I believe that May started writing when incarcerated. His first-person protagonist began his travels in Northern Africa/Middle East (the first two novels are titled "Across the Desert" and "Across wild Kurdistan") and later crossed into North America. There are 70+ books, as Bill Kennedy points out, and I slugged through the majority of them as a youngster (my Grandpa had the Complete Works). I agree with Susanne, it's really tough going in the later ones when May gets on a weird mysticism trip. If I remember correctly, "Ardistan and Djinistan" is one of those.

I was not aware that any of May's stuff is available in English translation... who's the publisher, Bill?

Michael