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A week after Anthony Veasna So, an emerging author on the cusp of success, died unexpectedly at age 28, a far-flung but tightknit literary community is in shock and mourning over what might have been.
So died Dec. 8 in San Francisco, according to his partner, Alex Torres. No cause of death was given.
His highly anticipated short story collection, “Afterparties,” to be published in August by Ecco Press, offers a series of portraits of Cambodian Americans grappling with the inherited trauma of the genocide that their parents fled.
“I was completely dazzled by it,” said Helen Atsma, Ecco’s vice president and editorial director and So’s editor, recalling the first time she read his manuscript one of the first she acquired for the publishing company. “The writing was so punchy and funny and smart and attuned to pop culture and life in California.
Anthony Veasna So, SF author on the brink of stardom, dies at 28
Penelope Green, New York Times
Dec. 13, 2020
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This image provided by Ecco shows Anthony Veasna So. The author of the highly anticipated debut story collection, Afterparties, to be published in August, has died. So was 28. His death was announced Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, by his publisher, Ecco. (Chris Sackes/Ecco via AP)Chris Sackes/Associated Press
Anthony Veasna So, the author of crackling, kinetic and darkly comedic stories that made vivid the lives of first-generation Khmer Americans, died Tuesday at his home in San Francisco. He was 28.
Alex Torres, So’s partner, confirmed the death but said he did not know the cause. He said it was sudden and unexpected.
Anthony Veasna So, Author on the Brink of Stardom, Dies at 28
His darkly comedic stories explored the experiences of Cambodian-Americans. His first book, the subject of a bidding war, is to be published next August.
Anthony Veasna So’s book of short stories was described by another author as a “history-haunted comedy of Cambodian-American manners.”Credit.Chris Sackes/Ecco, via Associated Press
Published Dec. 13, 2020Updated Dec. 15, 2020
Anthony Veasna So, the author of crackling, kinetic and darkly comedic stories that made vivid the lives of first-generation Khmer-Americans, died on Dec. 8 at his home in San Francisco. He was 28.
Alex Torres, Mr. So’s partner, confirmed the death but said he did not know the cause. He said it was sudden and unexpected.