Translated SF Authors

[Stalker]

The Anglo-American Sci-Fi holds obvious leadership in the Sci-Fi genre.
This thread, however, I would like to dedicate to Alternate view of Sci-Fi that has its origin in other countries. Let's discuss it.
The books by Strugatsky brothers have actually inspired my nickname on this forum because I think their book "Roadside picnic" is one of the best SF books in the genre ever. There are also other worthy books of theirs - such as Hard to be the God, Rainbow Faraway, Trilogy about Maxim Kammerer (Inhabited Island, The Beetle in the Anthill, Waves that Supress the Wind).
One of the Greatest masters of Science Fiction is the Pole Stanislaw Lem, I love him very much, and his Solaris is worldwide famous.
And the last but not the least in the list is Francis Carsac.
His particular book Les robinsons du cosmos - The Robinsons of Space - was that trigger that made me become crazy od Sci-Fi.
I almost don't know Italian SF literature (Umberto Eco is not the case). And I would like to learn more about European and World science fiction from you, my fellow-posters. Maybe my knowledge will also become of use to you.

 

[Leto]

As French writers, I'm not sure many of them are translated in english. Have a look at Gérard Klein, Pierre Boulle and Barjavel in the 60s litterature, you may find them interesting.
I think in the Italian, you can start by Dino Buzzati's the K and some Italo Calvino tales. Try also Valerio Evangelisti's Eymmerich series, but once again not sure he's available in english.
Could you sum up "Roadside picnic" ? I'm familiar with Strugatsky name but certainly not under this title.

 

[Stalker]

Roadside picnic
Here is the plot:
Background supposition: extra-terrestrials have apparently visited earth (possibly for a picnic as later in the book some scientist sets out in his hypothesis) and left behind many unusual items, of which the earthlings have little or no clue of their origin or intended purpose. The items become hot commodities, and despite the danger in retrieving them from "The Zone", a massive black market arises, enough to propel the lives of the characters in the story.

The plot mostly traces the life of one "stalker", Red Schuhart, who goes after this stuff at various periods over several years. Indeed, the real meat of the book is the discussion of issues about life and freedom expressed indirectly through tracing the development of the lead characters. The book is not really a typical sci-fi thriller that entertains with weird beings, strange places, and made-up gimmicks (although there are many weird places in the Zone brilliantly described). Rather, this is a thought-provoking probe of a (to Anglo-American reader) foreign way of living and a controlling society that governs everyday social interaction. That the authors could pull this off 30-some years ago, in a tightly censored environment, makes the book all the more amazing. For sure not a light reading session, "Roadside Picnic" may not entertain as much as some might like, particularly with the fairly abrupt ending, but insight into the human condition awaits.

Remember also "Stalker" by Andrei Tarkovsky. The original scenario was alo written by Strugatsky but they took away all events going on in the book and left only the Zone and the Stalker.
I also saw several English editions of the book in Amazon.com

 

[Leto]

That's not the one I've read. But I certainly hunt this one, Denoël translated it in the early 80s.
The one I've read was : "Monday Begins on Saturday". Quite difficult to enter in but very entertaining and interesting.

 

[Stalker]

Ah!

It's a humoristic Sci-Fi bordering on Fantasy. It's sequel is called "Skazka o Troyke" -"The fairy-tale about Troika" - this one is purely satiric on Soviet bereaucracy. But no less entertaining - I remember I loughed almost to death.


Les revenants des étoiles, collection "Le Rayon Fantastique" - Don't know what novel is meant

• Le petit, éditions Fleuve Noir, collection "Les best sellers de la science-fiction soviétique" - The little one is simply emazing
• Les vagues éteignent le vent, collection "Présence du futur" - the third part of the trilogy about Maxim Kammerer
• Il est difficile d'être un dieu (1964), collection "Présence du futur" - Progressor activities of earthlings on a distant planet where reign Middle Ages.
• Le lundi commence le samedi (1966), collection "Présence du futur" - it's what you have already read
• L'escargot sur la pente (1969), éditions Champ Libre, réédition Presses Pocket - Snail on the slope - It's deeply philosophic and sometimes hard for understanding.
• La troïka (1972), éditions Albin Michel -
• Les mutants du brouillard (1972), éditions Albin Michel, réédition Hachette sous le titre "Destin boiteux"
• Stalker (1972), collection "Présence du futur" - Roadside picnuic
• Un gars de l'enfer (1974), collection "Présence du futur" - The Guy from Hell - Interesting, the Progressors' Universe
• Le dernier cercle du paradis (1976), éditions Le Masque - Don't know such a book!
• L'île habitée (1980), éditions "Têtes de feuilles", collection Outrepart - The first part of the Maxim's trilogy. The apocaliptic one where young Maxim makes crash landing on the post nuclear war world. The world is called Saraksh. And a phrase "Massaraksh" which means "wold insideout" and may correspond to English ranging from "Holy Sh.." to "OMG" was widely spread among Soviet SF fans. Very interesting.
• L'auberge de l'alpiniste mort (1982), collection "Présence du futur" - it was even filmed. SF detective.
• L'arc en ciel lointain (1982), éditions Fleuve Noir, collection "Les best sellers de la science-fiction soviétique" - Apocaliptic novel studying ethical problems of bravness and betrayal, human goodness and weakness.
• Le scarabée dans la fourmilière (1982), éditions Fleuve Noir, collection "Les best sellers de la science-fiction soviétique" - 2nd novel of Maxim's trilody. Probably the best of the three books.
• La seconde invasion des martiens (1983), éditions Fleuve Noir, collection "Les best sellers de la science-fiction soviétique" - Satire
• Un milliard d'années avant la fin du monde (1983), éditions Fleuve Noir, collection "Les best sellers de la science-fiction soviétique" - was filmed, an interesting hypothesis underlies this book.

