Jerzy Żuławski Literary Award

Short description

Jerzy Żuławski Literary Award is granted for original Polish-language prose works, currently novels, kept in the convention of fantasy/science fiction, which were published in the previous year. It was established in 2008 in response to the expectations of the Polish community of readers, authors and reviewers. It is a prize awarded by professionals, what distinguishes it from other competitions settled in plebiscites.

Laureates are selected in two stages. The first stage is a vote by a body of 30-60 Electors, who are personally invited opinion-forming recipients, such as editors, reviewers and readers presenting professional assessments in mass media. As a result of this vote, a list of six nominated novels is drawn. In the second stage, a Jury by vote selects and ranks three winning novels, which are awarded the Grand Prize and the Gold and Silver Distinctions. The Jury consists of active literary scholars with at least a doctoral degree and with a track record of research in the field of broadly understood f/sf literature.

The Award is supported, among others, by the patronage of the Association of Polish Writers. Along with the plebiscite-like Janusz A. Zajdel Award, it is one of the most important f/sf awards on the Polish literary market. Winners of the Prize include, among others, Jacek Dukaj, Łukasz Orbitowski, Szczepan Twardoch, Anna Brzezińska, Wit Szostak and Radek Rak. The Żuławski Award was conceived and initiated by the writer and scientist Andrzej Zimniak.

The patron of the Award, Jerzy Żuławski (1874-1915), was a Polish writer, poet and playwright of the Young Poland period. Along with Władysław Umiński and Antoni Lange, Żuławski was a precursor of today's Polish science-fiction literature. The choice of the patron indicates the unique nature of this Award, which is not only focused on the literary and cognitive value of the prize-winning works, but also seeks to preserv a tradition of Polish sf literature.

Official website of Jerzy Żuławski Literary Award (in Polish): http://www.nagroda-zulawskiego.pl/