A translator. Two academics. A publisher. A bookseller. They share their thoughts on the state of Malaysian literature and the book trade, an ecosystem right on the edge of a permanent digital transformation, still navigating the familiar issues of identity, of belonging and Othering. Here we dive deep into the workings of the local literary ecosystem, including largely invisible steps such as translation, publication and distribution ⁰́₃ as well as the communities that sustain the creation of literature. Paper & Text is a useful introduction to the dynamics of the book trade, and attempts to address that ubiquitous question: What is Malaysian literature?