Is Czech Fantasy after 1989 really about nothing? Cover Image

Czy czeska fantastyka po 1989 roku naprawdę jest o niczym?
Is Czech Fantasy after 1989 really about nothing?

Author(s): Joanna Czaplińska
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: Czech literature after 1989; Czech science fiction literature; Czech fantasy literature

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the paper is to present Czech science fiction literature after 1989 and its potential and perspectives in translationts to other languages. The author introduces the most interesting Czech novels that belong not to strictly commercial part of SF-F literature, but also contain literary values (as defined by Russian formalists): Utopie, nejlepsí verze by Ivan Kmínek, Dlouhý den Valhaly by Frantisek Novotný, Peklo Benes. O stastnejsím Ceskoslovensku by Josef Nesvadba, Engerlingové by Jaroslav Velinský, Spesný vlak Ch. 24.12 by Jan Polácek, Strázci noci by Sanca Fülle, a penthalogy Mycelium by Vilma Kadlecková. The author also tries to show that changes after 1989 on book market was for SF-F writers a "identity shock" and lead to "how to write" in the early 90's. Contemporary Czech SF-F literature offers a wide range of topics and novels are addressed to a wide spectrum of readers who expect different experiences from pure fun to ambitious problems. As author emphasizes, Czech SF-F is now a fully mature genre and many works of Czech writers are estimated at European and global level.

  • Issue Year: XIV/2014
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 343-362
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: Polish