Malaysian anthology 'Superficiality' peels away the complex layers of today's society

'Stories and knowledge enter society and thus shape it. I hope Malaysians will get to know other Malaysians a little better through my book,' says Tee. Photo: Handout

They say it is difficult to truly know a person. That no matter how smooth or polished his or her veneer may be, every person has a hidden, darker side that others rarely see.

The characters in Tee Lin Dee’s short stories are certainly more than meet the eye. In Panam, we meet a rough and unruly money lender who ends up developing compassion. The Young Doctor features a passionate young medical officer who learns the profession of saving lives is not all its cut up to be.