicholas Yong is a collection of 10 short stories set in Singapore. The short stories cover a wide spectrum of themes from the supernatural to science-fiction.
My favourite story in the book is Wake Me Up When It’s 2116, which leaves an open ending with rooms for imagination. I particularly enjoyed reading Three Nights in Camp as I’m always fond of spooky army ghost stories 👻.
I love how the author writes his stories so creatively and fascinatingly. Reminds me of how stories make anything imaginable possible.
A fun and entertaining #SingLit book to read!
My favourite story in the book is Wake Me Up When It’s 2116, which leaves an open ending with rooms for imagination. I particularly enjoyed reading Three Nights in Camp as I’m always fond of spooky army ghost stories 👻.
I love how the author writes his stories so creatively and fascinatingly. Reminds me of how stories make anything imaginable possible.
A fun and entertaining #SingLit book to read!
January 25, 2025
Stories:
The Ministry of Zombie Advancement - In this satire, a group of zombie ministers convene at a Higher Zombie Committee meeting to discuss about an infection plaguing the country, which turns zombie citizens into human. 🧟
You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly - An unfulfilled and unhappy journalist sees a superhero who brings him to the rooftop and tells him that he can fly if he steps off the ledge. 🦸🏻♂️
Wake Me Up When It’s 2116 - A boy is sent to cryosleep for a hundred years by his parents so that his doctors can work to find a cure for his sickness. 🛌
Track Fault - An MRT train mysteriously vanishes underground in this story reminiscent of MH370. 🚇
Haru - Haru the dog—a Shiba Inu—worships the Dog God and seeks answers from him about the circumstances of her owners. 🐕
Hui Ling - A moving companion story to the previous story, Haru, that delves into the owners’ circumstances of overcoming grief from miscarriage with the help of the dog. 🤰🏻
Three Nights in Camp - A quintessentially entertaining army ghost story. 🪖
A Dream Within a Dream - A comatose boy who is on the verge of having his life-support system cut seeks forgiveness in the afterlife from a girl he killed when he was alive. 🏥
Polling Day - A reporter reporting on an Opposition Party rally dreams that the party emerged victorious in the General Elections, only to wake up to reality. 🗳️
The Uncle in the Kopitiam - This story includes a folk tale that weaves together elements of history, Malay and Chinese cultural practices, and the supernatural, to tell a love story. ❤️
Overall, Nicholas Yong’s Track Fault and Other Glitches is a breezy and entertaining read that pokes fun at the Singaporean society with a playful adventure of different storytelling genres. It has been a while since I’ve read something this light-hearted, so if you’re in a reading slump, this might be the perfect book for you! 🇸🇬
The Ministry of Zombie Advancement - In this satire, a group of zombie ministers convene at a Higher Zombie Committee meeting to discuss about an infection plaguing the country, which turns zombie citizens into human. 🧟
You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly - An unfulfilled and unhappy journalist sees a superhero who brings him to the rooftop and tells him that he can fly if he steps off the ledge. 🦸🏻♂️
Wake Me Up When It’s 2116 - A boy is sent to cryosleep for a hundred years by his parents so that his doctors can work to find a cure for his sickness. 🛌
Track Fault - An MRT train mysteriously vanishes underground in this story reminiscent of MH370. 🚇
Haru - Haru the dog—a Shiba Inu—worships the Dog God and seeks answers from him about the circumstances of her owners. 🐕
Hui Ling - A moving companion story to the previous story, Haru, that delves into the owners’ circumstances of overcoming grief from miscarriage with the help of the dog. 🤰🏻
Three Nights in Camp - A quintessentially entertaining army ghost story. 🪖
A Dream Within a Dream - A comatose boy who is on the verge of having his life-support system cut seeks forgiveness in the afterlife from a girl he killed when he was alive. 🏥
Polling Day - A reporter reporting on an Opposition Party rally dreams that the party emerged victorious in the General Elections, only to wake up to reality. 🗳️
The Uncle in the Kopitiam - This story includes a folk tale that weaves together elements of history, Malay and Chinese cultural practices, and the supernatural, to tell a love story. ❤️
Overall, Nicholas Yong’s Track Fault and Other Glitches is a breezy and entertaining read that pokes fun at the Singaporean society with a playful adventure of different storytelling genres. It has been a while since I’ve read something this light-hearted, so if you’re in a reading slump, this might be the perfect book for you! 🇸🇬
August 10, 2023
A memorable set of stories that are very relatable to Singaporeans. Liked the dog stories most.
