Chuckberry J. Pascual is a novelist, translator, and scholar. He has written novels, short story collections, and books of literary criticism, including The Vanished, A Country of Corpses, and Mars, Zombies Are Coming! He teaches literature and creative writing at the University of Santo Tomas and holds a PhD in Creative Writing in Filipino from the University of the Philippines.
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A CREATIVE WRITING professor is set to explore more politically pronounced themes in his sequel to his award-winning young adult novel Mars, May Zombie! to amplify class division in a post-pandemic society.
Picking up a year after Mars and his group arrive in the blue zone and illustrating how their invasion of the area fails, Assoc. Prof. Chuckberry Pascual’s Mars, Maraming Zombie! tackles a revolution and divisive politics in a setting that he said mirrors present-day Philippines.
Bree has a heart of gold, and demonstrates ingenuity and empathy that would shame many a reader. Despite her own dire personal straits, she is kind and helpful, with a generosity of spirit that extends to both man and beast. She’s feisty, too, and won’t back down from a fight. But she knows how to play the long game, and never loses sight of who the real bad guys are. Having been powerless herself, she uses what little resources she has to help the people around her, without asking for anything in return. What largeness of soul, putting those with larger wallets to shame. And what a sense of humor!
By the end of the book, this reader was left with an aching emptiness, for it is all too clear what is missing in this literary microcosm of Filipino society: Equity and justice.
Pascual’s stories resonate loudly in 2025, as the institutionalized theft by politicians and their contractors is being exposed. Would that more of us could be like Bree, whose open eyes and heart are sorely needed in this country.
Chuckberry Pascual is a Filipino author, fictionist, and playwright. Since 2022, he has successfully published Bayan ng mga Bangkay, a collection of short stories; Ang Nawawalang Barangay, a supernatural mystery novel; and the young adult/zombie/dystopian series Mars May Zombie! His recently released novella Daddy marks his foray into realist fiction, while remaining true to his roots in queer storytelling. Pascual also works as a translator and university professor.
In this spotlight feature, Pascual discusses his latest book, his journey to becoming a published author, his writing process, why he writes in the queer, horror, and young adult spaces, and more.
Contact
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/chuckberry.pascual
www.instagram.com/berrypascual01
Translation and adaptation rights
Nida G. Ramirez: [email protected]
