Not P but DeLillo: Zero K Chinese Translation

Fri Nov 3 10:38:01 CDT 2017

Best of luck Mike!

On Friday, November 3, 2017, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:

> Fine,
>
> As all know, I am often off the charts, usually in an unpositive way.
>
> But, do not dismiss this possibility.....it is being done......pynchon and
> book fans
> are all over......we can get publicity that matters....Pynchon's worldwide
> fans are
> so many the word 'cult' might no longer apply....we just have to reach
> them and they cluster
> like on Slothrop's map.....so easier than many
>
> the young woman who RUNS the publishing division of Kickstarter owes her
> career to
> me----not really of course, her talent is her career but I got her her
> first job....and not even
> by hiring her......but by making it happen....
>
> But, just like an entropic read, I want others to weigh in---but if you
> don't even think, then it
> will be another chapter in my fantasy autobiograhy? (has anyone actually
> written something like that? Borges? )
>
> Sincerely,
> Don Quixote (which when rewritten by Pierre Menard was a farce).
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 10:51 AM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
>> Sorry for being slow. I'm finally seeing what you are getting at.
>> Self-publishing is probably quite difficult, and I'm not at all sure if
>> there are enough people who are interested in funding such a project. I'm
>> very moved by your enthusiasm though.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 10:19 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','mark.kohut at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>
>>> maybe we get in touch with some who know how to be one's own publisher
>>> in Taiwan?
>>>
>>> To see if the rights can be procured oneself and let the crowd-funding
>>> begin?
>>>
>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 10:05 AM, Mike Jing <
>>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have no idea. I guess I'll have to get in touch with publishers in
>>>> Taiwan and see if there's any interest.
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 9:50 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com
>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','mark.kohut at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> That's what I was asking about re possible crowd funding.
>>>>>
>>>>> But, who knows anything about Taiwan possibilities on one's own?
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 9:46 AM, Mike Jing <
>>>>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Oh, Taiwan is not bound by this arrangement, and is certainly a
>>>>>> possibility. It was even suggested by the people at Yilin Press. It might
>>>>>> be a last resort.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 9:40 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com
>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','mark.kohut at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> yes, what about Taiwan?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 9:23 AM, Mike Jing <
>>>>>>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Mr. Pynchon is represented by Andrew Nurnberg Associates in China,
>>>>>>>> and they have a deal with Yilin Press in which Yilin gets first option on
>>>>>>>> every Phychon book translated into Chinese (in China). Yilin Press has
>>>>>>>> already published Chinese translation of V, The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity's
>>>>>>>> Rainbow, and Vineland. Curiously enough, the Chinese version of Inherent
>>>>>>>> Vice is published by another Chinese publisher.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In fact, it was Ms. Jackson who, in response to my letter to Mr.
>>>>>>>> Pynchon, referred me to Andrew Nurnberg Associates, who in turn got me in
>>>>>>>> touch with Yilin Press. I was trying to ask some questions about GR, but
>>>>>>>> didn't get a response from him since the Chinese translation was apparently
>>>>>>>> already taken care of, which I totally understand.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 8:33 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com
>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','mark.kohut at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Taiwan is historically famous for copyright infringements of many
>>>>>>>>> English language books...
>>>>>>>>> publishing them in English without the language rights, with no
>>>>>>>>> payment to the publisher therefore
>>>>>>>>> author.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> We just had a Taiwanese copy of Southern & Hoffenberg's Candy turn
>>>>>>>>> up in the donated books
>>>>>>>>> of our local Community Book Sale....
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I'm sure enforcement has tightened since the 60s, know little
>>>>>>>>> really but just saying.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hey, if you got permission from Ms Jackson, therefore Tom too, to
>>>>>>>>> publish your translation, Mike,
>>>>>>>>> with a normal foreign rights deal or a different royalties deal,
>>>>>>>>> do you think we could crowd fund the
>>>>>>>>> cost?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 6:09 AM, John Bailey <sundayjb at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sundayjb at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> A few years ago I was in Taipei and stepped into an ordinary
>>>>>>>>>> mainstream bookshop and it was one of the best I've ever visited.
>>>>>>>>>> Picked up some Chinese classics translated into English and some
>>>>>>>>>> English-language novels too (including Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go,
>>>>>>>>>> coincidentally). It was the only time I've been to Taiwan but I
>>>>>>>>>> really
>>>>>>>>>> got a sense that it's a great place for readers.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 8:24 PM, Mike Jing <
>>>>>>>>>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>>
>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> > Taiwan is certainly a possibility. As a matter of fact, it is
>>>>>>>>>> suggested by
>>>>>>>>>> > the publisher that I explore that route. There are subtle
>>>>>>>>>> differences
>>>>>>>>>> > between the Chinese language used in Taiwan and mainland China,
>>>>>>>>>> and in
>>>>>>>>>> > Taiwan they use traditional Chinese characters instead of the
>>>>>>>>>> simplified
