2014
2014
Grand Prize
Cezary Zbierzchowski
Born in 1975 in Sierpc – Polish writer, author of speculative fiction stories and novels. A graduate of the Secondary School in Sierpc (mathematics and physics profile). During his school days, he was a co-founder and vocalist of the band The Closhards. He graduated from the Faculty of Polish Studies at the University of Warsaw (MA thesis in the field of cultural anthropology). He works in Warsaw, in a financial company.
He made his debut in 2004 in the bimonthly 'Ubik Fantastyka'. Several times awarded by the editors of 'Nowa Fantastyka': in the O. S. Card competition for the miniature "Realis" and in the competition Scare yourself and us for the short story "Bestiariusz"; winner of the Reflektor 2013 award (first edition) awarded to young artists. Nominated for the Janusz A. Zajdel Award and the Jerzy Żuławski Literary Award and the Pyrkon Identifier award for the novel "Holocaust F". Winner of the 2014 Sfinks Award (for 2013) in the category Polish novel of the year for the novel "Holocaust F".
He has published in 'Nowa Fantastyka' and 'Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror', he participated in anthologies of fantastic stories: 'Bez bohatera' (Fantasmagoricon 2005), 'Nowe idzie’ (Powergraph 2008) and 'Science fiction' (Powergraph 2011). In 2005-2010, the author of critical and journalistic texts in the network literary and journalistic magazine 'Creatio Fantastica'. In 2008, Fantasmagoricon released a debut collection of his short stories "Requiem dla lalek", containing eight texts set in the world of Ramma created by the author.
Zbierzchowski's stories are characterized by a large formal and thematic variety, combining elements of sociological fiction, anti-utopia, cyberpunk, horror and religious fiction.
In 2013, Powergraph released a reissue of the collection "Requiem dla lalek" (in the form of an e-book), extended by three texts: "Smutek parseków", "Płonąc od środka" and "Garcia" (premiere). In the same year, the Powergraph publishing house published the debut science fiction novel by Zbierzchowski entitled "Holocaust F", set just like his short stories, in the world of Ramma.
(2014)
Holocaust F
The ends of the world have a picturesque tradition in science fiction. But what when not only worlds fall apart, but also meanings, societies, metaphysical systems and ontologies?
Cezary Zbierzchowski's Holocaust F is an ambitious hard sci-fi in a modern style, outlining the shape of an inexorable future, telling about a war in which military actions are works of art in themselves. What secrets are in a cradler's cradle? What has the tunneler Heart of Darkness discovered in the vastness of space, which – looped in time and space – is once again approaching Earth's orbit? What is the plasmat that left the Earth, and what are the freins that remain on it? How do you fight Locusts, modified vampires or the probability-shifting morożenoje? Is it worth saving the world if everything worth fighting for in it has passed away?
Holocaust F is a dynamic blend of Stross' energy, Stephenson's momentum of vision, Watts' pessimism, and more than a pinch of Dick's madness. Such books are extremely rare, but when they are published, they invariably become a great readers' celebration.
(Source: Katedra.nast.pl)
2014
Gold Distinction
Krzysztof Piskorski
Born in 1982, Polish writer, fantasy author, translator and creator of role-playing games.
He studied archeology and computer science, worked among others as a journalist for the computer magazine 'CHIP'. He currently lives in Wrocław.
He made his literary debut in 2004 in ‘Nowa Fantastyka’, and a year earlier he published a fictional game called „Władcy Losu” published in the New Wave series by the Portal publishing house. He has published short stories in 'Science Fiction', 'Fantastic Magazine' and 'Nowa Fantastyka' and articles in 'CHIP', 'Magia i Miecz' and 'Portal' magazines.
His book debut is the 2005 novel "Wygnaniec", the first volume of a trilogy in which he created an original fantasy world inspired by the traditional culture of the Arabian Peninsula. The 2007 collection, "Poczet Dziwów Miejskich", referred to the local color of Wrocław. Another novel, the two-volume „Zadra”, set during the Napoleonic Wars, brought Piskorski in 2009 a nomination for the Zajdel Award and the Gold Distinction of Jerzy Żuławski Award. "Krawędź czasu", published in 2011, was nominated for both awards.
At Eurocon 2009, he received the European Science Fiction Association (ESFS) Award for the most promising young artist - the Encouragement Award. In 2012, he was again nominated for the Janusz A. Zajdel and the Jerzy Żuławski Awards, this time for the novel "Krawędź czasu".
In 2014, he won the Janusz A. Zajdel Award in the category of novels and the Gold Distinction of Jerzy Żuławski Literary Award – for the novel „Cienioryt”.
