True Singapore Ghost Stories

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True Singapore Ghost Stories
TSGS Book 27.jpg
Author Russell Lee
Original titleThe Almost Complete Collection of True Singapore Ghost Stories
Country Singapore
Language English
Genre Horror, Drama, Comedy, Non-Fiction
PublisherAngsana Books, Flame Of The Forest Publishing ( flameoftheforest.com )
Publication date
1989 (Earliest, Book 1)
2023 (Latest, Book 27)
PagesRoughly 160

The Almost Complete Collection of True Singapore Ghost Stories (also True Singapore Ghost Stories or TSGS) is the bestselling book series in Singapore. With over 1.5 million copies sold, [1] the series has become a household name since its inception in 1989. Russell Lee, a Singaporean author, compiles reports, stories and interviews about the supernatural. Light and entertaining, each book, which comprises about 30 stories, appeals to both children and mature readers. The latest book in the series, True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 27, was released in 2023. [2]

Contents

Most of the stories take place in Asia but some take place in other parts of the world. Lee also includes articles about the paranormal, featuring detailed investigations into the occult, witchcraft, vampires and other similar topics. The books are sold in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and some other neighbouring countries. [3]

Russell Lee is the author of the series. He has been writing about the supernatural since 1989. [4]

Books

Below are a list of books published under the series:

The Complete List
S/NBookYear Published
1True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 11989
2True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 21992
3True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 31994
4True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 41994
5True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 51995
6True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 61995
7True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 71995
8True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 81996
9True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 91997
10True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 101999
11True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 112003
12True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 122004
13True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 132005
14True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 142006
15True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 152006
16True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 162007
17True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 172007
18True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 182008
19True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 192009
20True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 202010
21True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 212011
22True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 222012
23True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 232013
24True Singapore Ghost Stories 25th Year Special Edition2014
25True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 242015
26True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 252017
27True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 262020
28True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 272023

Television Series

A 13-part TV series, True Singapore Ghost Stories, has been produced by I-Media Entertainment in Singapore. [5]

USS Collaboration

In 2015, Russell Lee and Universal Studios Singapore collaborated in the production of Halloween Horror Nights at Resorts World Sentosa. Stories and characters from the book series were used in the month-long event. It was like experiencing True Singapore Ghost Stories with a Hollywood twist. [6]

Reception

According to the Singapore Book of Records, the True Singapore Ghost Stories is the best-selling local series by a team of writers, and the all-time best-selling local book series, in Singapore. [7]

The Straits Times mentions "Russell Lee’s True Singapore Ghost Stories has been a mainstay on Singapore bestseller lists since they hit shelves in 1989. The material is just so incredibly rich... You just want to read on". While the South China Morning Post stated that "Russell Lee is Singapore’s most popular writer by a long stretch. His prose is clear and his titles snappy." The Star reports that "True Singapore Ghost Stories Book 1 is Singapore’s all-time number one bestseller". However, he has been criticized for including inaccurate scientific/historical details in his books, a charge which he defended himself by claiming that his books are not meant for research, but merely for fun reading. For instance, he wrote that the Necronomicon is an actual object in history, claimed that Satanism is literal devil worship, and also from his prior books and illustrations he wrote articles with beliefs leaning on Creationism. [8]

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References

  1. "True S'pore Ghost Stories sold at S$9.90 per book for past 33 years". The News Singapore. 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  2. "True S'pore Ghost Stories sold at S$9.90 per book for past 33 years". mothership.sg. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  3. "What Ever Happened to Russell Lee, the Mysterious Author of 'True Singapore Ghost Stories'?". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  4. Ho, Olivia (2021). "Unsung S'pore icons: Home-grown horror tales spook a new generation". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  5. "Fear factor". The Straits Times.
  6. Sile, Aza Wee (2015-10-29). "This is horror, Singapore-style". CNBC. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  7. "Best Selling Local Series By A Team Of Writers". Singapore Book of Records.
  8. "Flame Of The Forest - Books by Russell Lee". www.flameoftheforest.com. Retrieved 2022-07-20.