>>>>>>>>>> > ones. I'll have to find out more about publishers in Taiwan,
>>>>>>>>>> and the exact
>>>>>>>>>> > copyright terms of GR in China.
>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>> > On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 5:07 AM, John Bailey <sundayjb at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sundayjb at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>> >> Would a Chinese translation published outside of China be
>>>>>>>>>> possible? In
>>>>>>>>>> >> Taiwan or another country?
>>>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>>> >> On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 7:47 PM, Mike Jing <
>>>>>>>>>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> >> > Thanks for the suggestion, Jochen. But I don't think they
>>>>>>>>>> would have the
>>>>>>>>>> >> > same confidence in me as you do since I am a complete
>>>>>>>>>> unknown. Besides,
>>>>>>>>>> >> > I
>>>>>>>>>> >> > think my version is distinct enough to be published on its
>>>>>>>>>> own. There
>>>>>>>>>> >> > are
>>>>>>>>>> >> > other differences between the two translations apart from
>>>>>>>>>> outright
>>>>>>>>>> >> > errors
>>>>>>>>>> >> > and mistakes on their part.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >
>>>>>>>>>> >> > On Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 6:37 AM, Jochen Stremmel <
>>>>>>>>>> jstremmel at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jstremmel at gmail.com');>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> > wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> Well put, John. And what I would try, Mike, is asking the
>>>>>>>>>> publisher if
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> you
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> couldn't be
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> the final editor for the Chinese GR. We all would give you a
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> recommendation, if needed.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> And you could tell them that most of your solutions were
>>>>>>>>>> checked and
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> double-checked
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> by a heap of (self-appointed) experts.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >> 2017-10-31 10:56 GMT+01:00 John Bailey <sundayjb at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sundayjb at gmail.com');>>:
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>> Sorry to hear that Mike - I for one welcome any Zero K
>>>>>>>>>> questions, and
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>> might finally read it to help out! Your translation
>>>>>>>>>> queries and p-list
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>> responses feel like one of the rare good things the
>>>>>>>>>> internet was meant
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>> to
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>> enable.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>> On 31 Oct 2017 4:46 pm, "Mike Jing" <
>>>>>>>>>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com');>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> Hello Dear P-Listers,
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> GR has to wait. The publisher of the Chinese translation
>>>>>>>>>> of GR is
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> issuing a new edition, with corrections suggested by no
>>>>>>>>>> fewer than
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> ten
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> experts. It seems that the new edition isn't out yet, but
>>>>>>>>>> judging
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> from the
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> samples of suggested changes they sent me, many serious
>>>>>>>>>> errors still
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> remain.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> In any case, I won't be able to have my own version
>>>>>>>>>> published anytime
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> soon
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> since they have sole publishing rights in China. I'll
>>>>>>>>>> have to either
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> wait
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> for it to expire or convince them of the superiority of
>>>>>>>>>> my own
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> translation.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> But they are already committed, which is understandable.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> That's the bad news. The good news is that I have landed
>>>>>>>>>> a gig with
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> them
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> to translate Don DeLillo's Zero K, which I have been
>>>>>>>>>> working on for
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> the past
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> couple of months. It's fairly short, and nowhere near as
>>>>>>>>>> difficult to
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> translate as GR. But I do have a number of questions now
>>>>>>>>>> that the
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> first pass
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> is finished. I hope it's OK for me to ask them here.
>>>>>>>>>> There won't be
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> too
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> many, I promise.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> I should also mention that there is already a Chinese
>>>>>>>>>> translation of
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> Zero K published in Taiwan translated by a Taiwanese
>>>>>>>>>> translator.  Of
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> course
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> I have not read it in order to avoid any undue influence.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> Thanks in advance for your kind help.
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>> Mike Jing
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >>
>>>>>>>>>> >> >
>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>>>> -
>>>>>>>>>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
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