The literal meaning of the Chinese characters for revolution is elimination of life

Red Dust was about the late 1980s; it was a time of burgeoning hopes and opening up and people searching for new ways.

When history is erased, people's moral values are also erased.

Beijing Coma took me 10 years to finish.

In February of this year I returned to China to research my next book. The authorities know about the novels of mine that have been published in the west, including the latest one, Beijing Coma, about a student shot in Tiananmen Square, but so far have allowed me to return.

Tyrannies not only want to control your mind and thoughts but your flesh as well.

It is vitally important for me, both personally and for my writing, to be able to return to China freely, so being barred entry has caused me deep concern and distress.