Table Of ContentLINDA CHRISTANTY
THE FINAL PARTY
& OTHER STORIES
1
Linda Christanty
2 i
Linda Christanty
The Final Party
& Other Stories
English translations by Debra Yatim
German translations by Monika Arnez
ii iii
Linda Christanty Contents
The Final Party & Other Stories
(a trilingual edition in English, German, and Indonesian)
Copyright to Indonesian-language stories © 2015 Linda Christanty
Copyright to all English-language translations © 2015 Debra Yatim
Copyright to all German-language translations © 2015 Monika Arnez
Copyright to this edition © 2015 The Lontar Foundation vii Publisher’s Note
All rights reserved.
xi Introduction
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means without permission in writing from
The Lontar Foundation
Jl. Danau Laut Tawar No. 53
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3 The Final Party
BTW is an imprint of the Lontar Foundation
21 The Flying Horse of Maria Pinto
Editorial Team:
35 Fourth Grave
John H McGlynn (Senior Editor)
Yusi Avianto Pareanom (Indonesian-language Managing Editor) 51 The Wild-cherry Tree
Nirwan Dewanto & Nukila Amal (Co-editors)
Pamela Allen (English-language Managing Editor)
Jan Budweg (German-language Managing Editor)
Saira Kasim & Wikan Satriati (Editorial Assistants)
Publication of this book was made possible, in part,
with the generous assistance of BNI 46
Partial funding for its translation was provided by 71 Letzte Feier
the Translation Funding Program of Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan
Bahasa, 91 Maria Pintos fliegendes Pferd
the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Republic of Indonesia.
107 Das vierte Grab
Design and layout by Emir Hakim Design
Printed in Indonesia by PT Suburmitra Grafistama 125 Die Wildkirsche
ISBN No. 978-602-9144-65-9
iv v
by the way…
(a note from the publisher)
147 Pesta Terakhir
Siince its establishment in 1987, the Lontar
165 Kuda Terbang Maria Pinto
iFoundation of Jakarta, a non-profit organization
179 Makam Keempat
devoted to the promotion of Indonesian literature,
195 Pohon Kersen
has focused on the goal of creating a canon of
213 Publication History Indonesian literature in English translation. With
215 The Translators that as its mission, the Foundation has published
close to 200 books containing translations of
literary work by several hundred Indonesian
authors. In its 28 years of existence, Lontar has
published numerous significant and landmark
works. By the end of this year, 2015, for instance,
Lontar’s Modern Library of Indonesia series will
contain fifty titles by many of Indonesia’s most
important authors, with representative literary work
spanning the entire twentieth century and beyond.
These titles, together with The Lontar Anthology of
Indonesian Drama, The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian
Short Stories, and The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian
Poetry–the latter two of which will be published
this year–will make it possible to teach and foster
appreciation of Indonesian literature anywhere in
vi vii
the world through the medium of English. Further, authors was difficult to make, but Lontar’s hope is
with changes in print technology, Lontar’s titles are that if the series proves successful in achieving its
now available throughout the world in a matter of goal, the Foundation will then be able to produce
days and for a fraction of the cost in former times. translations by another 25 authors and then another
The authors whose work Lontar has published 25 authors and so on in the years to come.
are recognized by both foreign and Indonesian
literary critics and literati as some of the best Because of the not-for-profit nature of Lontar’s
writers Indonesia has ever produced. Naturally, work, none of Lontar’s numerous ventures would
however, given the scope of time covered by Lontar be possible without the generosity of others. In the
publications (from the late nineteenth century to case of BTW Books, Lontar is especially grateful
the present) many of these authors are now elderly to BNI 46 for its generosity in underwriting a large
or already deceased. Which is why Lontar has now percentage of the cost of this series’ publication.
developed a new imprint, BTW Books, through Lontar is also grateful to the authors in this first
which the Foundation will now begin to introduce stage of the series who, in their knowledge of the
to the world other talented Indonesian writers promotional nature of this series, agreed to forego
whose work is hardly known outside the country’s royalties and other forms of monetary recompense.
borders yet has been deemed by both literary Lontar must also thank Emir Hakim and his
critics and Lontar’s editorial board to be worthy design team; the many talented translators who
of international attention. (In general, authors contributed much valuable time to this project; and,
who already have one or more books available last but not least, my editorial board and staff who
in translation, either in English or another major selflessly devoted themselves to the goal of making
international language, were not considered for this project a success.
inclusion in this, the first stage, of the series.)