 

[Leto]

Thanks for the list. Will be easier to track them down. Although I must have Un gars de l'enfer somewhere in my basement (will check). Any more eastern European authors to reccommend ?

 

[Stalker]

First, comes the Pole Stanislaw Lem (by the way, born in Lvov, Ukraine) whom I consider on of the Greatest SF writers ever. I am sure that you have read at least his Solaris but I could not help mentioning him.

Another Pole, extremely popular on Ukrainian SF market is Andrej (Andrzej) Sapkowsky with his Fantasy series ... er, there's no proper word in English... let's say "Monster Exterminator". There should be English or French translations (I know Spanish and German translations)

Russian and Ukrainian Sci-Fi literature is now extremely rapidly developing.
I could name several tens of wonderful SF writers but firstly I need to check if they are avaliable in French or English.

Well, probably popular Fantasy writer Nik (Nick) Perumov. Check him.
Andrei Lazarchuk - extremely talented and many-sided writer.

 

[Leto]

First, comes the Pole Stanislaw Lem (by the way, born in Lvov, Ukraine) whom I consider on of the Greatest SF writers ever. I am sure that you have read at least his Solaris but I could not help mentioning him.

Another Pole, extremely popular on Ukrainian SF market is Andrej (Andrzej) Sapkowsky with his Fantasy series ... er, there's no proper word in English... let's say "Monster Exterminator". There should be English or French translations (I know Spanish and German translations)

Those two I know well, although I've discovered Sapkowsky only recently, his serie is currently published in paperback.
And love their works.

Russian and Ukrainian Sci-Fi literature is now extremely rapidly developing.
I could name several tens of wonderful SF writers but firstly I need to check if they are avaliable in French or English.

Well, probably popular Fantasy writer Nik (Nick) Perumov. Check him.
Andrei Lazarchuk - extremely talented and many-sided writer.

I will. Thanks

 

[Stalker]

As French writers, I'm not sure many of them are translated in english. Have a look at Gérard Klein, Pierre Boulle and Barjavel in the 60s litterature, you may find them interesting.
I think in the Italian, you can start by Dino Buzzati's the K and some Italo Calvino tales. Try also Valerio Evangelisti's Eymmerich series, but once again not sure he's available in english.
Could you sum up "Roadside picnic" ? I'm familiar with Strugatsky name but certainly not under this title.

Of course, Pierr Boulle was translated many times into Russian and Ukrainian

I read his three novels:
The Bridge over Kwai River - with Alec Guinnes as the Colonel
The Planet of Apes - Hollywood versions suck
Malville - Nice post-apocalyptic novel

 

[Leto]

Try also Roland Wagner, I think he's part of his "Histoire du Futur" translated in Russian. And I think G.J.Arnaud "La compagnie des glaces" saga is also available.

 

[Stalker]

Noticed one bug in my above post.

Malville was written by Robert Merle. Too long ago I read it!!!

 

[Stalker]

What a pity of things!

On Russian servers I found only several references to the names of the French SF-authors and a single short review giving a dosen names with Wagner and Evangelisti included. Not a single reference to Arnaud. No items in e-shops, no information on publications. Nothing! I am deeply disappointed.
Seems to me that Russian SF publishers are focused only on Anglo-American SF and niglegt all the rest. I, of course, can read French but my French is still not that good to get entartained by the reading. It will be rather a hard work on dictionaries.

 

[Leto]

Noticed one bug in my above post.

Malville was written by Robert Merle. Too long ago I read it!!!

No prob, note that's the only "SF" book of him.

 

[Leto]

What a pity of things!

On Russian servers I found only several references to the names of the French SF-authors and a single short review giving a dosen names with Wagner and Evangelisti included. Not a single reference to Arnaud. No items in e-shops, no information on publications. Nothing! I am deeply disappointed.
Seems to me that Russian SF publishers are focused only on Anglo-American SF and niglegt all the rest. I, of course, can read French but my French is still not that good to get entartained by the reading. It will be rather a hard work on dictionaries.

