Even short stories require a lot of research. Some of the topics I read up on for The Rubber Match were:Â
- Balloon fetish
- History of balloons
- Chemistry of balloonsÂ
- The international rubber market 1870-1930
- Trade in the Amazon river basin
- Rubber barons and tree theft
- Pink dolphins and manatees
- History of the condom
- History of Goa, Goan migration
- Port of Manaus
- Turtle and other food
- The aviador trading system (overcharging tappers for supplies so they were in perpetual debt)
- Para seeds
- Ethnic cultures of Rio Negro
- Why ammonia is added to liquid latex
- Seringuero vs. Seringueiro (Spanish spelling vs. Portuguese)Â Â
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