May 21, 2018
I haven’t been reading much Singapore books (or SEAsian books for that matter) but this short story collection was really great and I'm really grateful to the person who recommended this to me.
Track Faults and Other Glitches is a collection of collection of stories set in Singapore. The stories are:
- The Ministry of Zombie Advancement: A very fun, unique tale about zombies in Singapore. The zombies in Singapore concept reminded me of Land of the Meat Munchers, and I realised that it was by the same author! No wonder I liked this.
- You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly: About seeing superheroes at work. The ending was ambiguous which makes it interesting to speculate about.
- Wake Me Up When It’s 2116: Not a good idea to read this in the train because I was tearing up by the end of it! It’s about progress and human life and reminds me of some of Bradbury’s short stories (which are also referenced here). This is one of my favourite stories in the collection.
- Track Fault: Another one of my favourite stories in this book, this deals with an MRT train that goes missing. Warning: there are no answers to this mystery but the story is so good!
- Haru & Hui Ling: These are actually two stories but they are two parts of one whole. It’s about the bond between dogs and their human families but also about love and loss.
- Three Nights in Camp: an NS ghost story. Kinda ambivalent on this one, but I think it’s because I haven’t gone through NS.
- A Dream Within A Dream: this is about a guy in a coma and I actually thought it was a little confusing but it still tugged at my heartstrings. I don’t know what’s going on, but the story made me feel.
- Polling Day: One of the weaker stories in my collection, in my opinion. It follows a reporter as he finds out that the opposition has won all contest seats. Very timely, given the recent election in Malaysia but I didn’t really get the story.
- The Uncle in the Kopitiam: The last story in the collection, this is a story within a story, reaching back to the folklore of Singapore. I really enjoyed the twist and I like this story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection! It was really well-written and extremely fun to read. Each story has a message, but the message doesn’t overpower the story like some local short stories do. I am totally hoping to find more stories like this!
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
Track Faults and Other Glitches is a collection of collection of stories set in Singapore. The stories are:
- The Ministry of Zombie Advancement: A very fun, unique tale about zombies in Singapore. The zombies in Singapore concept reminded me of Land of the Meat Munchers, and I realised that it was by the same author! No wonder I liked this.
- You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly: About seeing superheroes at work. The ending was ambiguous which makes it interesting to speculate about.
- Wake Me Up When It’s 2116: Not a good idea to read this in the train because I was tearing up by the end of it! It’s about progress and human life and reminds me of some of Bradbury’s short stories (which are also referenced here). This is one of my favourite stories in the collection.
- Track Fault: Another one of my favourite stories in this book, this deals with an MRT train that goes missing. Warning: there are no answers to this mystery but the story is so good!
- Haru & Hui Ling: These are actually two stories but they are two parts of one whole. It’s about the bond between dogs and their human families but also about love and loss.
- Three Nights in Camp: an NS ghost story. Kinda ambivalent on this one, but I think it’s because I haven’t gone through NS.
- A Dream Within A Dream: this is about a guy in a coma and I actually thought it was a little confusing but it still tugged at my heartstrings. I don’t know what’s going on, but the story made me feel.
- Polling Day: One of the weaker stories in my collection, in my opinion. It follows a reporter as he finds out that the opposition has won all contest seats. Very timely, given the recent election in Malaysia but I didn’t really get the story.
