The Original 2001 First Edition Cover

3
 ISBN 974913317X

The Original 2001 First Edition Cover

4
The Thai government’s ‘War on Drugs’, Dark Influences
and the alleged extrajudicial killings of around three thou-
sand people suspected of being involved in the illegal drugs
trade - events which were part of the original release of
‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ - has allowed this novel to update
itself. As a matter of record, Prime Minister Thaksin who
allegedly initiated the policy, was eventually overthrown
by way of a Military Coup and was accused of unlawful
acts so corrupt, they would put a mere drug dealer to
shame! His wife was found guilty of tax evasion and his
defence lawyers were found guilty of attempting to bribe
the judiciary. All were eventually sentenced to imprison-
ment! Fearing the worst, Thaksin jumped bail along with
his wife, and skipped it to England. Having allegedly abused
so many of his countrymen’s human rights in Thailand,
Thaksin applied for political asylum in the UK based on
abuse of his own human rights in Thailand! ‘Sleepless in
Bangkok’ apparently upset Thai and British authorities
due to its expose of such aspects of official conduct and
by ‘coincidence’, distribution was interfered with.
It is not often an author gets the opportunity to up-
date his own novel using real-life events, and for the third
time Ian Quartermaine has taken the opportunity to fur-
ther polish his prose. The result is: ‘Sleepless in Bang-
kok’ - Special Ninth Anniversary Edition.
A consistent seller since its initial publication in Thai-
land, ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ obtained to-kill-for reviews;
a ‘cult’ following amongst the international gay commu-
nity; a reputation amongst unreconstructed males; as well
as becoming one of the few action-adventure novels which
women could identify with - due to a strong female pro-
tagonist and the sexual politics theme running through-
out. This rare combination has given ‘Sleepless in Bang-
kok’ a shelf-life way beyond the norm. It has sold by word-
of-mouth reputation only. A classic ‘sleeper’.
5
 ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’
is one of a set of six stand alone stories in four books,
each with subtle links to the others.
Each tale has the author Ian Quartermaine’s
fast moving, brutally frank, pull no punches,
extremely graphic writing style.
An offbeat cross cultural romance
wrapped up in a adventure story involving
corruption, festering revenge,
sexual politics and sex in the raw,
‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ is based on actual events.
NB. ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ contains
a considerable amount of expletives and the most
explicit scenes of sex and violence.
Do not purchase if you are of
a sensitive disposition or emanate from
a sheltered personal background.

Connecting Ian Quartermaine books in this series:

‘White Slavery’ - For King and Country

‘From Other Worlds’
‘Cybernaut’

Latest Title from controversial author

Ian Quartermaine:

‘Siam Streetfighter’

Coming soon:

‘Sleepless in Bangkok 2’: Return to the Triangle.

6
 ‘The Book They Tried to Ban’

In its initial release in Thailand, ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’

engendered a tremendous amount of controversy. It was
unofficially banned for review in the press on the basis that
it was ‘uncensored’. Sex in Thailand - as the world knows
- is available in any and every conceivable format, but
apparently such goings on cannot be spoken about or
acknowledged.
Despite this unofficial ban on press coverage and no
reviews in the Thai press, a handful of English language
freelance reviewers gave the book a set of to-kill-for
reviews. Over the years, the Internet added many more.
By Thai standards, its fifth pressing has made ‘Sleepless
in Bangkok’ a best seller - and all without one paid advert.
The controversy even made the distributor reluctant
to put the novel on bookshop shelves, making the book’s
sales figures even more astounding - as for half of the time
‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ just could not be purchased.
Unknown by the general public - as it is something
major Western publishers like to keep to themselves - but
many well promoted novels from their lists can sell as little
as 30 copies in the whole of their Thai release. In
comparison, ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ is a massive success.
Another unexpected factor, was that a character in
the book - a British ex-public school type whose sexual
tastes ran to dressing up in French maid’s clothing,
spanking and paedophilia - gained a lot of flack from ex-
pat Brits educated in private boarding schools. These
‘private’ schools are called ‘public’ in Britain to fool
foreigners and the working classes into thinking they are
available to all, whereas they are only really open to
children of the rich and influential.

