Zaw Thit

Human Body Spare Parts Shop Zaw Thit

Translator's Note An artist usually lives in and out of the two intertwining worlds_ the world of reality and the world of imagination. A skilful artist often transports the reader into the world of imagination and fantasy. It is needless to say that a writer of what is known as Sci-fi must have very fertile imagination since it is an art that demands the craftsmanship to bring the fantastic world into life, otherwise it could turn out into a grotesque, ludicrous outcome. With such films as Star Wars and RoboCop, the popularity of Sci-fi has never declined through 21st century. Under the literary genre of the novel, Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, The War of the Worlds (1897 ) by H. G. Wells and Brave New World (1932) by Aldous Huxley can be taken as good examples. On the other hand, in Myanmar literature, Myanmar sci-fi has not been a household name for the Myanmar reader. Zaw Thit's Lu-Apo-Pyit-si- A-yaung-Hsai (The Human Body Spare Parts) has the subject matter that might be likened to Brave New World, but the pervading atmosphere in the first part is like that of Frankenstein. But this is not a hundred percent pure sci-fi in the sense that the writer tries to satirize some foibles of the contemporary society he lives in, e.g., the Chinese's monopoly in economy. He also takes the angle of Buddhism, and questions the reader about what is real happiness, as well as the meaning of the material world. Besides, employing the technique of contrast, he throws light on the unique customs and culture of Myanmar that have now been placed under the threat of invading foreign cultures and mindsets. Under the camouflage of sci-fi, Zaw Thit has many messages to convey to the reader. So why not go through the pages, enjoy his story, and explore his messages?