Because of the abundance of talented John H McGlynn
Indonesian authors, the selection of the first 25
viii ix
Introducing Linda Christanty
Linda Christanty writes short stories, essays
and media reportage. Born on Bangka island
in the province of Bangka-Belitung, Indonesia, she
graduated from University of Indonesia, Jakarta,
where she read Literature. Linda was member of
several student organizations and became politically
active during Indonesia’s Reformasi and post-Reformasi
period as the repressive New Order regime toppled.
After graduating, she worked for Pantau magazine, and
resided in Aceh for several years, where among other
things she was a voluntary teacher at a junior high
school in Lamteuba, Aceh Besar. Upon returning to
Jakarta, she joined Dewi magazine, doing the Arts
and Culture page, while serving on the Literature
Committee of the Jakarta Arts Council (2013-2015).
Her political activism is reflected in her prose, in
which she tackles themes such as student activists
abducted in the Reformasi period, and political
detainees. She is also passionate about women’s
issues, injustice, and humanitarian issues in general,
exploring the marginalized and disenfranchised,
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sexual abuse towards children, and war; both within Bangkok, Thailand. She has also received awards for
Indonesian shores and beyond. her women’s activism: nomination for the N-Peace
Her characters are set in various events and Linda Award 2012 in Asia Pacific, and the Kartini Award
explores their inner battles within these settings. 2014 (Indihome Women Awards 2014). Her short
Though peppered with flashbacks and personal story collection in the Thai language was published
insights within the frame of right and wrong and under the title Seventeen Tigers of Luta (November
justification, her characters do not necessarily 2013). Linda currently resides in Jakarta.
achieve redemption nor resolution to their problems.
Linda explores the dark side because, to her, our
history and our humanity are fraught with bitterness
and gloom. It is as if she feels the need to tell these
things, in order for us not to forget, and also maybe
not to flinch when facing the demons of history.
Linda has published three short fiction anthologies
and two essay compilations. Her work has won
several literary awards: two Khatulistiwa Literary
Awards for Best Fiction Book, for The Flying Horse of
Maria Pinto short story anthology (2004), and Selma’s
Secret (2010). She also received an award from the
Language Board for her essay compilation, From
Java Heading To Aceh (2010), and her short fiction
anthology, A Dog Died in Bala Murghab (2013).
Her short story, “Dry Leaves,” received the Best
Short Story award from Kompas 1989. In 2013,
she received the Southeast Asian Writers Award in
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xiv 1
The Final Party
The afternoon wind felt dry and sharp. The
air in the garden was dusty. The stench of mud
evaporated from the shallow pond that looked like
a buffalo’s wallowing pool. Mouldy fallen lily leaves
floated on the surface of the brown, murky water. In
the corner of the pond, a statue of a plump female
figure holding an urn stood covered in grimy soot.
The old man stood erect in front of the open
window, looking ahead to the statue in the garden.
Dust, dust…. How to scrape away the dust that had
thickened around his soul? He looked at the falling
leaves fluttering from the tree. Felt as if there was
something amusing in his life. But his eyes stung,
felt watery.
Before the dry season came, clear water
fell abundantly from the urn. Now you could no
longer hear the tinkle of falling water. A few catfish
surviving in the pond’s depths preferred to languish
at the bottom rather than flit about. They had
surrendered to the inevitability of death. Many of
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