Prabda Yoon

2.1. Early life and family

Prabda Yoon was born on August 2, 1973, in Bangkok, Thailand. His childhood nickname was Khoon. He is the son of two well-known Thai media personalities: his father, Suthichai Yoon, co-founder of The Nation newspaper and former editorial director of Nation Multimedia Group; and his mother, Nantawan Sae-Yoon (also known as Nantawan Yoon), a former magazine editor and novelist, who edited the magazine Lalana. Prabda has one younger sister, Shimboon "Kit" Yoon, who resides with her family in the United States.

2.2. Education

Prabda completed his elementary school education in Bangkok, attending Debsirin School (also known as Tape Sirin Middle School). He then continued his high school education in the United States at the Cambridge School of Weston in Weston, Massachusetts. Following high school, he pursued higher education in New York City. He spent two years at Parsons School of Design in Manhattan, studying communication design. He then transferred to Cooper Union, where he studied for four more years. At Cooper Union, he specialized in graphic design under the tutelage of renowned designers Dan Friedman and Milton Glaser, and also studied film with Robert Breer. He graduated from Cooper Union in 1997. After his graduation, Prabda worked briefly as a graphic designer in Manhattan before returning to Thailand in 1998 to fulfill his mandatory military service.

3.1. Literary career

Prabda Yoon embarked on his prolific writing career after completing his military service in 1998, quickly becoming a prominent voice in Thai literature. His literary debut, Muang Moom Shak (เมืองมุมฉาก^Thai, City of Right Angles), a collection of five interconnected stories set in New York City, was published in 2000. This was swiftly followed by another collection, Kwam Na Ja Pen (ความน่าจะเป็น^Thai, Probability), also released in 2000. Both works immediately garnered significant attention, making him a widely discussed figure in the literary scene. In 2002, Kwam Na Ja Pen was awarded the prestigious S.E.A. Write Award, an accolade recognizing accomplished Southeast Asian writers and poets.

Over a decade, Prabda authored more than 20 books of fiction and nonfiction. His short stories often explore themes of urban life and human relationships, while his novels delve into various narrative styles and subjects. Notable short story collections include Flood in the Eyes (อุทกภัยในดวงตา^Thai, 2001), The Moving Parts (ส่วนที่เคลื่อนไหว^Thai, 2001), This Really Happened (เรื่องนี้เกิดขึ้นจริง^Thai, 2002), The Shoulders of Mountains (กระทบไหล่เขา^Thai, 2004), Cleaning the Dead (ความสะอาดของผู้ตาย^Thai, 2005), and Ancient Planet (ดาวดึกดำบรรพ์^Thai, 2011). His novels include Chit-tak! (ชิทแตก!^Thai, 2002), Panda (แพนด้า^Thai, 2004), Lessons in Rain (ฝนตกตลอดเวลา^Thai, 2005), and Under the Snow (นอนใต้ละอองหนาว^Thai, 2006).

Several of Prabda's works have been translated into other languages, expanding his international readership. His short story collection, The Sad Part Was, primarily comprising stories from Kwam Na Ja Pen, was translated into English by Mui Poopoksakul and published in the United Kingdom by Tilted Axis Press on March 3, 2017. This translation was recognized with an English PEN Award. His work, including Moving Parts, has also been regularly translated and published in Japan, with titles such as Last Life in the Universe (translated by Kenhiko Yoshioka, 2004), Counting in the Mirror (translated by Seiji Uto, 2007), and Panda (translated by Seiji Uto, 2011).

3.2. Film and screenwriting

Prabda Yoon has made significant contributions to the world of cinema, both as a screenwriter and a director. He is particularly known for his collaborations with acclaimed Thai "new wave" filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. Prabda penned the screenplays for Ratanaruang's films Last Life in the Universe (เรื่องรัก น้อยนิด มหาศาล^Thai, 2003) and Invisible Waves (คำพิพากษาของมหาสมุทร^Thai, 2006), both of which received critical acclaim for their artistic merit and unique narrative styles.

In 2015, Prabda made his debut as a feature film director with Motel Mist (โมเตล มิดิ^Thai, 2015). The film was selected to premiere and compete at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2016, marking a significant milestone in his cinematic career. Earlier in his career, he also wrote the screenplay for the television program "Silk Knot" (ปมไหม^Thai), a story centered on the mysterious disappearance of Thai silk merchant Jim Thompson.