You can try Arnaud then. It's the one of the easier to read as contrary to most French author, he doesn't play pun too much.

Have a look there : http://www.gutenberg.org/ there's a ton of references, although quite old.

 

[Stalker]

Thanks, I surely will. The site you mentioned I also know.

 

[ravenus]

Of course, Pierr Boulle was translated many times into Russian and Ukrainian

The Planet of Apes - Hollywood versions suck

I read this one in English...it's a really nice book, somewhat in the H.G. Wells vein. The part where the protagonist plays all these mind-games with the apes as a demonstration of his rational thinking is really well-written. Love the end as well.

 

[Stalker]

A huge person in Soviet SF was Ivan Yefremov. He was a famous geologist and paleontologist - one of the discoverers of Jurassic fossils in Gobi desert.
Although in his writings, he was unable to escape completely the stereotypes inhereny to Soviet SF, he, nonetheless, was a great philosopher of SF. His novels "Andromeda", "Heart of the Serpant" (both translated to English) were that particluar impetus that triggered the start of Golden Era in Soviet SF. The motif of "Andromeda" can be found in the Hollyood movie-picture "Pitch Black" with Vin Diesel starring (2000).
His "Time of the Bull" frightened Soviet oligarchs so badly that they ordered that the book be seized from the libraries.
He also written several historical novels:
The Baurjed's Travel - About the Egyptian expedition to Tansania
At the Edge of Eucumena - Breathtaking Adventures of the Greek sculpturer Pandion from the Island of Crete to the River Congo and back home.
Thais of Athens - About the famous hetera who initiated the fire of Persepol and became the wife of Ptolemies, the Alexnder's diadoch.

 

[Leto]

Just found on the Web, this list of existing translations :

"Unraveling the Thread" - English translation of "Déchiffrer la Trame" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in the July 1998 issue (No. 133) of Interzone (Great Britain). Voted best short story of the year in an Interzone readership survey. Also published in The Year's Best Science Fiction 4, edited by David Hartwell, Harper Prism (New York), 1999. Also published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"The Sea Below" - English translation of "L?-bas, la mer" by Francine Pelletier, published in Tesseracts8, Tesseract Books (Canada), 1999.
"Footprints in the Snow" - English translation of "Nos traces dans la neige" by Jean Claude Dunyach, published in the December 1999 issue (No. 150) of Interzone (Great Britain). Also published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"Station of the Lamb" - English translation of " La Station de l'agnelle" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in the Fall 2000 issue (special double issue No. 6 & No. 7) of Altair (Australia). Also published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"All the Roads to Heaven" - English translation of "Tous les chemins du ciel" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published the June 2000 issue (No. 156) of Interzone (Great Britain). Also published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"The Sign Makers" - English translation of "Les fabricants de signes" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in Wojtek Siudmak's "Album 6" (an album of Siudmak's illustrations), 2000.
"Flickering" - English translation of "Scintillements" by Ayerdhal, published the May 2001 issue (No. 167) of Interzone (Great Britain).
"Watch Me When I Sleep" - English translation of "Regarde-moi quand je dors" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in the December 2001 issue (No. 174) of Interzone (Great Britain). Also published in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 15, edited by Ellen Datlow, Griffin, August 2002. Also published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"Enter the Worms" - English translation of "L'heure des vers" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in Summer 2002 issue (Vol. 14, No. 2) of On Spec (Canada). Also published as "Time for Worms" in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"Useless Nights" - English translation of "Les nuits inutiles" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"Shark" - English translation of "La Strat?gie du Requin" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.
"Sandswimmers" - English translation of "Les Nageurs du sable" by Jean-Claude Dunyach, published in The Night Orchid: Conan Doyle in Toulouse, Black Coat Press, 2004.

Jean-Claude Dunyach is a contemporary French sci-fi "poet" althoughn writing in prose. The Black Coat Press edition is an on-line publisher specialized in the translation of French sci-fi into english, you can check them here : http://www.blackcoatpress.com/

 

[Stalker]

Thanks, ma chére Leto.
I've already found that Jean-Claude Dunyach's Orchids in the Night has been translated into Russian and even read the exerpt chapter. Intriguing and using Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle's motifs mixed with those of Jules Verne. Such a retrospection into past is becoming extremely popular now. Remember the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?

 

[Leto]

De rien,
The movie no, the original comics by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill yes. And still waiting for the 3rd volume.

Just finish Dunyach's last short stories collection : Le temps, en s'évaporant.... Very interesting, with two most funny : one explain where aliens lies on Earth and why they didn't choose to invade, and another one on how Jackson filmed the Moria fight in LOTR.