Thanks a lot @improv Really appreciate the comments and tip for Punday. Anyone reading this, go check out Punday Every week we have a new pun comp, and every week regardless of whether your pun is genius, silly or terrible, my friend @improv gives a really generous upvote, and so do us other punsters, so swing on by for a look, it's a great comp..
Thanks for the recommendation on Sherman Alexei - I'll check out one of his novels, he seems like an interesting guy after reading his writeup in the LA times.. Indian culture is very interesting, quite similar to the aborigine people in Australia..