ommadawn.dk - Danish

Niels Klim Award presented

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Danish, Science fiction

Saturday 8 June the winners of this year's Niels Klim Award were announced, and the (physical) prizes were given out in a succesful ceremony during the annual Danish science fiction convention, Dancon.

The winners are:

Novella:

"M�nebase R�dh�tte" ("Moonbase Little Red Riding Hood"), Lars Ahn Pedersen, M�nebase R�dh�tte

Novelette:

"Fredag formiddag" ("Friday Morning"), Jesper Rug�rd Jensen, Fremmed stjerne (Alien Star)

Novelle:

"Jeg husker alt" ("I Remember Everything"), Richard Ipsen, Fremmed stjerne

The prize is given out annually after nomination and voting among Danish science fiction readers. This was the second time the prize was given out. Last year the prize was split between Danes and foreigners (Alastair Reynolds won in the category Novella); this year all 3 winners are Danes.

The 3 categories together cover shorter science fiction texts (less than 40,000 words) published in Danish for the first time the previous year.

The practical circumstances are mostly handled by Lise Andreasen (member of Science Fiction Cirklen among other qualifications), and her blog is the primary information source.

Lars Ahn Pedersen
Large format

Jesper Rug�rd Jensen
Large format

Carl-Eddy Skovgaard accepted the award on behalf of Richard Ipsen; Carl-Eddy was editor for Fremmed stjerne.

All 3 winners
Large format

Niels Klim Award, the ceremony

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Danish, Science fiction

Denne artikel kan ogs� l�ses p� dansk.

As previously noted, the Niels Klim Award has been given out. The ceremony was a success. For those who couldn't be there, or don't understand Danish, below are some pictures. The words are also there, as a translation of the notes I followed.

Pictures taken by Niels Dalgaard

Intro

Last year Lise Andreasen talked to various fans and everyone liked the idea.

How could you not? This would present a chance for A. Silvestri and Lars Ahn Pedersen to both receive a price the same year.

The committee consists of Knud Larn, Joen juel Jensen and Lise.
Part of the prize is an offer of a translation done by Michael Pilgaard. It is an opportunity for the authors to have their stories placed in for example Asimov�s.
The physical Price has been designed by Manfred Christansen, and is sponsored by Science Fiction Cirklen.

Lise will go through them all, because they are all great.

Novella

4th place

Breve fra en udenjordisk skoledreng (Letters from an Alien Schoolboy), Ros Asquith
An extraterrestrial boy travels with his family to Great Britain and describes his experiences and observations in letters to his friend, living on another planet. (Source: jagoo.)

Two authors left. Please come up here.

Mutagen (Mutagenic), Jonas Wilmann
Something�s wrong in Denmark� and the rest of the world. The youngsters have run amok. It began as minor episodes of violence and vandalism, it has now escalated into a regular war in the streets of Denmark. The youngsters aren�t just angry, they are mad, borderline insane, they froth at the mouth and their veins are pulsing , and their muscles are almost exploding out of their bodies. (Source: apokalyptisk.)

"Skjul" ("Hideaway"), Alastair Reynolds, Vejen mellem stjernerne (The Road between The Stars)
Both humans and Huskers are space-faring species travelling long distances in sub-light ships. There is a faster way. A long gone alien species threaded the galaxy with a fast transit system, if you can gain access to it. In 'Hideaway', the humans have to decide whether to hide or run. (Source: sf crow's nest.)

"Minlas blomster" ("Minla's Flowers"), Alastair Reynolds, Vejen mellem stjernerne (The Road between The Stars)
Merlin lands on a planet beset by civil war and ends up helping one faction in bid to unite the planet in time for the population to escape an impending catastrophe. Merlin goes in to hibernation and only wakes up to check on progress every 20 years � so he, and we, witness repeatedly the unintended consequences of his attempts to help. There is a clear nod to Maggie Thatcher in the character of Minla, and the whole thing is thought-provoking and depressing in equal measure. (Source: book geeks.)

3rd place, Mutagen
Shared 1st place, Skjul, Minlas blomster

Novelette

"Glemmer du s� husker jeg alt" ("If you forget I will remember everything"), A. Silvestri, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)
A Grim and horrible story about suppression and violence. The totalitarian violence reflects itself in the story of a violent relationship. It is a profound character driven story. (Source: gravko.)
Withdrawn because of other novelettes by the same author.

"Det lille billede" ("The small picture"), A. Silvestri, Faderens s�nner (The Sons of The Father)
The author likes the novellette ("Det lille billede") about cuteness and genetic manipulation. (Source: interview.)
Withdrawn because of other novelettes by the same author.

