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Scintillas: New Maltese Writing 1
Praspar’s first anthology of Maltese writing showcases new prose, poetry and literary nonfiction by a selection of emerging and established Maltese writers from across the world.
Split into two sections, Fables/Ħrejjef and Reflections/Riflessi, the pieces featured in this collection give voice to the anxieties, desires and nostalgic meditations of their authors.
But throughout these narratives preoccupied with change and loss, a glimmer of something meaningful rises to the surface: a mote in a sunbeam, the arrival of morning after a night of insomnia, new life after a bushfire . . . scintillas of hope where previously there had been none.
With Clare Azzopardi, Tanja Cilia, Lou Drofenik, Noah Fabri, John Falzon, Karina Fiorini, Albert Gatt, Joe Gatt, Holly Knowles, Teodor Reljić, Rita Saliba, Stephanie Sant, Peter Scalpello, Kat Storace, Sebastian Tanti Burlò, Maria Theuma, Alex Vella Gera, Daniel Vella, Loranne Vella.
Split into two sections, Fables/Ħrejjef and Reflections/Riflessi, the pieces featured in this collection give voice to the anxieties, desires and nostalgic meditations of their authors.
But throughout these narratives preoccupied with change and loss, a glimmer of something meaningful rises to the surface: a mote in a sunbeam, the arrival of morning after a night of insomnia, new life after a bushfire . . . scintillas of hope where previously there had been none.
With Clare Azzopardi, Tanja Cilia, Lou Drofenik, Noah Fabri, John Falzon, Karina Fiorini, Albert Gatt, Joe Gatt, Holly Knowles, Teodor Reljić, Rita Saliba, Stephanie Sant, Peter Scalpello, Kat Storace, Sebastian Tanti Burlò, Maria Theuma, Alex Vella Gera, Daniel Vella, Loranne Vella.
- GenresShort Stories
118 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2021
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 3, 2022
Praspar (in Maltese it means pranks) is a brand new small press . The aims are:
…. to support contemporary Maltese literature written in English and English translation.
Our aim is to connect emerging and established Maltese writers from across the world with Anglophone readers through a bold list and by being advocates and mediators in the industry. We look forward to publishing writing that truly excites us.
The heads behind Praspar are translator and author, Jen Calleja and Kat Storace, who has worked in publishing.
Scintillas is the first offering and is an anthology which fits in with this press’ philosophy as it is a mixture of established and new writers. Some have been written in English, some have been translated from Maltese. There’s also poems and prose.
Whenever I read about Malta in a novel, there’s always a certain spark (scintillas?) of pride. After all, we are a tiny island so any form of acknowledgment in literature is always a plus and a surprise as well. needless to say that I was eager to read what was on offer.
Other than nationality linking these writers, nearly all of the pieces here mention Malta or an aspect of Maltese culture. Sebastian Tanti Burlò’s Basically Amazing and Alex Vella Gera’s The Time is Right About Now focus on the habits of Maltese upper classes, the former gives snapshots of the typical upper class speech with the latter’s descending into cartoonish violence. Noah Fabri’s The Wedding Dress is another story which pokes fun at Maltese mentality is is the perfect opening story of this collection.
Others are what I call atmospheric pieces: Joe Gatt’s Under the Sun , Peter Scalpello (whose poetry collection Limbic will be out on Cipher Press in March) and Rita Saliba’s (translated by Tanja Cilia) Motes in a Sunbeam fit nicely into this category. All three writings focus on the more dreamy/titillating aspects of the island.
As some who has lived in Canada, the two displacement prose pieces were my favourites: Daniel Vella’s The Lights that Call her on, is, in my opinion, the standout piece in the whole book and merges an odd longing for one’s home country and relationships beautifully. Teodor Reljić’s Having Said No is another one I related to as I have been in a situation where help was rejected only to have the passage of time make me look at things differently.
Then there are the ones which sort of float within the collection Clare Azzopardi’s (translated by Albert Gatt) 11 1/2 Fragments against Isolation and Lorraine Vella’s (translated by Kat Storace and also has a book out on Praspar) Night exist in this sort of vacuum.
As this is an anthology not everything will sit well. I found some of the poems pretentious and a couple of prose pieces used tired idioms or completely pointless in the context of this anthology but this is subjective. I think that this is a great move and I am eagerly looking forward to the second volume (the call finished mid February). We need the Anglo speaking world to know that this island in the middle of the Mediterranean does have a lot to offer and Scintillas proves that.
…. to support contemporary Maltese literature written in English and English translation.