7
 One of this social group - an over-the-hill, small time
journalist passing himself off as a ‘foreign correspondent’
(in reality a freelance ‘stringer’ in Bangkok) - went as far
as to get his virulent objections in print. Not on purpose,
he just didn’t realise that his bitter and twisted behind the
scenes comments would be fair game to publish by the
journalist he was speaking to. Talk about being hoisted by
your own petard, as this former News of the Screws reporter
had predominately made his living from digging the dirt on
others. The nationally published article confirmed that this
frustrated author minus the talent to actually write a book
himself, was obsessed with ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ and the
character which he apparently considered resembled him.
Little did he realise, but his obsession with ‘Sleepless
in Bangkok’ and a character in it, confirmed the power of
Ian Quartermaine’s prose, plot and characterisation - and
the author’s ability to involve and affect people. In this
case, making our ‘stringer’ lose touch with reality whilst
making him confront his own character flaws.
Aptly, the cover of the book carries a warning advising
people of a sensitive disposition and those who emanate
from a sheltered personal background, ‘not’ to buy it. We
guess that a private boarding school in times past would
pass as a sheltered personal background regarding almost
everything except spanking - the ‘Vice Anglaise’ - and
paedophilia. Andrew D, your conduct needed exposing.
Appropriately, this Walter Mitty, fake Times of
London Foreign Correspondent was later found guilty of
libel in Thailand and received a suspended prison sentence
and a large fine - which he did not have the means to pay!
It’s about time someone finally brought the secrets
of the British ruling classes previously private perversions
out into the open, and Ian Quartermaine has done it. No
wonder ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ gained so much flack.
8
The Story: A discredited, ex-SAS security consultant accepts a covert
mission in Siam because he is broke, bored and familiar with the region.
Working for a consortium of Western governments - who will take the
credit if it works, and if it does not, he will take the fall - provide a
treacherous start.
Along the way he encounters a young Eurasian woman who is
not all that she seems. Concurrent with curves thrown up by the mis-
sion, the relationship between the two protagonists is filled with lateral
moves and cross-cultural misunderstandings. Festering revenge, sexual
politics and sex in the raw, combine to create a narrative that is anything
but predictable.
As the offbeat ‘romance’ unfolds, the much flawed, un-recon-
structed male protagonist almost learns to respect women. Despite what
they might say, most guys normally don’t - respect women. Therefore a
metaphor is offered to all men who still think in straight lines. Not neces-
sarily to change their ways, but to watch out, women are much smarter
than they think.
Conceivably of interest to both female and feminist readers, twists
in the plot are in opposition to what might have been a conventional,
chauvinistic reading of a dramatically drawn story. Not that a tale which
unveils some of the deepest secrets of Siam, could ever be called con-
ventional.
Described as shamefully readable sex scenes and with the most
explicit homosexual rape, the author provides insight into a way of life
that is almost totally unknown, and almost certainly alien, to the majority
of people in the West. A million miles from the cosy world of Middle
England or Middle America, Thailand could be on another planet.
Siam has no grasp of the concept that sex is sinful, so although
possibly eye opening to Western readers, the content of this book is
absolutely authentic.
Uncensored, tough, funny, and told in today’s language, ‘Sleep-
less in Bangkok’ is based on actual events. Only the names have been
changed to protect the guilty.
NB. ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ contains a considerable amount of
expletives and the most explicit scenes of sex and violence. Do not
purchase if you are of a sensitive disposition or emanate from a shel-
tered personal background. However, if you wish to learn how to say
“fuck you” in Lao......................

