Simon Lewis: Comrade Hack

Border Run: Simon Lewis Talks To Crime Time

Simon — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:11:40 PDT

The old man pointing the crossbow at me wore a khaki shirt and no shoes, and his rope belt had a couple of carrots and a machete stuck into it. He was dark and small, and, I guessed, a member of the Wa minority. He chuckled. We were on a narrow trail, with bamboo groves [...]

Beijing’s Rock Revolution

Simon — Thu, 26 May 2011 06:07:48 PDT

I was sent to Beijing to write an article about the Chinese rock scene. Very easy – just going to gigs and talking to musicians; a record company obligingly set up interviews. For the last decade or so, whenever I’m there, I try to check out the rock scene, and I’ve always put a box [...]

DIP

Simon — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:38:14 PDT

I visited the set where my channel 4 film, DIP, was being shot.

Deep forest

Simon — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:10:44 PST

Xishuangbanna, in Yunnan province, has plenty of virgin, old growth forest, where you can have an unforgettable experience of great natural beauty. Photos courtesy of CFP Get off the beaten track and hire a guide to take you through the pristine, old growth rainforest of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, Simon Lewis, says

The best Noir crime books-12

Simon — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:02:07 PST

Casino Royale, Ian Fleming, 1952 The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. Ian Fleming is a good writer, and the James Bond books are good books. That needs to be said, because everyone seems to assume that they are pulpy shlock. Not at all. They’re gritty, [...]

The best Noir crime books-11

Simon — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:48:38 PST

Strangers on a train, Patricia Highsmith, 1950 The train tore along with an angry, irregular rythmn Guy is good egg; a talented young architect on the up – the only flaw in his life is his vicious estranged wife. On a train journey he meets decadent mother’s boy Bruno, who impulsively plans the perfect double [...]

Jungle trek

Simon — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:07:35 PDT

The last time I was in Jinghong it had a thriving backpacker culture – banana pancake cafes and cheap guesthouses. The backpackers had been drawn by culture and nature; now there was less of both, and the backpackers had largely gone, to be replaced by high rolling Chinese tourists, who generally are happy to be [...]

Dwarf Kingdom

Simon — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:29:28 PDT

There are almost a hundred dwarves living in Dwarf Kingdom, a theme park attraction outside Kunming. Every morning they put on a show for visitors. The compere is a midget, about two foot tall – he looks like a child but he has an adult’s confidence and economy of movement. He explains that he is [...]

The best Noir crime books-10

Simon — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:11:25 PDT

After just failing to assassinate a European dictator (it's Hitler, basically, but that's never stated) our narrator is interrogated then left for dead.

The best Noir crime books-09

Simon — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:35:40 PDT

Fifty Two Pick Up, Elmore Leonard, 1974 ‘He could not get used to going to the girl’s apartment.’ Three Detroit villains try to blackmail Harry Stanton over his affair. But they’ve picked the wrong guy: tough factory owner Harry plays them off against each other – with the help of his angry wife. Leonard has [...]