Finally, some insightful reading on Nepal. State of Nepal, a collection of sixteen essays by 14 Nepalis, one Nepali-Indian, and one Indian was released Tuesday. The original, unpublished writings deal with a broad spectrum of issues-education, the economy, gender, ethnicity, democracy, development, the Maobadi, water, Indian perceptions of Nepal, the insularity of contemporary Nepali literature, the notion of the Hindu state, the role of the new king, and Nepal's media boom. The book, published by Himal Books, is edited by Kanak Mani Dixit, publisher of Himal Khabarpatrika, and Shastri Ramachandaran, Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India.