Picture a Cambodian-American storyteller who spun tales of humor, heart, and heritage with a pen sharper than a stand-up comic’s wit—meet Anthony Veasna So! Born in Stockton, California, this prodigious writer captured the messy beauty of the Cambodian-American experience before his tragic passing at 28. His debut, Afterparties, sparked a bidding war and became a literary sensation, blending irreverent comedy with the weight of generational trauma.
So’s stories aren’t just words on a page; they’re vibrant snapshots of a community rarely seen in literature, told with a voice that’s equal parts poignant and playful. Let’s dive into the life, works, and lasting spark of this remarkable writer.
The Making of Anthony Veasna So
Born on February 20, 1992, to Cambodian refugee parents who fled the Khmer Rouge genocide, Anthony Veasna So grew up in a tight-knit, boisterous family in Stockton’s upper-middle-class enclave. Surrounded by relatives and stories of survival, he soaked up the chaos of family gatherings, quietly taking notes that would later fuel his fiction. A Stanford grad with degrees in English and Art Practice, So initially flirted with computer science but found his calling in storytelling, honed through stand-up comedy and an MFA at Syracuse University.
His early years at his father’s auto shop, reading library books and playing solitaire, shaped his keen observational eye. Influenced by everything from French New Wave films to Titanic marathons, So’s eclectic tastes infused his writing with a cinematic flair and comedic timing that made every page pop.
Anthony Veasna So’s Unforgettable Stories
So’s debut, Afterparties (August 2021), is a collection of nine short stories that dance between hilarity and heartbreak. Set in California’s Cambodian-American community, the stories—like “Three Women of Chuck’s Donuts,” a tender tale of a family-run shop navigating economic decline—explore identity, queerness, and the echoes of genocide. Critics praised its “crackling, kinetic, darkly comedic” style, earning it the 2022 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBTQ literature.
His second book, Songs on Endless Repeat (December 2023), blends essays and fragments of an unfinished novel, Straight Thru Cambotown. This work dives deeper into comedy and trauma, following characters like a pansexual rapper and a hot-headed illustrator. So’s prose, pungent and precise, weaves humor with raw emotion, making even the heaviest themes feel alive.
Published in outlets like The New Yorker and n+1, So’s stories are subversive, filling cultural gaps with a new, unapologetic Cambodian-American voice. His ability to balance wit with weight—think roasting Angelina Jolie while unpacking refugee trauma—set him apart as a literary firecracker.
Why Anthony Veasna So Matters
Anthony Veasna So’s work reshaped contemporary literature by amplifying Cambodian-American voices, often sidelined in mainstream narratives. His stories, lauded by authors like Brit Bennett and George Saunders, offer a defiant, genre-bending take on identity and resilience. Despite his brief career, So’s impact endures through awards, scholarships like the Anthony Veasna So Scholars Program, and a devoted readership hungry for his unique lens.
His untimely death from a drug overdose in December 2020 left a void, but his legacy burns bright. So’s writing invites readers to laugh, cry, and see the world through the eyes of a community forged by survival and strength.
- Born: February 20, 1992, Stockton, California
- Key Works: Afterparties (2021), Songs on Endless Repeat (2023)
- Awards: Ferro-Grumley Award (2022), NBCC John Leonard Prize (2021)
- Influences: Cambodian heritage, stand-up comedy, Moby-Dick
Snag Afterparties and dive into Anthony Veasna So’s electric world of humor and heart—you won’t put it down!