The journey to SHANGHAI DREAM has been fraught with false starts, bouts of frustration, and occasional feelings of hopelessness. I would like to thank the following people who have offered opportunities, inspiration, and encouragement as I felt my way through my own string of escalating nightmares to complete this book.

I would like to thank Lawrence Chung for introducing me to the amazing city of Hong Kong, the pleasures of Hong Kong action movies, and teaching me to swear in Cantonese, all those years ago in our London dorm room. Many thanks to Lawrence Gray of the Hong Kong Writers’ Circle, whose enthusiasm for “the craft” helped in ways that even he might not fully appreciate. At the last minute, Sharon Cooper’s meticulous eye ensured that glaring typos etc. did not make it into the finished manuscript. Any typos in the novel are entirely my own. Thank you, Sharon.

I would also like to mention my sister, Anisa Johnny, who always believed I would one day reach my destination, even when the project was moribund. Finally, I acknowledge my debt to all the people in Hong Kong and China, who have made me feel at home in this exciting part of the world, and who continue to feed my fascination with the incredible place that is China.

Thank you.

For Ashley, Dimitri and Ryan

“The future has already arrived. Its just not evenly distributed yet.”

William Gibson

“If you want to see the future of China, thats Shanghai. Beijing has palaces, government offices, more interesting small shops, and better food. But theres already nothing like Shanghai on the planet, and the place is still under construction, with the national bird of China, the Construction Crane, in evidence everywhere. I sat in the superb bar on the 85th floor of the Grand Hyatt (like Hiltons and Sheratons abroad, theres no comparison with the domestic counterparts), smoking a Cohiba Lancero and sipping a Courvoisier, surrounded by vintage art. It was dark and foggy with light drizzle and, as a large blimp drifted by about 40 stories below me, its aerostat illuminated with advertising in Chinese, it became clear that I was already living in the world of the Blade Runner.”

Doug Casey’s International Speculator