Harold Stephens is a well-regarded expat writer and sailor who has written a number of interesting books on Asian themes, and we’ve found his Tales from the Pacific Rim: The Man Who Wanted to Buy a Wife and Other Stories (2007, ISBN 0-9786951-0-0) to be a compelling read. 

There are twenty short stories in this book, situated in locales all over SE Asia, including Laos, Singapore, Tahiti, and Thailand. Stephens’ best tales are poignant reminders that all is never what it seems, particularly when expats try to navigate through SE Asian cultures. The Agent is a wonderful tale of a naïve western artist who understands neither the nuances of a relationship with his Laotian girlfriend, not the artifice of his New York-based sales agent. Full Circle was our personal favorite, juxtaposing the idyllic life led by a couple of Australian surfers in Tahiti, and what became of an island romance when it fell on the rocky shoals of the exigencies of managing family interests at home. 

In many of his stories, Stephens weaves in tidbits of sailing lore, and the romance of life in the tropics is never far from the harsh realities that lie never too far from the fantasy. This book will be of interest to SE Asian expats, armchair adventurers, and anyone who has sailed, or hopes to sail, through Asian waters. Buy it now at the WoWasis estore, powered by Amazon.