HeyJaredBOOKISH ASIA with Plum Rain Press
A fun look at fiction and non-fiction on East Asia and further afield. Hosts John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith (co-founders of Plum Rain Press and the Formosa Files Taiwan history podcast) share their love of this fascinating region by exploring the best books on Asia’s…
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 13
- Latest publication
- Sep 27, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 9, 2026
Latest episodes
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 10 (opens the original)
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With Episode 10 we’ve reached the end of our journey through Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s Three Tribes . Rather than give too much away about the novel’s final chapters here, we simply want to say thank you to everyone who has followed along with us. And special thanks to Scott Crawford for his help (learn more about his work at: www.scottforbescrawford.com ) And although this is the end for Maria, Chen Ze, and Uma, it isn’t quite the end of the story for us. We are working on a historical drama series
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep 9 (opens the original)
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Things move quickly as various threads come together in this gripping episode. The Dutch colony is nearing its end. Maria Hambroeck learns the fate of her family. If you’ve come this far in our trial ten-part series, we’re very grateful. Thanks. And just in case you want to buy the book (to read along or for a friend): E-book: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – e-book Paperback / Collector’s Edition: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – paperback
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 8 (opens the original)
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John Ross and Scott Crawford continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa . This section of the novel, called “The Siege,” takes us deeper into 1661. Governor Frederick Coyett and the remaining VOC forces are still holding out inside Fort Zeelandia – and still clashing with Koxinga’s forces. We get action aplenty, but also quieter moments, such as when Maria Hambroeck unexpectedly finds herself working as an interpreter for Koxinga. This ten-
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Ep. 7 (opens the original)
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Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their ten-part read-along of Dr. Chen Yao-chang’s A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa . Part Six of the novel, “At War,” brings us to 1661 and the invasion of Dutch Formosa. Koxinga’s fleet appears out of the fog and brings his forces ashore by an unexpected route. Fort Provintia falls, Dutch civilians flee through the countryside, and Fort Zeelandia becomes the last major VOC stronghold. The episode also brings us to one of the siege’s most famous scene
SPECIAL SERIES: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa – Episode 6 (opens the original)
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Scott Crawford and John Ross continue their epic read-along, covering the years 1656–1660, as pressure builds on Dutch Formosa. Across the Taiwan Strait, Koxinga launches his great – but unsuccessful – campaign against Nanjing. A defector presents Koxinga with a plan for making Taiwan his new base. Meanwhile, Maria comes increasingly to regard Formosa as home. And Governor Frederick Coyett is convinced that an invasion is coming – but not everyone in the VOC agrees. To buy the book: A Tale of Th
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