Palace Dog by R. E. Nelson
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We have R. E. Nelson, author of Palace Dog, here today to talk about his memories of Vietnam and his story, Palace Dog. It’s one of our highly recommended reads, and you can find our review here.
R.E. Nelson on his Travels in Vietnam….
In spite of having spent a considerable amount of time in Viet Nam over the past twenty years or so, including living there pretty much full time for 4 years, I have not really traveled through as much of the country as you would think.
My first time in Vietnam, 1971-1972, I was in the Air Force and assigned to teach English at the Armed Forces Language School in Saigon. Because the war was still going on, we were restricted to Saigon, so my travels then were only within the city limits. But it was an exciting time and became the basis for the setting of PALACE DOG.
In 1991, travel to Vietnam opened up and I began a series of regular (generally annual) trips back with Vietnamese friends. In 1991, the US still did not have diplomatic relations with Vietnam, and travel there, for me, was very restrictive. If I wanted to leave Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon’s new name) and go to other places, I needed both an official government guide and a driver—even if I was traveling with Vietnamese friends who were now US citizens and were also returning to Vietnam. The restrictions on them were not as stringent
Those first few years, as travel restrictions eased, I generally traveled by train or car, mostly from HCM to Nha Trang, a beach resort area about 225 miles away. The infrastructure was not good, so the trip would take over 8 hours by train, which was narrow gauge and slow, with aging upholstery and no air conditioning. It was nearly as long by car, driving over very rough, two-lane highways. It was interesting seeing the countryside when I went by car. It felt like a steady stream of people and small villages or towns the whole distance. I never felt alone. But the roads were not repaired and sometimes the movement was slowed to a crawl for long sections. So once I got to Nha Trang, I wasn’t keen on getting out of there until my month was up and I journeyed back to HCM. Besides, there was plenty to see in the surrounding countryside that consisted of wide expanses of rice paddies and tall coconut palms. Local trips to nearby villages could be made by taxi—the fare bargained for in advance. If it was close enough, cyclos were available, pedaled by hard working Vietnamese happy for the fares they could get. I spent time walking the streets of the city, lounging at the clubs along the beach, and eating the wonderful food prepared in even the simplest of restaurants. Staying put was a good way to relax and unwind from the tensions in the day-to-day life at home.
Flying was possible, and I did that once, from HCM to Nha Trang. It was a small Soviet built propjet that had bald tires and steam that poured from the air vents when the engines were turned on. It took several hours and was very rough. I only took that flight one time. After that, I relied mostly on the train or car.
In the mid-90’s, diplomatic relations grew and the country opened up. Traveling was easier, but the infrastructure was slow in catching up. I still relied mostly on train or car getting from one place to another. I used Nha Trang as home base. The farthest north I got from Nha Trang was Hue-Danang-Hoi Anh. They were interesting places to see historically, but again the difficulty of travel was wearing.
Now the air system within the country has been revised and updated and it is much easier. The primary fleet is made up of newer Boeing aircraft, but the local airports have given way to regional airports so there’s still the necessity of traveling by car (taxi usually). But the roads are definitely better now. There are also large and comfortable air conditioned buses that run regularly from HCM to points north and south. And the trains now have classes that have updated rooms and air conditioning, even though the times for the trips are about the same.
Visiting Vietnam as it was transitioning from the war years was interesting. Returning again in 1991, I found things much the same as they had been in 1972, and as I describe in PALACE DOG. Living there more recently, actually made me nostalgic for the Vietnam of the early 70’s that I discovered as a young Airman assigned to teach English. Now the Internet is widely available (though certain sites are blocked by the government). And everyone has a cell phone. Bicycles have given way to motorcycles and automobiles. Motorized cyclos have all but vanished. Change is constant and sometimes for the better. But it just doesn’t seem as much fun now.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback Amazon
In April 1975, as the government in Saigon is falling, Michael Andrews prepares to make his way back to Vietnam to find the love he was forced to leave.
But Michael’s journey begins four years earlier. He joins the Air Force to keep out of the Army and out of Vietnam, but his first assignment is teaching English in Saigon to members of the Vietnamese military in an Army program called Palace Dog.
As an artist, and a man, before his time in Vietnam, Michael found life lonely and unsatisfying. In the midst of war, Michael searches for direction and meaning. He ultimately finds love and hope with Thao, a young Vietnamese art student, only to have their already uncertain future wrenched from them when he is pulled out of the country.
For Michael, his return in 1975 is inevitable and without question, though the outcome he hopes for is anything but assured.
Categories: Gay Fiction, Historical, M/M Romance
The cyclo had bumped across the bridge, following the curve in the road, then moved quickly down the final straight stretch, past houses and shops, past rows of trees and walls and occasional open spaces, past vendors who lined the street’s edge selling gasoline in glass bottles. Motorcycles, Lambretta mini-buses packed with people, cream-and-blue Renault taxis, pedestrians with baskets and boxes—all crowded the street. Noises, smells, and smoke came from everywhere, and as the driver increased his speed, I smiled, gripping the metal frame tighter and pushing slightly with my feet as the moist wind rushed around me.
Speeding through the streets of Saigon, wearing the green Air Force-issued jungle fatigues, my life of a year ago seemed unreal.
Author R. E. Nelson
R.E. Nelson was born in Texas and raised in Southern California. He has been writing for as long as he can remember. One of his earliest recollections related to writing is winning an essay contest in sixth grade–something patriotic about the American flag. When he travels, his preference is staying in select areas for an extended period of time and learning about that place. He has lived in both Vietnam (twice, actually) and Saudi Arabia, and also spent time in Egypt, South Korea, Shanghai (his only China visit thus far), and Dubai. Now he is happy to call San Francisco home.
Where to find the author:
Twitter: @RENelson13
Pages or Words: 206 pages
Contest: Enter to win Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Palace Dog’. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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