9
 Published by IQ Inc.
(C) 1990. 2010.
International licencing enquiries:
publicrelationsiqinc@hotmail.com
www.iqincmedia.com

(C) 1985. 2001. 2002. 2003. 2005. 2010.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted

or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, except for brief extracts for the purpose
of review, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN 974-88460-0-8

About IQ Inc.
A group of actors, writers, graphic designers and intellectual prop-
erty licencing executives combined in an informal relationship to
write, mentor other authors and package hard hitting, edgy, real
life projects for publication as books and movies. The controver-
sial and successful novel ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ was the first
project, ‘For King & Country’ the second. Both were superbly
reviewed. Two sci-fi novels - ‘From Other Worlds’ and ‘Cybernaut’
- were released simultaneously. These also obtained superlative
reviews. ‘The Magick Papers’ is another non-formula literary work
from a talented writer, discovered and mentored by the group.
‘Siam Streetfighter’ by Ian Quartermaine, is the most recent
release Others projects are in development.
Initial print: August 2001.
Reprinted: February 2002.
Special Edition: October 2003.
Special Edition Reprint: August 2004.
E-Book: 2009.
Special Ninth Anniversary Edition: January 2010.
10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Deepest appreciation to
Kevin O’Brien
Ray Escobar
Ian Smart

11
 ‘Sleepless in Bangkok’ -
Special Ninth Anniversary
Edition
A Novel by Ian Quartermaine
(C) 1985. 2001. 2002. 2003. 2005. 2009. 2010.

Edited and Packaged by Jake Anthony

NB. For the benefit of readers from the West,

Thai words are spelt phonetically.

16
1
Into the Unknown
It was a typical, freezing cold, grey English winter morning and the
remains of a slippery white frost spread itself across the runways of
London’s Heathrow Airport.
Steven John Hunt stepped out from a taxi into the crowded
building. Hoping to glean some information about his much too early
in the morning travel intentions, he stopped to listen as various an-
nouncements droned on through the airport P.A..
“Passengers for Virgin Airlines flight to Los Angeles should
make their way to gate number 33. Virgin Airlines flight to Los An-
geles now boarding.”
It was not his flight, Steven was travelling East, not West.
‘Thai time’ was a kind of Oriental mannana, whereby all
matters Thai were regulated by the needs and feelings of the staff.
‘Sanook’ (joy, fun) for them; ‘mai sanook’ (no fun) for the client.
Even outside of their own country this relaxed attitude would pre-
vail.
Perversely, Steven was relying on Thai people to be unreli-
able, regarding his Royal ThaiAirways flight to Bangkok. With luck,
Thai-time was currently in operation at Heathrow. Or Thiefrow
as it was known by experienced travellers, due to the amount of
17
passenger baggage that went missing.
Not that such relaxed disorder really bothered Steven. It
irritated sometimes, but he’d spent enough time in South East Asia
to have gained some kind of immunity to culture shock. The year
spent seconded to a Special Services Division of the Australian
Army, towards the end of the Vietnam War, had really cemented
the change. Working undercover in Lao, [*] warfare in the wet and
steamy jungles of the Golden Triangle had irrevocably altered his
cultural configuration. ‘Give me the boy and I’ll give you the man’,
had proven true in his case.
Unlike most of the Anglo Saxon race, Steven’s psyche now
had a tendency to react in a more lateral fashion to confrontational
conditions. He would no longer swim up river when he could sim-
ply float down or leisurely swim across. Not that he did not have
what it takes, almost two decades in the armed forces had con-
firmed that. It was just that discretion is the better part of valour.
When the shit hits the fan, don’t be there. Talk softly but carry a big
stick.
However, Steven’s European heritage and male, ego-testi-
cle character shortcomings still let him down intermittently.
But Steven had learnt much in the East, and would find him-
self watching people for the slightest facial twitch, reading their body
language with a subtlety he’d never been aware of before. In many
ways he had become inscrutable, like an Oriental. Almost. Maybe.
The airport P.A. confirmed Steven’s knowledge of Thailand
when a bored, mechanical voice announced a flight delay. His Royal
Thai Airways flight to Bangkok had not yet departed, and if the
check-in desk was not busy he would probably make it in time.
Steven carried just a single leather briefcase, knowing there
was little point in taking anything to Thailand other than the clothes
you stood up in. Not even an empty case, as everything, including
the case, could be purchased for considerably less than it would
cost in the West. If emanating from one of the Scandinavian coun-
tries, the savings made on a suit alone would pay your hotel bill for
18
a month. For the spouse with a ‘Degree in Shopping’, such Siamese
cost saving delights could effectively offer a free holiday. Albeit, no
sane man would take his wife to Siam for a vacation.
But Steven was not married, nor was he a tourist. As a former
officer in the SAS, marriage was not really compatible with life as a
state commissioned mercenary! Regarding his current trip to Thai-
land, it was strictly business.
Not that Steven looked the officer type, he was far too casual
for that. Although he had enjoyed life in the British military’s fast
lane, formality and pretension were not to his taste.As formality and
pretention had been a tradition in the British armed forces since time
began - kept the masses in order, dontcha know - Steven had not
really fitted in.

