Writer Koontz accused of racism

[emad]

Dan Glaister in Los Angeles
Friday November 11, 2005
The Guardian


Best-selling author Dean Koontz, raved a recent reviewer, is a master storyteller. His novels, promising mystery, intrigue and fantasy, sell by the thousands, earning him the soubriquet "the poor man's Stephen King".

A recent speech he gave, however, is proving less popular, bringing accusations of racism.

At a convention of mystery writers last weekend in Irvine, near Los Angeles, Koontz told the story of his tussle with a Japanese film executive to have his name removed from a film of one of his books. Dubbing him "Mr Teriyaki", Koontz recounted a series of letters he sent to the unresponsive, unnamed executive.

"Dear Mr Teriyaki," he read to the audience. "My letter of 10 November has not been answered ... I would assume your silence results from the mistaken belief that World War II is still in progress and that the citizens of your country and mine are forbidden to communicate. Enclosed is a copy of the front page of the New York Times from 1945, with the headline, 'Japan Surrenders'."
In other letters Koontz talked about the Bataan Death March and Godzilla.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1640167,00.html

[rock]

1. Well, it's insulting and something I wouldn't do

but is it racist? I don't see exactly why it's racist.

[pitohui]

2. it's very rude

i would never send such a letter to a japanese person, where courtesy is at such a premium, indeed, i wouldn't send such a letter to anyone unless it was like some ex who had cheated on me and given me hiv or something

i don't think koonz is racist but he seems to be somewhat of an opportunist, back in the day, he espoused more liberal views, then the reagan-bush tide came in, and he espouses more conservative views, and he just seems like a person who might not really know his own mind

in his books he does make an effort to be fair & show all races, disabilities, etc. meeting challenges and being heroes

i guess we all screw up & have a bad day, but if i were mr. koonz i would certainly apologize for the letter, it was a huge mistake and quite rude

sometimes ppl get old & rich & lose all contact w. the proper way to behave, i hope this is not what is occurring

[Burning Water]

3. I don't think it's racist.

It may be a little mean, but then Koontz seems to have some reason to be mean to this individual. Not everything said to a person of color that is an insult, even if racially tinged, is racist.

Frankly, I think the word is overused and misapplied a good proportion of the time.