Abstract

(Third edition with additions) This is a collection of short stories centering around the protagonist character, Kingfisher, originally written in Vietnamese by myself. The book aims to introduce international readers to snippets of Vietnamese culture through the ordinary yet humorous life of the bird village. The first 15 of these short stories were published in the Khoảng Lặng (Quiet Moment) column of the Vietnamese magazine Kinh Tế và Dự Báo (Economy and Forecast Review) from 2017 to 2019. However, this is the first time that the collection of all the Kingfisher stories has been published in its entirety, covering stories that have not been published elsewhere, including new stories written during 2023-2024. The stories of Kingfisher are full of humor and satire while also deep in social commentary. I hope that the book brings readers joy and some food for thought, for beyond satire is genuine contemplation of the humanistic values in our lives. Hanoi, August 21, 2024 Quan-Hoang Vuong (Incld. Artworks by Bui Quang Khiem and Dam Thi Thu Ha)