Flight Paths of the Emperor

[Ben]

I've just finished reading Flight Paths of the Emperor, by Canadian writer Steven Heighton. It's essentially a collection of short stories (some true, others fictional) based around Heighton's experiences as a foreigner in Japan.

All in all, it's a well-written novel, but also quite sad and dreary, dealing with aspects of alienation and borderline xenophobia among gaijin. I'm almost reluctant to visit Japan after putting down this book, as Heighton sometimes portrays the Japanese (especially in tales like AN APPARITION PLAY and A MAN AWAY FROM HOME HAS NO NEIGHBORS) as an arrogant, often elitist people.

This isn't to say the novel is neccessarily racist, but it does uncomfortably nail some of the ugly emotions felt by foreigners in a different land (as I'm sure the Japanese must feel in turn when they visit other countries).

I don't know...this isn't a very happy book, but at the same time I'd say it's worth reading at least once.

Has anyone else here ever come across it?