Science fiction in Europe
Introductions
The development of science fiction and fantasy in Bulgaria
Khristo D. Poshtakov
The first book of science-fiction to appear in Bulgaria was published in 1880. It was Jules Verne’s Around the world in 80 days. Twenty five years later most books of this author had been published, as those of Herbert G. Wells, Andre Lory, Mora Yokay, Edward Belamy, Jonatan Swift, Paolo Montegazi and other writers of the style. Somewhat later were Publisher fantasy Works by Jack London and Edgar Allan Poe. The first Bulgarian story of science-fiction has been written in 1899 by Ivan Vazov and its title was “The last day of XXth century”. In this story one describes a trip of the Bulgarian king through the city of Sofia (Bulgarian capital city) which, in the future, has arrived at an “enormous” population: 350 000 habitants! Sofia has developed much and shows buildings and beautiful palaces, paved streets and beautiful gardens. Conversations at a distance from the king’s palace are carried through a “phonograph”, cars move driven by steam machines. The only realized prediction of the author was the return of monarchy, as the royalist party has won the 2001 elections and the Bulgarian king Simeon, exiled in Spain since 1948 (he is cousin of the Spanish king Juan Carlos) came back to take the Prime Minister office....
Bulgarian science fiction
The yellow pages
Websites. Magazines. Fanzines. Clubs. Writers. Young/Semiprofessional Writers. Translators. Publishers.
Science fiction in Croatia
Introduction by Aleksandar Žiljak
Although the elements of fantastic and speculative in the Croatian literature can be traced back to the years around World War I, probably the first Croatian SF novel was Na Pacifiku 2255 (On The Pacific In 2255) by Milan Šufflay, published in 1924. In 1932 Mato Hanžekovic published Gospodin covjek (A Man Of Rank), a utopia about a group of people rebuilding the civilisation destroyed in the new world war. Even more novels were published in Zagreb during the 1920s and 1930s, mostly by authors using pen names or altogether omitting to sign themselves....
The Shape of Danish Science Fiction 1741 - 2000
Introduction by H.H Lřyche
Why 1741? As a modernistic literary offspring, the history of science fiction hardly dates back more than a century. You may define the beginning as early as Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein (1818) or as late as Hugo Gernsback’s introduction of the word scientifiction (1926). But long before our tradition, the satire counted a number of untimedly, fantastic ideas. Ignorant of his future collegues, Lucian of Samosata (app. 120-180 AD) send people to the Moon, and Voltaire (1694-1778) let aliens from outer space pay us a visit....
Science fiction in Romania
New english section on SFera Online
Marian Taralunga: Hi friends, we have opened a new corner on our website - the english section.
Most of you know that few years back we used to run a brother website called "Imagikon". At that time, we had an important number of contributors from all over the world.
We start off again, embedding the english written novels within our romanian language website.
We`ll try to publish all the stories / poems / essays / articles that were posted on Imagikon as well as your new contributions from nowadays.
Find us here:
www.sferaonline.ro/sectiuni/english
If the section becomes robust enough, we`ll move it under a much friendlier name. Enjoy!