Comments on: Mukel Vfdyad’s New Book on Mongolia

By: Mykel Board

Mykel Board — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 13:21:31 +0000

I was not responsible for the font, and at first I didn’t like it… because it was inauthentic. But after awhile I realized that, from a purely visiual standpoint– it looks cool.

Mongols and other users of Cyrillic will have a tough time of it– and it is “wrong.” But like the fractured English that Japanese use for effect (“I Feel Coke”), it’s right for its audience.

As for the content. No doubt about it. I’m the badguy in the book. The bumbling, horney foreigner who stumbles through local culture, like a camel splashing through airag. But there IS a hero in the book and that is the land and people of Mongolia. I think both of those come off well.

When I wrote the book, my intention was not to boost myself by making me look good against the “poor natives” of Mongolia. My intention was to make Mongolia look good against the invading hordes from The West.

–Mykel

By: Nathan

Nathan — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 03:01:47 +0000

No, but it’s a silly attempt at exoticization.

Really, it’s kind of cute, like when a little kid tries to shave because he saw daddy do it.

By: gk darby

gk darby — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 02:17:39 +0000

It’s not cyrillic. Obviously. It’s just a weird font. The book is printed for english readers who will — no doubt — not be trying to, say, translate the font. I doubt this is a testicle stringing offense.
-G.K. Darby
Garrett Ct. Press

By: guido

guido — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 01:50:05 +0000

Nathan, actually I withdrew the post, but apperently it still showed up in the rss feed. since you refer to it, maybe I will put it back. thanks for linking anyway!

keep it up,

Guido

By: jodi

jodi — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 00:00:05 +0000

haha! that cyrillic is actually quite funny! i would have never gotten “Mykel Board” out of that…

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:55:42 +0000

Normally I absolve the writer from all blame in cases like this, and merely suggest that their ignorant publisher be strung up by the testicles.

In this case, however, I’m not so sure…

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:27:51 +0000

Ick.

Remember when we saw that poster for Night Watch and I kept trying to read the faux cyrillic and didn’t understand why it wasn’t making any sense for a whole minute? That book totally reminded me of that. When’s that movie coming to the States anyway?

I agree with the least favorite ex-pat thing too.

On a personal note: I keep meaning to email you back… but clearly haven’t. But I love the cat.