"Harry Harrison - Galactic Dreams" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

native, or as Damon Knight once said, "Harry speaks the worst English and the
best Esperanto I have ever heard.тАЭ

I have traveled with this international language and made friends right around
the globe.

Fragments from the traveler's life: In Moscow, many years ago, a reader gave
me one of my books in Russian. Not published, but in samizdat. That is, typed
out by hand, circulated privately. Honor enough - and honor is about all an
author can get out of Russia in the foreseeable future. Since the Soviets did
not sign an important international copyright agreement, it is not illegal to
steal foreign books and publish them there. I have recently discovered that I
am the most pirated SF author in Russia. Which means the most popular foreign
author. A boost for the ego; a sigh for the bank account.

Another fragment: Osaka, Japan. I was the first-ever foreign SF writer to be
the Guest of Honor at a Japanese national convention. The twentieth annual
convention. (Honored perhaps because I paid my own way there?) Much signing of
books, signing the back of the jacket of one of the fans. Who, when he thought
I wasn't looking, pressed it to his heart and raised his eye heavenward in
thanks. So much for the inscrutable Orient; a thoughtful look at the way SF
readers prize this form of fiction.

Rio de Janeiro: Meeting a millionaire SF fan. Who never thought he would meet
the author of some of his favorite books. Signing copies of my paperbacks -
bound in leather.

Signing a copy of a Finnish translation of a book in Helsinki. And realizing I
had never signed a contract for this book.

Doing the same in Germany, an ugly-looking translation of Deathworld, retitled
for some obscure Teutonic reason Planet aus die falsch Zauberer, or Planet of
the False Wizards.

Gallic fragment: Joan and I having lunch in Paris with Jacques Sadoul and
important French SF people. Jacques, a camera fiend, clicking away as always.
Within a month he sent a copy of his just-published French encyclopedia of
science fiction, years in production. With our picture in it - looking very
filled with food and wine. The book had already been printed, but not bound
when we had that lunch. He saw to it that the event was immortalized in the
glossy photo section that was bound in.

American fragment: Working on a screenplay in Hollywood, eating alone at an
Italian restaurant and reading a book for company. A talkative headwaiter; do
you like to read, sir? Asked if I was a writer - apparently the only people
who can read in Hollywood-extracted a reluctant yes. Eyes glowing he asked if
I might reveal my name. Reluctant revelation. But what a response! "Not Harry
Harrison-world-famous science fiction author!тАЭ

Moment of pure bliss for author. Only tempered slightly by the revelation that