- The Uncle in the Kopitiam: The last story in the collection, this is a story within a story, reaching back to the folklore of Singapore. I really enjoyed the twist and I like this story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection! It was really well-written and extremely fun to read. Each story has a message, but the message doesn’t overpower the story like some local short stories do. I am totally hoping to find more stories like this!
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
May 24, 2020
Even better than the previous SingLit book I read, Balik Kampung 2A! It deserves it's current rating above 4. :)
1) Ministry of Zombie Enhancement 5/5
- good satire, I still think about the whole meaning afterwards
2) You'll Believe A Man Can Fly 5/5
- ending is ambiguous in a good way
3) Wake Me Up When It's 2116 3/5
- nothing extraordinary
4) Track Fault 5/5
- worthy of a Black Mirror episode
5) Haru 4/5
6) Hui Ling 3.5/5
- connected to previous story presumably
7) Three Nights in Camp 3.5/5
- one of the funniest starting paragraph I've ever read
8) A Dream Within A Dream 2/5
- hard to follow; didn't understand the point
9) Polling Day 3.5/5
- maybe should have had the previous story's title
10) The Uncle in the Kopitiam 3.5/5
- nice kind of fantastical, a new Singapore legend?
1) Ministry of Zombie Enhancement 5/5
- good satire, I still think about the whole meaning afterwards
2) You'll Believe A Man Can Fly 5/5
- ending is ambiguous in a good way
3) Wake Me Up When It's 2116 3/5
- nothing extraordinary
4) Track Fault 5/5
- worthy of a Black Mirror episode
5) Haru 4/5
6) Hui Ling 3.5/5
- connected to previous story presumably
7) Three Nights in Camp 3.5/5
- one of the funniest starting paragraph I've ever read
8) A Dream Within A Dream 2/5
- hard to follow; didn't understand the point
9) Polling Day 3.5/5
- maybe should have had the previous story's title
10) The Uncle in the Kopitiam 3.5/5
- nice kind of fantastical, a new Singapore legend?
June 11, 2018
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. There is something about the Singaporean condition, if I may call it that, that suits speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. Horror too. It’s not easy to do it well, and I think Nicholas Yong does a really decent job here. His journalist background has a distinct influence on his fiction-writing, and while the reporting style might feel too dry and technical for other kinds of fiction, it helps these short stories blur the line between fact and fiction, dream and reality.
March 25, 2017
I'm obsessed with trains. And this book... one of its stories revolves around an MRT, which is my most favourite! I didn't expect to be captured by all the other stories as well, which went through all kinds of genres and could relate to different Singaporeans from all walks of life, with a little twist here and there. There is even a story centering around a dog. I'm kinda proud to call this local literature, and I'm freaking inspired.
August 27, 2020
Really enjoyable collection of short-stories set in Singapore - I liked that he took the mundane part of Singaporean life and added something interesting to it. It features a short story about bureaucracy in a fictional Ministry of Zombie Advancement, a disappearing train with passengers, and two linked short stories about the woman recovering from a miscarriage.
February 3, 2018
This anthology was full of keen observations that weren't over-intellectualised, and was an absolute delight right from the start to the end. It made me laugh, tear, ache and even shudder from the chills of the paranormal. A truly enjoyable read!
January 12, 2025
Lovely collection of uniquely Singaporean short stories. Between the title tale, the election-themed one, and the final tale, all these glitches were a pleasure to read. I personally like the author's style of writing, which i find very accurately reflects how we talk in real life.
August 21, 2017
A book of short stories that is perfect for a train/bus commute.
May 8, 2018
I absolutely love this anthology. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. It has everything from science fiction to fantasy. It is funny, it's heartbreaking and it's really enjoyable.
May 27, 2023
A fun read. Maybe not as good as Catherine Lim but worth a read. I especially enjoyed Track Fault and Haru!
May 13, 2024
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews