I thoroughly enjoyed that, thanks Linh. You're an acquired taste to be sure, but definitely not a 'nose pinched' one. You seem to have intended this short story as a parable for our times.
The irony of the modern west is that Ho Muoi’s delusion he spoke English is matched by so many native English speakers who, while speaking a common language, have put their own interpretation on many ordinary words to the extent that they've lost any common meaning.
God once condemned human beings to speaking different languages so that we wouldn't truly know each other. Nowadays we can speak the same language and still be as foreign to our next door neighbour as we are to a pygmy
An extremely clever and thought-provoking story. My comment is written in what would have been, if I was alive eighty-odd years ago, a colonizer's language, one whose acquisition would then have afforded certain privileges, while requiring assimilation at some level into the colonizer's culture. Of course, English continues to exert this effect worldwide. Rejection of the language of the oppressor or majority can be a political act, asserting independence and autonomy, and this is frequently found in language wars. In this story, I think the freedom to convert the invaders's language sample into an artificial one that one can claim ownership over is the main political act. (As an aside, with the small and degraded language sample uttered by the American, the space of possible inferred languages that might underly it is very large, so acquisition was bound to lead to something weird and idiosyncratic, which the story cleverly plays on.)
I've been a reader for several years now and switched from Unz to hear to keep up as I am a great admirer or your writings - makes me feel like I'm sitting in all those cafes right next to you observing life pass by. Anyway, you give so much but I have something for you that you will love - a cool music video entitled 'Omicron vs. Godzilla'. It's a really expert composition by young artists (15 & 18). Feel free to share it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBShKbTd6cc
I liked this story. It was well written and original (well, it didn't remind me of anything else).
I spent decades in marketing and have wondered before if you are over pricing your books. Generally writers can make more if there is an impulsive purchase opportunity. Writers often want to set a high price because they feel their work deserves it. Yours does but that might not be best for you. Kindle books can usually make more money and the authors can gain more readers by lowering the price.
Have your ever tried lowering the price of your books to 9.99. In direct sales that is a key price point. I would actually suggest dropping Postcards to 9.99 and this book to 2.99 if you haven't tried it already. Self published writers on Amazon have reported that 2.99 is the most lucrative price point.
Working towards an English degree in the American post secondary system, albeit community college has been fun but depressing at times. I think that I actually have more freedom at community college because most of the students are "proles" and haven't had their minds completely destroyed yet. I'm learning that trying to honor the only language that I know is like trying to figure out how to swim gracefully in a fetid swamp.
Of course, this prompted me to go back and reread the series one para stands out (like dogs balls as some Irish would say). This is from Graham Sieber's interview:
'You writers at Unz know as well as anybody the vast gulf between propaganda and reality. Ukraine has never been that dangerous. Like tsars throughout history, Putin is a cautious aggressor. Russia simply could not administer a restive, hostile Ukrainian. No matter how much the Americans try to provoke a war, both the Russians and Ukrainians are smart enough to avoid it.' Sad to know that common sense did not prevail and that Amerika finally pushed so hard the Russians invaded, still cautiously aggressive at the start. Now, with US, UK, and Australian troops training for somewhere that looks very like the Ukraine, It is anyone's ballgame. I wonder what has happened to Graham and his little family. I hope they are well.
I thoroughly enjoyed that, thanks Linh. You're an acquired taste to be sure, but definitely not a 'nose pinched' one. You seem to have intended this short story as a parable for our times.
The irony of the modern west is that Ho Muoi’s delusion he spoke English is matched by so many native English speakers who, while speaking a common language, have put their own interpretation on many ordinary words to the extent that they've lost any common meaning.
