2021
2021
Grand Prize
Wojciech Gunia
Born in 1983 in Nowy Sącz, writer, translator and journalist, considered a reviver and a leading contemporary representative of weird fiction in Poland. A graduate of the Faculty of Polish Studies at the Jagiellonian University. Author of the books "Powrót" (2014, 2nd edition 2020), "Nie ma wędrowca" (2016), "Miasto i rzeka" (2018), "Dom wszystkich snów" (2020) and "Złe wszechświaty" (2021).
Guni's debut, "Powrót", was the first Polish post-war book, fully consciously turning in the style of weird fiction. On the other hand, the novel "Nie ma wędrowca" was honored with the Stefan Grabiński Award for the best Polish horror in 2016. In 2021, Gunia was also honored with the Maciej Parowski Award (formerly Reflektor).
As a translator, Wojciech Gunia introduces Polish readers mainly to the works of the contemporary American weird fiction author, Thomas Ligotti, and other writers from this circle. He is also – since 2018 – a managing editor of the annual horror fantasy anthology, "Sny umarłych". As a publicist, Wojciech Gunia collaborated (and collaborates) with the periodicals 'Trans / Wizje', 'OkoLica Strachu' and 'Nowa Fantastyka', currently his columns can be read on the portal ‘zupelnieinnaopowiesc.com’. He considers Bruno Schulz, Stanisław Lem, Franz Kafka, Samuel Beckett and Thomas Ligotti to be his literary masters.
(2021)
Dom Motta (in: Dom wszystkich snów)
(Mott's House /in: The House of All Dreams/)
We are born in it and we close our eyes in it. In its long, narrow corridors and empty rooms, it plays out what we experience between one and next nothingness. In it we fight and in it we are defeated. We ask questions or look for answers. Who erected it? Who brought us to it?
It is huge, perhaps bigger than the world, and we, in advance doomed to wander, will never know its plans.
Thirteen stories, one tale.
The House of All Dreams. Book - maze, book - riddle.
"Thick, sensual prose with the spirits of Schulz and Truchanowski floating above it. But clear inspirations here are only a starting point for further searches, a further journey into the darkness of reality that is unraveling at the seams. These excellent and deeply disturbing texts touch upon the deepest fears. They bring to the surface of consciousness what we do not want to think about on a daily basis. The frightening complexity of life, with its inhuman geometry and the fact that at the end a soulless toothed machine awaits us, for which, for lack of better words, we say: death. It's hard to tear yourself away from this fascinating gloom." [Paweł Matuszek]
(Source: Katedra.nast.pl)
2021
Gold Distinction
Phot. A. Mason
Romuald Pawlak
Born in 1967, Polish writer, author of fantasy/speculative fiction, moral and children's books.
He started with horrors in the ‘Feniks’ magazine, but then became interested in history, especially in the Middle Ages and the era of great geographical discoveries. Among others, the conquest of America and the history of the Order of St. John became the themes of his novels and short stories. He has published in 'Nowa Fantastyka', 'Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror', 'Magia i Miecz', 'Młody Technik' and many other places, including ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’. He has published over 10 novels (including books for children and teenagers) and about 100 short stories. For some time he successfully practiced literary criticism and journalism, but then he focused almost exclusively on writing.
Pawlak started with fantasy/science fiction, but then became interested in children's literature. He is the author of recognized and awarded books for young audiences (e.g. "Miłek z Czarnego Lasu" - IBBY 2008 Award for the Best Book of the Year). Recently, however, he returned to his favorite science fiction, and he did it in a beautiful style, winning the Gold Distinction of the Jerzy Żuławski Literary Award in 2021 for the novel "Podarować niebo".
Pawlak's prose often contains an admixture of humor and grotesque, and almost always a deeper reflection on life with a hint of bitterness. Nevertheless, it cannot be said that his books were blown with pessimism. How does the said author do this? Best to see for yourself.
(2021)
Podarować niebo
(Give heaven)
As a result of a navigational error, one of the terrestrial spacecraft stuck on an unknown planet. The crew, clinging to the weak hope that someone will find them, becomes more and more divided – some do not believe in it, some raise hope to the rank of a philosophy of life, and one of the crew has probably gone mad. Additional tension is created by a primitive race that inhabits the planet, against which the crew are as divided as they are towards each other. Some want to help the autochthons, some would like to kill these strange creatures, and finally a large group is indifferent to them. Everything becomes complicated when it becomes clear that helping others can mean trouble for people, for the hope that keeps them alive ...
(Source: lubimyczytac.pl)
2021
Silver Distinction
Ziemowit Szczerek
Born in 1978, Polish journalist, writer and translator. He completed law studies at the Jagiellonian University and postgraduate studies in political science. He lives in Warsaw and Krakow.
Cooperates, among others, with 'Polityka', 'Gazeta Wyborcza', 'Nowa Europa Wschodnia' and 'Krytyka Polityczna', author of, among others, the books "Rzeczpospolita Zwycięska", "Przyjdzie Mordor i nas zje, czyli tajna historia Słowian" (Polityka's Passport 2013), "Siódemka", "Siwy dym albo pięć cywilizowanych plemion", "Via Carpatia", "Cham z kulą w głowie" (Grand Prix of the Warsaw Criminal Festival and the Silver Distinction of the Jerzy Żuławski Literary Award; Znak Literanova Publishing House 2021), co-author of the collection of stories "Paczka Radomskich". Repeatedly nominated for literary awards, including Nike and Angelus.
He deals with the East of Europe and geopolitical, historical and cultural quirks. About the book "Przyjdzie Mordor i nas zje", which is a fictionalized report on Ukraine, Mikołaj Gliński writes: "Szczerek's report is full of subjective impressions of the author-hero, descriptions of his strange adventures and narcotic visions, so that it is not really clear where the hallucinatory ride ends, and where does Ukraine begin. It is not surprising that the book was recognized as the first Polish gonzo-style reportage [Culture.pl].
The award-winning novel "Cham z kulą w głowie" is the author's first bolder trip to fantasy/science fiction lands. As you can see, the trip was successful.
(2021)
Cham z kulą w głowie
(Boor with a bullet in his head)
An epic novel by Ziemowit Szczerek, kept in the atmosphere of a noir crime novel.
Listen, the Second World War wasn't there.
Warsaw has never been destroyed, today Poles, Jews and Ukrainians are walking under the triumphal arches. Warsaw – Buenos Aires of Slavic region – does not spare anyone its tango.
But now, now, this city that has not lost runs down with blood. The street whispers about Cuba Hieroglyph and the conspiracy of secret societies. More headsless corpses litter the streets, and the world is plunging into chaos.
Kary, listen, this is your case. This someone kills as well as you. And he wants to get even with you. Kary, you are a bastard, traitor and deserter. But you're a detective as well, so get your butt off and get on with it. Stop guzzling and get up. The dead won't wait.
Crime, passion and war at all levels. A crime fiction and an epic novel rolled into one. And in the background the writer's favorite subject – the great history.
(Source: lubimyczytac.pl)