3.3. Graphic design and art

Prabda Yoon's creative talents extend to the visual arts, where he has established himself as a prominent graphic designer and visual artist. After graduating from Cooper Union, he briefly worked as a graphic designer in Manhattan. His expertise in graphic design is evident in his extensive work designing over 100 book covers for numerous publishers and authors, significantly shaping the visual identity of contemporary Thai literature.

As a visual artist, Prabda has showcased his works, which include paintings, drawings, and installations, in exhibitions both in Thailand and Japan. His first solo exhibition, SEA DIFFERENTLY, was held in Kobe, Japan, from April 7 to 19, 2005. He also held the Empty Monsters exhibition in Sendai (June 25 to July 21, 2007) and Tokyo (July 9 to July 18, 2007).

3.4. Translation work

Prabda Yoon is also a dedicated translator, playing a crucial role in enriching Thai literature by bringing significant Western literary classics to Thai readers. His notable translations include:

• Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita and Pnin
• All of J. D. Salinger's books, including The Catcher in the Rye (จะเป็นผู้คอยรับไว้ไม่ให้ใครร่วงหล่น^Thai, 2009) and Nine Stories (เก้าเรื่องสั้น^Thai, 2013)
• Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange (คนไขลาน^Thai, 2011)
• Karel Čapek's R.U.R. (ห.ส.ร. หุ่นยนต์สากลราวี^Thai, 2010)
• Arthur Bradford's Dogwalker (คนหัวหมา^Thai, 2003)

In addition to translating others' works, Prabda's own literary creations have been translated into various languages, including English and Japanese, further broadening his international reach and allowing diverse audiences to engage with his unique voice.

3.5. Publishing and media ventures

Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the literary community, Prabda Yoon has also ventured into publishing and media. In 2004, he founded Typhoon Studio, a small publishing house based in Thailand. Typhoon Studio operates with two distinct imprints: Typhoon Books and Sunday Afternoon, through which he publishes his own works and those of other authors.

Further expanding his presence in the literary world, Prabda opened Bookmoby Readers' Cafe in 2012. This small bookshop, located at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, serves as a hub for readers and a platform for literary events. Beyond his publishing endeavors, Prabda has also been active as a magazine editor and columnist. He has contributed columns to various publications, including Nation Weekend and the Japanese magazine EYESCREAM (from 2003 to 2007), and has been writing essays for Esquire magazine since May 2008. His deep knowledge of Japanese culture is also reflected in his frequent visits to Japan.

3.6. Music career

Prabda Yoon's creative pursuits also extend to the music scene, where he has been involved in several musical projects. He is a member of the band Buahima, which was formed in 2003. Buahima released a soundtrack album for his novel Chit-tak! in 2002, titled Buahima / Chit-tak!, with a Japanese edition released in 2005.

Later, in 2008, he formed another musical unit called The Typhoon Band. This band released their first album, "Naming Of A Storm," in the same year. His musical works often complement or are associated with his literary or film projects, showcasing his interdisciplinary approach to art.

6.1. Short stories

• Muang Moom Shak (เมืองมุมฉาก^Thai, City of Right-Angles, 2000)
• Kwam Na Ja Pen (ความน่าจะเป็น^Thai, Probability, 2000)
• Uthokaphai Nai Duangta (อุทกภัยในดวงตา^Thai, Flood in the Eyes, 2001)
• Suan Thi Khlueanwai (ส่วนที่เคลื่อนไหว^Thai, The Moving Parts, 2001)
• Rueang Ni Koet Khuen Ching (เรื่องนี้เกิดขึ้นจริง^Thai, This Really Happened, 2002)
• Krathop Lai Khao (กระทบไหล่เขา^Thai, The Shoulders of Mountains, 2004)
• Khwam Sa-at Khong Phu Tai (ความสะอาดของผู้ตาย^Thai, Cleaning the Dead, 2005)
• Dao Duek Dam Ban (ดาวดึกดำบรรพ์^Thai, Ancient Planet, 2011)
• Saeng Salai (แสงสลาย^Thai, Collapsing Light, 2009) - novella
• Paraidolia Ramluek (พาไรโดเลียรำลึก^Thai, Days of Pareidolia, 2012) - novella
• The Sad Part Was (2017) - English translation of selected short stories
• Moving Parts (2018) - English translation of selected short stories
• Chikyū de Saigo no Futari (地球で最後のふたり^Japanese, Last Life in the Universe, 2004) - Japanese translation
• Kagami no Naka o Kazoeru (鏡の中を数える^Japanese, Counting in the Mirror, 2007) - Japanese translation
• Barami (バーラミー^Japanese, 2005) - Japanese magazine publication
• Sonzai no Arieta Kanōsei (存在のあり得た可能性^Japanese, Probability, 2004) - Japanese magazine publication