Our aim is to connect emerging and established Maltese writers from across the world with Anglophone readers through a bold list and by being advocates and mediators in the industry. We look forward to publishing writing that truly excites us.
The heads behind Praspar are translator and author, Jen Calleja and Kat Storace, who has worked in publishing.
Scintillas is the first offering and is an anthology which fits in with this press’ philosophy as it is a mixture of established and new writers. Some have been written in English, some have been translated from Maltese. There’s also poems and prose.
Whenever I read about Malta in a novel, there’s always a certain spark (scintillas?) of pride. After all, we are a tiny island so any form of acknowledgment in literature is always a plus and a surprise as well. needless to say that I was eager to read what was on offer.
Other than nationality linking these writers, nearly all of the pieces here mention Malta or an aspect of Maltese culture. Sebastian Tanti Burlò’s Basically Amazing and Alex Vella Gera’s The Time is Right About Now focus on the habits of Maltese upper classes, the former gives snapshots of the typical upper class speech with the latter’s descending into cartoonish violence. Noah Fabri’s The Wedding Dress is another story which pokes fun at Maltese mentality is is the perfect opening story of this collection.
Others are what I call atmospheric pieces: Joe Gatt’s Under the Sun , Peter Scalpello (whose poetry collection Limbic will be out on Cipher Press in March) and Rita Saliba’s (translated by Tanja Cilia) Motes in a Sunbeam fit nicely into this category. All three writings focus on the more dreamy/titillating aspects of the island.
As some who has lived in Canada, the two displacement prose pieces were my favourites: Daniel Vella’s The Lights that Call her on, is, in my opinion, the standout piece in the whole book and merges an odd longing for one’s home country and relationships beautifully. Teodor Reljić’s Having Said No is another one I related to as I have been in a situation where help was rejected only to have the passage of time make me look at things differently.
Then there are the ones which sort of float within the collection Clare Azzopardi’s (translated by Albert Gatt) 11 1/2 Fragments against Isolation and Lorraine Vella’s (translated by Kat Storace and also has a book out on Praspar) Night exist in this sort of vacuum.
As this is an anthology not everything will sit well. I found some of the poems pretentious and a couple of prose pieces used tired idioms or completely pointless in the context of this anthology but this is subjective. I think that this is a great move and I am eagerly looking forward to the second volume (the call finished mid February). We need the Anglo speaking world to know that this island in the middle of the Mediterranean does have a lot to offer and Scintillas proves that.
November 27, 2021
A mixed bag, as expected for an anthology like this. The pieces are linked by the Maltese roots/residence of the authors, but otherwise span a wide range of topics and styles. So, something for everyone.
Personally, I enjoyed the short and effective pieces the most (especially 'Ravjul', 'Number One' and '11 and a 1/2 fragments against isolation') as well as the longer hard-earned ('Hard Lessons') or beautifully observed ('Motes in a Sunbeam') pieces.
My only slight overall criticism would be an aesthetic one: the italic font used throughout is sometimes hard to read, and the cover would never make me pick up the book if I wasn't already familiar with the project.
I look forward to Volume 2, and I'm glad Praspar Press came up with this idea and pulled it off.
Personally, I enjoyed the short and effective pieces the most (especially 'Ravjul', 'Number One' and '11 and a 1/2 fragments against isolation') as well as the longer hard-earned ('Hard Lessons') or beautifully observed ('Motes in a Sunbeam') pieces.
My only slight overall criticism would be an aesthetic one: the italic font used throughout is sometimes hard to read, and the cover would never make me pick up the book if I wasn't already familiar with the project.
I look forward to Volume 2, and I'm glad Praspar Press came up with this idea and pulled it off.
July 5, 2025
I'm so glad I finally managed to get hold of this anthology and complete my Scintillas collection (at least, as it stands so far).
Another really good collection, I particularly enjoyed the funny, perfectly written story by Joe Gatt, the content of which I won't spoil here, Alex Vella Gera's story probing into the relationship between two couples who are still technically friends despite probably not wanting to be anymore, such is the gulf in how they've experienced life, and Clare Azzopardi's touching poetry set during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Another really good collection, I particularly enjoyed the funny, perfectly written story by Joe Gatt, the content of which I won't spoil here, Alex Vella Gera's story probing into the relationship between two couples who are still technically friends despite probably not wanting to be anymore, such is the gulf in how they've experienced life, and Clare Azzopardi's touching poetry set during the Covid-19 pandemic.
February 25, 2023
The poetry in this one moved me greatly. Had a couple of particular favorite stories. Will be so, so glad to read each and every installment in this series of new Maltese writing. (And so glad I found a copy in the LRB Bookshop, too.)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews