2011
2011
Grand Prize
Wit Szostak
Born in 1976. Doctor of philosophy, graduate of the Pontifical Academy of Theology. He lives in Krakow. A member of the Tischner Society and a fan of Tolkien's work. He is an expert in folk music, for several years he has been writing down the notes of the last folk violinists, he has been playing the violin, goose and bagpipes.
He made his debut as a fantasy author in 1999 with the short story "Kłopoty z błaznem", published in ‘Nowa Fantastyka’. So far, four of his books have been published: the novels "Wichry Smoczogór" (2003) and happening several centuries earlier "Poszarpane granie", as well as a collection of short stories "Ględzieby Ropucha", and "Oberki do końca świata". For both novels, he was nominated for the Janusz A. Zajdel Award. "Wichry Smoczogór" was additionally awarded with the Śląkfa Aaward. In 2008, he received the Janusz A. Zajdel Award for the short story "Miasto grobów. Uwertura" published in the anthology „Księga strachu 2”. His works are often inspired by the culture of the Polish mountains.
He writes under a pseudonym. As he says, he uses a pseudonym not to hide, but to signal that he delimits different areas of his interests, as he publishes texts on philosophy under his real name.
(2011)
Chochoły
(Dusts)
We live in different worlds. We look at ourselves and somebody else. We walk around other cities. A day, a month, a season of the heart, a turn of the soul will pass, and we will not find ourselves in foreign landscapes: a different country in the head, different panoramas outside the window.
"Chochoły" by Wit Szostak is an attempt at literary capture of this phenomenon, an effective objectification of what is most subjective. This is how the metaphor brings out intimate truths: that morning the sky shone like ice, that evening everything was weightless. And here you will sail with the Chochołów family through the canals of Krakow-Venice, you will run through the war streets of Krakow-Sarajevo, you will rest on the shores of the Mediterranean at the ancient port of Krakow. We live in different worlds, this novel builds bridges between them.
(Publisher's note)
2011
Gold Distinction
Jacek Dukaj
Born in 1974. He studied philosophy at the Jagiellonian University. He made his debut with the short story "Złota galera", published in February 1990 in the monthly ‘Fantastyka’, written when he was 16 years old. His next stories were published in the literary magazine 'Fenix' and 'Nowa Fantastyka'. In 1997, Dukaj's book debut, "Xavras Wyżryn", was published.
Dukaj's journalistic texts and reviews have been published in 'Nowa Fantastyka', 'SFinks', 'Miesięcznik', 'Framzeta', 'Fantom', 'Feniks' 'Science Fiction', 'Super Fantastyka Powieść', 'Czas Fantastyki'.
Dukaj's stories have been translated into English, German, Russian, Czech and Hungarian. "Złota Galera" was published in English in the anthology The Dedalus Book of Polish Fantasy, translated by Wieśka Powaga. "Ruch generała" and parts of the "Katedra" were translated into English by Michael Kandel, but so far they have not been published, except for the fragments available on the Internet.
On December 6, 2007 another novel by Jacek Dukaj was published - "Lód", Book of the Year 2007 in the competition of Wirtualna Polska, Book in Autumn 2007 at PPNW, nominated for Angelus, Józef Mackiewicz Award and the 2008 NIKE Literary Award.
In March 2008, Wydawnictwo Literackie published the reissue of the short story collection "W kraju niewiernych" in a new layout, in May - "Inne pieśni", in October - "Czarne oceany".
In November 2009, the novel "Wroniec" was published, the background of which is the martial law of 1981.
(2011)
Linia oporu
(The line of resistance)
How close are you to another human being? Will you get into his head? Will you know his thoughts? Will you know the feelings? Never. The body is a detail; this or that, it doesn't matter. But the shame of the body, but the barrier of nudity, both physical and mental, the barrier of embarrassment, the fear of being exposed, of leaving the mask – it separates conventional situations from situations of intimacy. This pain that we sometimes call shame, sometimes betrayal, sometimes humiliation, this pain is not a prison from which you have to break free at all costs – it is the first condition of intimacy.
(Publisher's note)
2011
Silver Distinction
Marek S. Huberath
He publishes under a pseudonym. Born in 1954, a Krakow physicist and science fiction writer. He works in biological and solid state physics at the Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University, habilitated doctor.
He made his debut in speculative fiction in 1987 with the short story "Wrocieeś Sneogg, wiedziaam ...", which won the competition of the ‘Fantastyka’ monthly. His oeuvre includes many short stories (including "Kara większa", Janusz A. Zajdel Award 1991) and five novels: „Ostatni, którzy wyszli z raju” (1996), „Druga podobizna w alabastrze” (1997, Nagroda Zajdel Award), „Gniazdo światów” (1999, Zajdel, Śląkfa, Srebrny Glob Awards), „Miasta pod Skałą” (2005) and „Vatran Auraio” (2011).
Marek S. Huberath won three times the Janusz A. Zajdel Award, moreover, he was nominated for it five times. He is an honorary member of the Galician Fantasy Fans Guild.
(2011)
Vatran Auraio
In an undefined future, on an inhospitable planet, in the mountains of Matcin Dolan, a small community lives, at a primitive level of development by today's standards. Inhabitants - descendants of the colonists who once found it, struggle for survival limited by a small piece of land suitable for living, harsh living conditions and the need to fight against unfavorable climate and dangerous animals. Humans only live for a few seasons until they are consumed by the krve znama or submitted to vyleta - the only method of procreation requiring - because of the anatomy of women - the mortal sacrifice of a man and a woman. In order for humanity to survive, the specially chosen woman and man from the valley watch over the course of the rituals, collect and pass on to the next generations all available knowledge about the world.
(Publisher's note)