StoryBundle’s In Translation bundle is exactly what it sounds like: a curated set of books originally written in languages other than English, now available in translation, bundled together for a pay‑what‑you‑want price. No gimmicks, no theme beyond the obvious one; just a selection of work from around the world that you’re unlikely to stumble across in mainstream publishing.
The bundle is split into two tiers. The base tier gives you three books from three different regions. The bonus tier expands that to a full set of twelve, covering a wide range of languages, styles, and approaches to storytelling. Some translations were created specifically for this bundle, and a few titles are appearing in digital form for the first time.
If you’re the kind of reader who likes stepping outside the usual English‑language circuit, this is a nice way to do it. You don’t need to hunt through small‑press catalogues or rely on scattered recommendations. Everything is in one place, DRM‑free, and easy to load onto whatever device you use.
Below is the full list of what’s included, starting with the core bundle, priced at just $5:
- From Zimbabwe: Sunshine City by Pauline Chirata-Mukondiwa, translated from Shona by Zukiswa Wanner (StoryBundle Exclusive)
- From Korea: Launch Something! by Bae Myung-hoon, translated from Korean by Stella Kim
- From Palestine: No One Knows Their Blood Type by Maya Abu Al-Hayyat, translated from Arabic by Hazem Jamjoum (StoryBundle Digital Exclusive)
Upgrade to the bonus bundle at $25 to add a lot of additional items to your bundle:
- From Nigeria: Sin Is a Puppy That Follows You Home by Balaraba Ramat Yakubu, translated from Hausa by Aliyu Kamal
- From Thailand: The Sad Part Was by Prabda Yoon, translated from Thai by Mui Poopoksakul
- From South Africa: I Thought It Would Rain by Nakanjani G. Sibiya, translated from isiZulu by Sifiso Mzobe (Storybundle Exclusive)
- From India: The Aayakudi Murders by Indra Soundar Rajan, translated from Tamil by Nirmal Rajagopalan
- From Malaysia, Singapore, and the Diaspora: Singa-Pura-Pura, edited and translated from Malay by Dr. Nazry Bahrawi
- From Brazil: Visible Magic, stories by Giu Murakami and Fernanda Castro, translated from Brazilian Portuguese by Anna Martino (StoryBundle Exclusive)
- From Canada: Hieroglyphs: The Celestial Conspiracies written and translated from French by Talhí Briones
- From Wiikwemkoong: Sit with Us, written and translated from Nishinaabemowin by Kenn Pitawanakwat (StoryBundle Exclusive)
- From Ukraine: The Factory by Ihor Mysiak, translated from Ukrainian by Yevheniia Dubrova and Hanna Leliv
The value here isn’t in finding twelve new favourites. It’s in widening the field a little. You get fiction from Shona, Hausa, Tamil, Malay, Nishinaabemowin, and more; languages that rarely get space in English‑language publishing, even in digital formats.
Some books will click immediately. Others might feel unfamiliar in structure or tone. That’s part of the point. The bundle gives you room to try things you wouldn’t normally pick up, without the pressure of buying each title individually.
Here are a few highlights that jump out at me:
- Sunshine City by Pauline Chirata‑Mukondiwa: A contemporary Zimbabwean novel that doesn’t rely on familiar Western frames. It’s written for its own context first, which gives it a tone and rhythm not often seen in English‑language fiction. The translation is new for this bundle, so this is one of the few ways to read it digitally.
- Launch Something! by Bae Myung‑hoon: Bae Myung‑hoon is one of the more accessible Korean SF writers for English readers, and this novella is a good entry point. It’s sharp, dryly funny, and political in a way that doesn’t require any specialist knowledge. If you want something quick, clever, and slightly off‑centre, this is the one.
- Sit with Us by Kenn Pitawanakwat: A rare chance to read work written and translated by the author from Nishinaabemowin. It’s short, direct, and grounded in community rather than external explanation. If you’re interested in Indigenous languages and storytelling, this is one of the most distinctive titles in the set.
- Singa‑Pura‑Pura, edited and translated by Dr. Nazry Bahrawi: A collection of Malay‑language stories from Malaysia, Singapore, and the diaspora. It’s one of the more varied books in the bundle – different authors, different tones, different approaches – which makes it a good sampler if you want breadth rather than a single sustained narrative.
- The Aayakudi Murders by Indra Soundar Rajan: A Tamil mystery novel from a writer best known for his work in magazines and television. It’s brisk, plot‑driven, and very different from the usual English‑language crime fiction template. A good pick if you want something with pace and a strong sense of place.
If you’re interested in translated fiction, or if you simply want a low‑effort way to read more globally, the In Translation bundle is a practical option. It’s varied, it’s thoughtfully curated, and it’s available for a limited time at a price that makes exploration easy.
You can click here to visit the bundle page over at StoryBundle.
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