Two authors left. Please come up here.

"Merlins kanon" ("Merlin's Gun"), Alastair Reynolds, Vejen mellem stjernerne (The Road between The Stars)
In �Merlin�s Gun�, he is seeking a weapon of incalculable power to save humanity from the Huskers. (Source: bookgeeks.)

"Faderens s�nner" ("The Sons of The Father"), A. Silvestri, Faderens s�nner (The Sons of The Father)
The title novelette tells the story (through generations) of how earth one day receives an ultimatum from a foreign intelligence. In 250 years earth will be taken from us. The ultimate goal however is not to exterminate us, we will get another planet instead. But how to get there, is our problem. The novelette shows with cruel clarity how egotistic the human race is, and the ending isn�t exactly optimistic. (Source: litteratursiden.)

2nd place, Merlins kanon
1nd place, Faderens s�nner

Short Story

"Snuppet i tolden" ("Apprehended in customs"), Lise Andreasen, Det sker igen (It Happens Again)
One of the architects behind the 100 % certain system to prevent immigration into Demark is himself stopped in customs. He is of course certain the system will correct its mistake soon, but what if it didn�t? (Source: gyseren.dk.)
Withdrawn from the nomination, to avoid a conflict of interest.
Dansk Horror Selskabs (Danish Horror Society�s) newly instituted price �rets danske horrorudgivelse (Horror Publication of The Year), Det sker igen is a nominee.

Shared 4th place

"Det danske till�g" ("The Danish Addendum "), Manfred Christiansen, Science fiction no. 18
Is taking its beginning in Isack Asimovs Three laws of Robotics, but of course Denmark instates her own ten addendums, among others Robots are nothing, robots are never cleverer than humans and no robot is smarter than humans. The story takes its beginning with two robots trying to exchange jokes, without trespassing on the addendums. To such a degree that you are reminded about "Who�s on first?". (Source: Proxima 93.)

"Himmelflugt" ("Soaring"), Camilla Wandahl, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)
After the earth's ecological collaps. Possibly more suiting in the category �The Digital life� (Source: gravko.)

"Den sidste mark�r" ("The Last marker"), Gudrun �stergaard, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)
It becomes even more current, due to toe recent election (2011). (Source: litteratursiden.)

"Grimpeur", Glen Stihm�e, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)
Considerations on aliens and bike races. (Source: litteratursiden.)

"Ingen vej tilbage" ("No Way Back"), Niels E. Nielsen, Klode til salg (Planet For Sale)
What is a time traveler to do? When the past comes to life, in the guise, of starving children, in danger of death.

"Mordet p� Mads" ("The Murder of Mads"), Flemming Rasch, Det sker igen (It Happens Again)
... in a simple and almost vague language, this is a story of Mads, who isnt good enough in school, and therefore must be destroyed. At first he succeeds but he is turned in, by everyone. Later he comes back though. (Source: Horsens Bibliotek.)

"Spr�kker" ("Rifts"), Gudrun �stergaard, Det sker igen (It Happens Again)
... a terrible tale on the other side of the Milgram experiment. (Source: forfatteren.)

3rd place

"Delte Kroppe" ("Shared bodies"), Kristian Peter Sj�gren, Ti Noveller Fra Fantasiens Univers (en Short Stories from the Book of Fantasy)
akob shared his body with a smoker. He always made sure, he had an abundant surply of chewing gum, at the ready, to remove the foul stench of ash tray. Jacob went through the same routine every day. When he Took Over the body from the other user, he began his day by throwing tree pieces of gum in his mouth, before he went to the bathroom. (Source: quote.)

Two authors left. Please come up here.

"En helt almindelig d�d" ("A Completely Ordinary Death"), Lars Ahn Pedersen, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)
Imagine a world where death is extinct. You just keep on living, and if you got seriously hurt in an accident, you would without further ado, be reloaded, and able to live on. To Piet life has become too lackluster, and he wishes to truly die. But it requires a special license and the aid of a specialized company. (Source: Den elektriske kanin.)

"Homo arachnida", Michael Kamp, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)
Earth has been occupied by aliens. Easily read, good horror story. (Source: gravko.)

Shared 1st place

Final words

Niels Klim Award, announcement

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Danish, Science fiction

Saturday 2 June the winners of this year's Niels Klim Award were announced, and the (physical) prizes were given out in a succesful ceremony.