(2014)
Cienioryt
(Shadow-rite)
The charm of seventeenth-century alleys, nonchalance and the pace of stories under the sign of the cloak and sword, secrets straight from the books of Arturo Perez-Reverte and a bit of magic so characteristic of Ibero-American literature. It all adds up to „Cienioryt”, a new novel by Krzysztof Piskorski, one of the most talented Polish fantasy authors.
In the southern port city of Seriva, every shadow is a window into a menacing and unexplored shadow-space where the tunnels are buried by adepts of the secret arts. Six grandees fight for influence with poison, betrayal and steel, the underage king struggles to hold power, and the inquisition grows stronger.
But these are all things that are difficult to observe from the window of the small room on Alaminho Street, where Arahon Caranza Martenez Y'Grenata Y'Barratora, an experienced fencing teacher, lives. Arahon only wants to ensure the safety of his loved ones and save enough money to leave the city. At least until the shadow-rite falls into his hands – a painting burnt on glass, showing a mysterious figure...
„Cienioryt” is not only a rich, beautifully written novel, full of surprising twists and turns, but also a gallery of characters who will remain in your memory for a long time.
In Seriva, a shadow can throw a man, a door many miles away can connect, a simple handshake is sometimes tragic, and the sun has a black twin brother. Traveling to this place is an unforgettable experience. Especially in the company of the mysterious narrator of the novel.
(Source: Katedra.nast.pl)
2014
Silver Distinction
Adam Przechrzta
Born in 1965. Polish writer associated with the Fabryka Słów publishing house and the literary forum WerokatoriuM.pl. His work can be classified as historical fiction. Journalist, historian, educator.
He graduated in history. In 2001, on the basis of the work "Anti-state activity of communists in the eyes of Polish secret services 1918-1939", he obtained a doctorate from the University of Zielona Góra. Author of articles on secret services, knife fighting and Okinawan karate. He is interested in the activities of secret services and cybernetics.
He made his debut in speculative fiction in 2006 in the 'Nowa Fantastyka' magazine with the story „Pierwszy krok”, which he developed into a novel, published under the same title in 2008, by the Fabryka Słów publishing house. In September 2007, the 'Science Fiction' magazine published his short story "Alchemik", published in 2009 as part of the novel "Chorągiew Michała Archanioła". Then he published a collection of short stories "Wilczy Legion" (2009) presenting the alternative reality of the interwar period, as seen through the eyes of employees of Polish intelligence and counterintelligence. A pilot short story from this collection, bearing the same title, was published in the 8/2008 issue of 'Nowa Fantastyka'. In 2010, Fabryka Słów published the novel "Białe Noce", which was a continuation of the "Chorągiew Michała Archanioła".
Then he started a large series of novels, the main character of which is Aleksander Razumowski, an officer of the GRU. In the background of the war and sensational novel, the author presented the ruthless world of the NKVD, GRU, the battles between the intelligence services and the political purges of the Stalinist era. So far, three parts of this series have been published: "Demony Leningradu" (2011) and two volumes of "Demony wojny" (2013-2014). More are in preparation.
The novel "Gambit Wielopolskiego", which is a kind of settlement with Polish uprisings of the 19th century, was published in 2013 by the National Center for Culture. For this novel, he received the Silver Distinction of the Jerzy Żuławski Award in 2014.
He is married and has two children.
(2014)
Gambit Wielopolskiego
(The gambit of Wielopolski)
Adam Przechrzta's book "Gambit Wielopolskiego" is the tenth volume of the series "Zwrotnice czasu. Historie alternatywne". The novel of Przechrzta tells about the alternative fate of Poland and Russia in the 22nd century, shown against the background of an alternative vision of the whole of Europe. Przechrzta asks the question: what would Poland's history have looked like had the January Uprising not broken out?
Adam Przechrzta wrote a very perverse, adventurous novel about the January Uprising. He created a historical treatise or, as they say, a novel of ideas, and at the same time gave a show of lush cyberpunk and alternative science fiction taking place in the second half of the 22nd century. The strangest thing is that there is practically no January Uprising in his book.
There is no, because it did not explode, because, in order to prevent it, Margrave Wielopolski made a dishonor more sophisticated than what we know from our reality. There was not a captive, but something worse – this event is discussed at the beginning of the novel by two Poles in the service of the Tsar, Czachowski and Różycki. They both have a predisposition to jokers – expressive, determined, charismatic individuals who can influence history. The first is a former rebel from the ‘Niepodległa’ organization who entered the service of tsarism. The other must either abandon the plot, make a similar choice or die. (Excerpt from the afterword by Maciej Parowski).
(Source: Katedra.nast.pl)