Originally published as separate long articles in the "New Yorker," this wonderfully written book is a report on the region by a talented foreign corespondent and traveler. In it he ranges from Singapore to Laos and Cambodia, Burma and Sarawak. It brings to life the people and places of these nations, a heartwrenching portrait of the politics and tremendous potential of what Seser clearly believes are some of the most fascinating places on Earth. It's essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of Southeast Asia.  (SEA04, $19.00)