Hello! I’m a great fan of your work truly.
The thing is I’m Russian. I’ve heard that you prohibited publishing you books in Russia. I totally understand you position, Ukraine deserves freedom and life without war. Though I feel like I need you to know that the iron curtain is a scary thing that many Russian residents are experiencing right now. We, who do not support government’s politics, are afraid to live in this world, where we can’t even have access to foreign books, movies, shows and other art works (let alone scientific papers) . And I do believe that books can build bridges between a reader and other countries’ cultures. It may even help people see through government’s propaganda and help spread awareness. Right? Without foreign authors our country will drown in propaganda, there’ll be no way out. And I don’t want it to happen. I still believe Russia will be free too.
Of course you can do whatever you want with your works. I just want you to be mindful of the danger of the iron curtain in my country and how authors can help people.
Thank you!
P.s. Neverwhere is my comfort book. I’m rereading it right now, when times are tough.
Sorry for my English by the way, my letter can sound rude, I’m not articulate enough :(
I haven't prohibited my books from being sold in Russia -- I can't. For a start, there are valid extant licenses to my existing Russian publishers out there. What I can do is state that I won't sell new books to Russia while Putin is in control. And I'm sure you're right about books building bridges, but I have to do something, even if it's small and symbolic, within my power to say, I don't agree with what Russia is doing to Ukraine.
You know instead of symbolically punishing Russians you could actually help Ukrainians. I'm sure you've got some spare cash and im sure there's some groups in Ukraine or helping Ukrainian refugees that could use it. You could even just use your platform to highlight groups that need donations.
I do. I donate, and I donate a lot. That wasn't the question.
And I use all of my social media platforms to push people to UNHCR, and to solicit donations for their work with people fleeing the war in Ukraine -- and the other 70 million refugees around the world they help. I'm very happy to repost it here...
