"In conclusion, 'Stories from an Ancient Land' is a commendable achievement that brings a wealth of empirical detail and conceptual sophistication to bear on the larger anthropological question concerning the nature of fate and human agency. This book makes a significant original contribution to the growing field of Wa studies. It should be welcomed by anyone interested in general anthropological theory and the cultures, peoples, and history of China and Southeast Asia." - Anthropos "[This is a] groundbreaking study. Read it--it is well worth it." - The Irrawaddy.com "Stories from an Ancient Land creatively weaves together ethnohistory, fieldwork, archival research, and social theory. Through his research on and with the Wa in southwest China and in the Myanmar borderlands, Fiskesjö has crafted a thorough and insightful examination of Wa society and cultural dynamics.

This excellent ethnography is in equal measure bold and nuanced. It offers compelling angles on peripheral situations, complex histories, violence, grotesque imagery, appropriation, and cultural resilience." - Hjorleifur Jonsson, Arizona State University.