And I absolutely agree with you on the swearing…

Although, on a related note, I hate it when foreigners get all surprised when they hear that English is my first language, and that I read English novels extensively. I guess neither side is guilt-free when it comes to making assumptions.

Oh and swearing in English is much more satisfying. I mean, imagine saying ‘lubang buntut’ in lieu of ‘a$$hole’ (pardon the language), or some kind of equivalent to the widely used four letter f-word that indicates intercourse. It loses its… luster, somehow.

Amy – I had forgotten that from A Town Like Alice. Apropos of nothing, did you know one scene in the film aroused a lot of ire here, when the heroine’s Malay “father” kissed her goodbye. It was not something a Malay man in those circumstances would ever have done! It felt awfully “wrong” in context, even to me, and a Muslim man in those days would never have done it.

I also am longing to see my books back in publication in the US too. but, like you – I am patient. If I can’t find a publisher to re-issue Havenstar, I will organise a PoD publication one day. I can’t even offer to send you a copy, because I only have 2 of my own!

At Swancon in March someone came up to me at the booksigning with a pristine copy that had a cover somehow laminated – a library copy that had been released into the wild. They paid a couple of dollars and couldn’t believe their luck!

Kendall, I think people here assume that all white people are tourists, but in actual fact there are thousands of residents working or living here like me who speak the language to some degree or another.

But I feel confident I will get my hands on a copy! I just recently found a 1945 book I’d been searching for online for over 10 years. When it comes to find books, I can be patient. 😉

The U.S. has (had?) a reputation as a kind of melting pot, so you can’t presume nationality (let alone language knowledge) based on skin color. (Obviously, some idiots do….) I feel in the USA, anyway, one has to presume someone speaks English until proven otherwise–that it’s usually impolite (or downright rude, depending on the situation) to presume someone doesn’t speak English based on something silly like how they look.

I also feel it’s absurd to live somewhere without speaking the language. Going on a 10ish day vacation in Italy, years ago, I picked up a simpel Berlitz 1 tape + booklet and a separate phrase book. The former was to learn a few veeeeery basic things; the latter was in case I ran into a situation (or my bad memory!) I didn’t know words for. Am I weird?

On another note, my copy of Song of the Shiver Barrens arrived from the U.K. (I’m in the U.S.) So I now have Shadow and Song both to read.

I haven’t been able to find a copy of Havenstar for under $50-80. I would even by it in German, even though I would struggle mightily to be able to read it that way, but even the German edition is near-impossible to get!

I hope to see more of your books published in the U.S. 😉