MORE stories by Filipino science-fiction, fantasy and speculative-fiction writers are garnering success among Czech publishers.
Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša Jr. said during the launch of Best Philippine Speculative Fiction Vol. 10 that there is now greater appreciation in their country for Filipino fiction.
“I am really pleased to announce that an anthology of Southeast Asian steampunk stories entitled SEA Is Ours, which that was published only last November, will see its Czech edition this month,” Olša said.
Not only is the Czech edition the very first translation of this important book, but it will also be the debut of five Filipino writers in Czech translations. Three of these authors—regularly featured in the Best of Philippine Speculative Fiction volumes—whose works are included in the Czech translation, are Kate Osias, author of The Unmaking of Cuadro Amoroso; Timothy Dimacali, who wrote On the Consequence of Sound; and Paolo Chikiamco, author of Between Severed Souls.
The Czech edition, published by Gorgona publishing house, is titled Krocení Sopek, after the story Chasing the Volcanoes written by US-based Marilag Angway. Furthermore, Czech readers also have the chance to learn a bit more about Philippine mythical creatures with Alessa Hinlo’s story, The Last Aswang.
Gorgona publishing house editor Hana Fruhwirtová said she loved that every story was totally different, and the anthology itself well-balanced and compact with volcanic energy, primeval forests’ monsters, mechanical insects and heroines full of energy, creating an extraordinary and fantastic mix.
It is not the first time Philippine speculative-fiction writers have seen Czech translation. Last year the special issue of the Czech-translated literature monthly Plav, entitled “Literatura ng Pilipinas,” published two stories from Philippine writers Rochita Loenen-Ruiz and Crystal Koo.
The forthcoming issue of Plav, which will present the selection of Asian science fiction in translation, will also carry stories by Andrew Drillon and most likely a short piece by internationally acclaimed writer from Mindanao Kristine Ong, as well.
One of the oldest existing European science-fiction monthlies, XB-1, which has been running since 1990, will have a short story by Francis Dean Alfar translated into Czech later this year by well-known Czech writer Ondřej Neff, who visited the Philippines last year. With these works in the pipeline, the number of Philippine speculative-fiction writers, whose works have seen Czech translations, will rise to 10 in just a span of one year.
And, perhaps, this number is not final yet, as Jan Kravčík, the translator, said: “While translating the book, I have discovered the whole new world—fascinating and captivating world of Philippine mythology.” He adds: “I am sure this is not my last encounter with Philippine fantastic literature.”