A fun look at fiction and non-fiction on East Asia and further afield. Hosts John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith (co-founders of Plum Rain Press and the Formosa Files Taiwan history podcast) share their love of this fascinating region by exploring the best books on Asia’s culture and history.
Latest episodes
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38 min
E-21 - Tom Gibb’s Charinko: Cycling Japan
What makes Japan such a good country to explore by bicycle? John Ross talks with longtime Japan resident Tom Gibb about the 2,500-km journey behind his new book, Charinko, publishe…
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34 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 10
With Episode 10 we’ve reached the end of our journey through Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s Three Tribes. Rather than give too much away about the novel’s final chapters here, we simply want…
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37 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep 9
Things move quickly as various threads come together in this gripping episode. The Dutch colony is nearing its end. Maria Hambroeck learns the fate of her family. If you’ve come th…
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31 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 8
John Ross and Scott Crawford continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. This section of the novel, called “The Siege,” take…
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35 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 7
Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. Part Six of the novel, “At War,” brings us to 1661…
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34 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 6
Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their epic read-along, covering the years 1656–1660, as pressure builds on Dutch Formosa. Across the Taiwan Strait, Koxinga launches his great…
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20 min
Bonus Episode: Halfway Through the Three Tribes Series
John Ross and Scott Crawford pause at the halfway point of their ten-part read-along to look at the story behind Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s novel and the man himself. We also learn about…
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28 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 5
If you've made it to Episode 5, you are a true fan; thank you. In this chat, Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s wonderful novel…
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30 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 4
John Ross and Scott Crawford continue their ten-partread-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s epic novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa, translated by Ho Wen-ching. Part Three, S…
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29 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep 3
John Ross and Scott Crawford continue their ten-part read-along of Chen Yao-Chang’s historical novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. In Episode 3, covering Chapters 9–16,…
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28 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep 2
Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their special ten-part series devoted to Chen Yao-chang’s historical novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa, translated by Ho Wen-ching…
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30 min
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep 1
John Ross and writer Scott Crawford begin a special ten-part read-along series on Chen Yao-Chang’s historical novel A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa. The English edition, tr…
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40 min
E-20 - CHINA’S BACKSTORY: THE HISTORY BEIJING DOESN'T WANT YOU TO READ, by Lee Moore (Unsung Voices Books, 202…
John talks to Lee Moore about his unconventional history book, China’s Backstory, which focuses on four important China-related subjects that frequently make headlines: Taiwan, Xin…
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30 min
E-19 - THE SAME MOON: A YOUNG WOMAN’S SEASON OF ENTANGLEMENTS IN RURAL JAPAN - By Sarah Coomber (2026, Wild Ge…
Minnesotan Sarah Coomber discusses life in small-town Japan in the 1990s, the subject of her beautiful memoir. She arrived there as a recently divorced twenty-four-year-old hoping…
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30 min
E-18 - THE CRUSHED CAN by F.E. Beyer (2025, Sandfly Press)
New Zealand writer Frank Beyer (who goes under the name F.E. Beyer) talks to John about novels featuring a much maligned creature: the Western English teacher in East Asia. Frank i…
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38 min
E-17 - JENNA CODY’S FAVORITE TAIWAN FICTION
John chats with Jenna Cody about some of her favorite works of Taiwan fiction. Jenna, an American based in Taipei, is the author of the long-running blog Lao Ren Cha (now on Substa…
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25 min
E-16 - THE WONDROUS ELIXIR OF THE TWO CHINESE LOVERS by Tim McGirk (Plum Rain Press, 2025)
The first emperor of China dispatched a Taoist priest named Xu Fu to bring back the elixir of immortality. Xu Fu and his fleet vanished. Some legends say he settled in Japan. In Ti…
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30 min
E-15 - THE CUTTLEFISH by Chris Tharp
Busan-based author Chris Tharp chats with John about The Cuttlefish, his hilarious novel set in the fictional East Asian island nation of Sukhan. The protagonist, an American calle…
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27 min
E-14 - CHINA RUNNING DOG by Mark Kitto
China Running Dog by Mark KittoControversial China figure and author Mark Kitto chats with John about his new novel, China Running Dog, set in the days of peak Shanghai Fever. It’s…
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29 min
E-13 - TAIWANESE FEET: MY WALK AROUND TAIWAN by John Groot (Almas Books, 2020)
Taiwanese Feet: My walk around Taiwan by John Groot (Almas Books, 2020) Canadian John Groot first came to Taiwan in 2001, fell in love with the island and its friendly people, and…