Norman Erikson Pasaribu

Norman Erikson Pasaribu is an Indonesian-language poet, translator, editor, and writer of short stories.

Norman Erikson Pasaribu was born in 1990 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

They are of Catholic Toba Batak background and are Queer.

They began to write poetry from a young age.

Among their literary influences are Budi Darma, Claudia Rankine, Herta Müller, Joni Mitchell and Mary Gordon.

Pasaribu's first book was the 2014 collection of short stories Hanya Kamu yang Tahu Berapa Lama Lagi Aku Harus Menunggu (Only You Know How Long I Have to Wait), published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

Their next book was the 2015 poetry collection Sergius Mencari Bacchus (Sergius seeks Bacchus).

The book was critically well received and won first prize at the Jakarta Arts Council’s Poetry Manuscript Competition and was a finalist for the 2016 Khatulistiwa Literary Award for Poetry.

The book was translated into English by Tiffany Tsao, with whom Pasaribu developed a close working relationship and friendship.

Pasaribu also won the 2017 Young Author Award from the Southeast Asia Literary Council.

Tsao's English translation of Happy Stories, Mostly won the 2022 Republic of Consciousness Prize and was longlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize The book received positive critical attention, including from the New York Times, which found it unhappy but meaningful.

In 2022 Pasaribu was the English PEN international writer in residence at Essex Writers House in Southend-on-Sea in the United Kingdom.

They are currently the 2023–2024 Artist in Residence at the Harvard University Asia Center in Boston in the United States.

The book was published by Tilted Axis Press and won the 2018 PEN Translates Award.