God once condemned human beings to speaking different languages so that we wouldn't truly know each other. Nowadays we can speak the same language and still be as foreign to our next door neighbour as we are to a pygmy
An extremely clever and thought-provoking story. My comment is written in what would have been, if I was alive eighty-odd years ago, a colonizer's language, one whose acquisition would then have afforded certain privileges, while requiring assimilation at some level into the colonizer's culture. Of course, English continues to exert this effect worldwide. Rejection of the language of the oppressor or majority can be a political act, asserting independence and autonomy, and this is frequently found in language wars. In this story, I think the freedom to convert the invaders's language sample into an artificial one that one can claim ownership over is the main political act. (As an aside, with the small and degraded language sample uttered by the American, the space of possible inferred languages that might underly it is very large, so acquisition was bound to lead to something weird and idiosyncratic, which the story cleverly plays on.)
I've been a reader for several years now and switched from Unz to hear to keep up as I am a great admirer or your writings - makes me feel like I'm sitting in all those cafes right next to you observing life pass by. Anyway, you give so much but I have something for you that you will love - a cool music video entitled 'Omicron vs. Godzilla'. It's a really expert composition by young artists (15 & 18). Feel free to share it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBShKbTd6cc
I liked this story. It was well written and original (well, it didn't remind me of anything else).
I spent decades in marketing and have wondered before if you are over pricing your books. Generally writers can make more if there is an impulsive purchase opportunity. Writers often want to set a high price because they feel their work deserves it. Yours does but that might not be best for you. Kindle books can usually make more money and the authors can gain more readers by lowering the price.
Have your ever tried lowering the price of your books to 9.99. In direct sales that is a key price point. I would actually suggest dropping Postcards to 9.99 and this book to 2.99 if you haven't tried it already. Self published writers on Amazon have reported that 2.99 is the most lucrative price point.
Anyway hope you post more of your other writing.
Linh
Was watching a PBS special the other day about a cave in Aldene, France that had 60 to 70, 8,000 year old footprints that were fossilized in clay.
They brought in women trackers from Namibia to determine the size, weight & gender of the Neolithic people who left the prints. Fascinating stuff.
As Yvonne once sang...
We want you to sleep well tonight
Let the World turn without you tonight
If we try, we'll get by
So, forget all about us, tonight
Bill
And the story was a wonderful alternative!
Beautiful and brilliant, perfect and priceless. Thank you.
I ordered your book on Amazon. Will that work? Rest up, truth warrior!💜
Sounds good, Peggy. Royalties aren't really an issue here.
Working towards an English degree in the American post secondary system, albeit community college has been fun but depressing at times. I think that I actually have more freedom at community college because most of the students are "proles" and haven't had their minds completely destroyed yet. I'm learning that trying to honor the only language that I know is like trying to figure out how to swim gracefully in a fetid swamp.
Thank you Linh for sharing your perspective.
It seems he was possessed of a primordial brilliance which, without any practical form to take, manifested itself as a linguistic Tulpa.
Hi adi, I want to interview you for my Escape from America series, https://linhdinhphotos.blogspot.com/search/label/Escape%20from%20America
Via email, we can talk about your being in Russia during this crazy period. Say whatever you want. My email, linhdinh99@yahoo.com . Let's do it!--Linh
Of course, this prompted me to go back and reread the series one para stands out (like dogs balls as some Irish would say). This is from Graham Sieber's interview:
'You writers at Unz know as well as anybody the vast gulf between propaganda and reality. Ukraine has never been that dangerous. Like tsars throughout history, Putin is a cautious aggressor. Russia simply could not administer a restive, hostile Ukrainian. No matter how much the Americans try to provoke a war, both the Russians and Ukrainians are smart enough to avoid it.' Sad to know that common sense did not prevail and that Amerika finally pushed so hard the Russians invaded, still cautiously aggressive at the start. Now, with US, UK, and Australian troops training for somewhere that looks very like the Ukraine, It is anyone's ballgame. I wonder what has happened to Graham and his little family. I hope they are well.
Hey - I'm flattered. Sure, I will email you :)
Very interesting read. Thanks, Linh!