ThaRum

It was this April last year that I met Canadian-born Geoff Ryman, and read one of his latest novels, The King’s Last Song, just a few days later. It was great being at his book launch, held on the top roof of Foreign Correspondent of Cambodia/FCC, where he presented his books to a dozen of people, mostly international travelers.

Just before the Khmer New Year I began to read another short story of his. England-based travel writer Andy Brouwer has just pointed out an email interview of Cat Barton of the Phnom Penh Post with novelist Geoff. The full article is available on the Phnom Penh Post’s Web site. The interview gives an overview of Geoff’s recent writings, the major one is his 2006 novel “The King’s Last Song,” and his very latest short story “Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter (Fantasy),” which has just been nominated for a 2007 Hugo Award. The two stories have not been made available in Khmer language just yet. The Post reporter asked that “Would you be interested in doing a Khmer translation of your work?” Well, this is Geoff’s response:

“There was talk about serializing “The King’s Last Song” in a newspaper, but [it] would be a huge task. I think out of them all I’d most rather “Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter” was translated. It’s a manageable length and I think it deals in a recognizably modern Phnom Penh. The question is how to use sales abroad to fund publishing in Cambodia in Khmer.”

Last year, I read The King’s Last Song or Kraing Meas (Golden Palm-Leaf Book), a fictional story of how the twelfth-century King Jayavarman VII delivered his inspirational message to present Cambodia. I personally find his book sub-title interesting. It simply says: A Voice from the Past Brings Hope for the Future. It touched my heart so I began to write a review for the first time. And of course, I am going to write another review of the “Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter,” and publish it some time soon. It is interesting, if you believe him, that there is place like Hilton Hotel in the Cambodian capital. And there is no doubt that he clearly illustrates the social trend of young Cambodians, self-indulgence in new gadgets: Nokia and iPod.

This short story is available on the Internet. Please click here for the download page.

Also: Cambodian-penned Khmer Rouge genocide history book to be unveiled

Pno Klem Chan Krisna or the tomb of Klem Chan Krisna is a fictional short story written by Penn Setharin, a lecturer of Obirin university in Tokyo. The novel was published in electronic version in February 2003. Living in Japan, she has worked there as a teacher of Khmer language and Asian literature, as a restaurant-keeper, translator, interpreter and refugees’ assistant.

Young lady Chan Borey first met Vimol when they were on plane from Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to Bangkok of Thailand. As a Cambodian flight attendant, 22 year-old Chan Borey was doing her job as usual, taking care of passengers, including Vimol who had fever. Thai national Vimol aka Chan Krisna, a divorcé with a daughter of age 10, works as an education officer for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Relationship between the two began on the plane right after then. Using phone calls and letters, they scheduled to meet for the second time when Chan Borey was on her work in Bangkok, Thai burstling city.

Named after high quality wood of Cambodia, well-educated Chan Krisna was soon posted to work for Phnom Penh-based UNESCO. Chan Borey, like many other flight attendants, was one in the laid off list. However, inspiration from this new man in her life that changed her future. She got back to school in an attempt to become a university lecturer. She also had her spare time to teach and take care of Chan Krisna’s daughter. From one season to another, the three spent such good time together. The two grown-ups, shared something in common, were more or less inclined to talk a lot about the history, relationship, and citizen’s perspective between the two nations.

Her day came as she expected when Chan Krisna admitted he wanted to marry her. But the day ended when her sweetheart had to get back to Bangkok hospital for an operation. Chan Krisna had long been living with lung cancer. It was when Chan Krisna proposed the marriage that he told her about his decease; just before he left for an operation that he hoped he could get back to begin a new life with his Cambodian wife. But that time had never once come to its existence. For almost a year that Chan Borey had to cope with the loss of love with a man from the neighboring country.