6.2. Novels

• Chit-tak! (ชิทแตก!^Thai, 2002)
• Panda (แพนด้า^Thai, 2004)
• Fon Tok Talot Wela (ฝนตกตลอดเวลา^Thai, Lessons in Rain, 2005)
• Non Tai La-ong Nao (นอนใต้ละอองหนาว^Thai, Under the Snow, 2006)
• Panda (パンダ^Japanese, 2011) - Japanese translation

6.3. Essays

• Phap Mai Ning (ภาพไม่นิ่ง^Thai, Unstill Pictures, 2001)
• Nam Sai Kalok (น้ำใส่กะโหลก^Thai, Water for the Skull, 2002)
• Ya An Loey Ko Laeokan (อย่าอ่านเลย ก็แล้วกัน^Thai, Please Don't Read, Carefully, 2002)
• Pen: Riangkhwam Waduai Lomhaichai Nai Tuangsue (เป็น: เรียงความว่าด้วยลมหายใจในตัวหนังสือ^Thai, Alive: On the Breath of Words, 2003)
• Sommut Sathan (สมมุติสถาน^Thai, Imagined Landscapes, 2005)
• (Poet Pai) Na Sun ((เปิดไป) หน้าศูนย์^Thai, (OPEN) Page Zero, 2006)
• Rueang Top Ta (เรื่องตบตา^Thai, Hitting the Eyes, 2006)
• Khian Thueng Yipun (เขียนถึงญี่ปุ่น^Thai, Writing to Japan or My Japan, 2007)
• Dontri Thi Mi Namta (ดนตรีที่มีน้ำตา^Thai, Music with Tears, 2008)
• Khian Thueng Yipun (座右の日本^Japanese, My Japan, 2007) - Japanese translation
• Atarashii Me no Tabidachi (新しい目の旅立ち^Japanese, Departure of a New Eye, 2020) - Japanese translation
• Khwam Na Ja Pen Bon Sen Khanan (ความน่าจะเป็นบนเส้นขนาน^Thai, Parallel Probability) - series co-authored with Win Leowarin:
  • Vol. 1 (2002)
  • Vol. 2 (2004)
  • Vol. 3 (2005)
  • Vol. 4 (2006)
  • Vol. 5 (2007)
  • Vol. 6 (2008)
  • Vol. 7 (2009)

6.4. Screenplays

• Last Life in the Universe (เรื่องรัก น้อยนิด มหาศาล^Thai, 2003) - co-written with Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
• Invisible Waves (คำพิพากษาของมหาสมุทร^Thai, 2006) - co-written with Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
• Motel Mist (2015) - also directed by Prabda Yoon
• Pom Mai (ปมไหม^Thai, Silk Knot) - television screenplay

6.5. Translations

• Arthur Bradford, Dogwalker (คนหัวหมา^Thai, 2003)
• J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (จะเป็นผู้คอยรับไว้ไม่ให้ใครร่วงหล่น^Thai, 2009)
• Karel Čapek, R.U.R. (ห.ส.ร. หุ่นยนต์สากลราวี^Thai, 2010)
• Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange (คนไขลาน^Thai, 2011)
• J. D. Salinger, Nine Stories (เก้าเรื่องสั้น^Thai, 2013)

6.6. Musical works

• Buahima** (music unit, formed 2003)
  • Chit-tak! (2002) - soundtrack album for the novel of the same name (co-created with Jetamon Malayotha)
• The Typhoon Band** (music unit, formed 2008)
  • Naming Of A Storm (2008) - first album