In this edition of Writers Stories from the Edinburgh International Book Festival of 2003 Raj Chakraborti explores Don Delillo’s conceit that terrorists possess the place in our consciousness once occupied by novelists. Chakraborti’s interview with Tariq Ali draws insights into the continuing Western domination. While George Monbiot’s view is that the poorer nations hold the key to a positive and egalitarian future William Dallrymple look further back to the underpinnings of imperialism, to those centuries of a more equal if not reverent engagement with India before the onset of economic subjugation.