[*]. Lao, as in ‘how’ or ‘now’, is the way the country’s name is

pronounced and spelt in South East Asia. Laos is a colonial pro-
nunciation and spelling.
Former sleaze and bar girl scene reviewer from the USA,
Bernard Trink, whose column was discontinued in the Bangkok
Post when he was effectively sacked, may know a lot about bar
girls but knows little about Lao. Not even the country’s correct
indigenous name. He should check his facts fully and visit the coun-
try before dismissing the work of more knowledgable writers on
the subject. His published comment on this matter was yet another
example of arrogance and ignorance combined, emanating from
the American colonial approach to the world outside of North
America. Dinosaurs.

19
2
A Finger Up The Nose
Except for one slightly built Thai clerk standing in the background,
the check-in desk was deserted. Clearly on another planet, he gazed
into the distance. Lower down the pecking order, this favourite Thai
pastime would often be accompanied by a finger up the nose.
Not wishing to be too judgemental, aware that this almost in-
utero distraction provided a momentary refuge from the hussle and
hassle of mai sanook areas of life, Steven spoke in Thai to gain the
young man’s attention.
“Sawasdi don chow.” Good morning.
Returning to the present, the Thai check-in clerk walked for-
ward to assist.
Not wanting to take any chances with the almost pristine
state of his much travelled passport, Steven looked down at the
young man’s hands. Satisfied that no bogey (booger) picking, finger
licking, nasal cleansing activity had recently been on the agenda, he
passed his travel documents across the desk.
“You are the last passenger to check in,” the young man
casually advised, trying to put Steven at ease. But his well intentioned
words only managed to raise Steven’s adrenaline level for a few
20
seconds - Thai people’s general lack of left-brain, forward thinking
cognitive ability managing to achieve the opposite of what was in-
tended!
“Do you have any baggage, sir?” the young clerk enquired.
“Hand luggage only,” Steven replied, having gone through
the routine too many times to think about
“That is fortunate, it is too late for anything larger! Royal Thai
Airlines is a no smoking carrier,” the young clerk stated as he handed
Steven his passport, ticket stub and boarding card.
“There is a slight delay. If you proceed quickly through secu-
rity and passport control, you should make it OK. Thai time,” he
said with a smile, aware from the many visa stamps in Steven’s
ultra-thick passport, that he had been a regular traveller to South
East Asia and the Land of Smiles.

21
READ OTHER HARD HITTING, GRAPHIC,
CONTROVERSIAL ‘REALITY’ NOVELS
FROM
IAN QUARTERMAINE

‘’White Slavery’ -
For King & Country

‘From Other Worlds’

‘Cybernaut’

‘Siam Streetfighter’

COMING SOON
‘Sleepless in Bangkok 2’ -
Return to the Triangle

The following can be purchased

on-line as E-books or Paperbacks:
www.iqincmedia.com
387