Author Description

A brilliantly crafted rapidly moving and highly entertaining novel: as the following sampling of some of my notes and remarks- giving a taste of what and how of the narrative- will bear out, I think: First 5 pages, and already a handful of characters and their relationships and situations shaping up towards the promise of something interesting. first 14 pages: the narrative moves along briskly (sacrificing detail? sharpness?), taking in a "Jungle Operation", a bandit ambush and killing of Captain Ian Macdonald. Ian Macdonald dies, long live Ismail Macdonald. General Sir Gerald Templer mentioned, & Tan Siew Sin & Tengku Abdul Rahman; time and place pointers..Datuk Lee's way to wealth: wheeling & dealing, real estate, shares; work, play & risk taking, & making play work for him...Lee's daughter Mei Ling all at sea literally- cried "God save me", & was, by a dolphin.Ismail buying a car - this gone into some detail. good telling detail re Ismail's careful placing of clothes.(P40). The best writing and focus so far (P47) Melodramatic. New characters introduced literally with ".. a splash"; Lucille Oppenheimer - just in time for Ismail.. Narrative rolling.. rollicking?! - along now (pp 50 ff); rolling Ismail to London, and to Emma Thompson. Studying Law for the exam. makes for something different. Gambling, its additive power. Nicholas Dennis Denning.. Lady V Russel.. And yet another character: Dr. Eric Nkomo,. In Paris.. Prof. J.Jaques.. Ski resort. St Moritz. Mountaineering.. There's even a Princess Diana appearance - not at all badly brought off.. Interesting stuff: the painting.. which the genuine article?. Dialogue.. exchange re traveling.. drawing- roomish? Jane Austenish?. A long speech here - how incorporated in the narrative flow?. Rough house stuff in toilet - dirty politics literally. Even Pudu jail makes an appearance. Touche! (184).. In Hong Kong- Mei Ling's sudden headache - the way of the world, just so: Mei Ling with Dr. Enright, & Ismail