The winners are:

Novella:

"Skjul" ("Hideaway"), Alastair Reynolds, Vejen mellem stjernerne (The Road between The Stars)
"Minlas blomster" ("Minla's Flowers"), Alastair Reynolds, Vejen mellem stjernerne (The Road between The Stars)

Novelette:

"Faderens s�nner" ("The Sons of The Father"), A. Silvestri, Faderens s�nner (The Sons of The Father)

Short story:

"En helt almindelig d�d" ("A completely ordinary death"), Lars Ahn Pedersen, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)
"Homo arachnida", Michael Kamp, Den nye koloni (The New Colony)

The prize was given out for the first time this year. It was very positive, that Alastair Reynolds was present to receive his prize in person.

The 3 categories together cover shorter science fiction texts (less than 40,000 words) published in Danish for the first time.

The prize has been created by fandon, and the best texts are nominated by fans; fans also choose the winners. The practical circumstances are mostly handled by Lise Andreasen (member of Science Fiction Cirklen among other qualifications), and her blog is the primary information source.

More information about the award here:

http://www.ommadawn.dk/sfpris2011/

Reflections

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of �Refleksioner� (�Reflections�), by Stig W. J�rgensen, read in Det virtuelle cocktailparty (The Virtual Cocktail Party).

Outline: Longer and shorter articles about time grammar, SF swearwords, and other stuff. Some of these are from the blog Ekkorummet (Echo space).

Is it good? As I've noted earlier, I find Stig intelligent, a good writer, etc. (Or, I think I've said it earlier. Or, maybe that was on another time line?) So it's just yummy to get some more. At the same time, it's nice to know that, if there's not enough Proximas in the world, you can just read Ekkorummet, too. And then I have to admit, that even though I'm subscribed to Ekkorummet, there's a lot here I hadn't read before. Even though I'm very much for stuff being available electronically, and read short stories and novels electronically, there's something about long blog posts that takes it out of me. Blog posts are supposed to be short; that's my state of mind, when I read blogs. So hurray for a second chance to read it here!

Note: I've also read the 2 remaining parts of the book, even though I haven't talked about them ("Portr�tter"/�Portraits� and "Punktnedslag"/�Hitting points�). I'm just not saying anything about them, because I'm not a big lover of Erwin Neutzsky-Wullf, Brian W. Aldiss, Samuel R. Delany, John Crowley, Arthur C. Clarke, interviews, and reviews. But, I'm very flattered to see my own name on p 293. Blush ...

Alternatives

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of �Alternativer� (�Alternatives�), by Stig W. J�rgensen, read in Det virtuelle cocktailparty (The Virtual Cocktail Party).

Outline: A beginner's article about what alternate history / alternate worlds are, and 3 reviews of 1 anthology and 4 novels within this genre.

Is it good? Well, I like when stuff is grouped nicely. And the intro, drawing threads back to history, physics, psychology, and philosophy/linguistics is pure gold for me; and on top of that, I know these fields quite well, already. Things just fall into place, and I can read (or reread) the following reviews from a new angle. Ah, so that's why it's one thing, when a world not at all like ours still has a Kennedy, and another when a world is like ours most of the way. At the same time, the grouping fits some ideas I already have about grouping SF, in general. The right thing at the right time.

Universes

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of �Universer� (�Universes�), by Stig W. J�rgensen, read in Det virtuelle cocktailparty (The Virtual Cocktail Party).

Outline: Universer af papir -- en introduktion til science fiction (Universes of Paper -- An Introduction to Science Fiction) was published as a book originally, and now it rises again as the beginning of an essay collection. The genre is split into 5 groups (the political future novel; space; time; the changed man and man's creations; and end of the road), which again are split, and finally represented by books, which are summarized and linked with other books out there. The purpose is to let newbies see what SF can do at it's best (in Danish), thereby getting a better view, in general.

Is it good? I'm new enough for this to feel just right. I've read some of the book, the rest is put on my shopping list for later. Stig seems like a seasoned reader, able to pass on his knowledge and overview. -- The content is presented clearly, with page numbers and new-pages in the right places. -- And yes, of course, there are small laughs and missteps: the trees shouldn't grow into the sky. I haven't seen, elsewhere, that people from Mars are humans, and I'm surprised Verne isn't mentioned; not even with a note explaining his absence. (Wells is here.) There are a few spelling errors here and there, mixing singular and plural, and common gender and the neuter. But it's not much, just enough to bother my inner editor. And it's a question of taste, whether you need that many exclamation points. There's linguistic energy for talking about humans and dolphins, �wanting to get their hands (etc.) on� something. He. -- So, let me say it again: this is just right.

Doing Many Odd Things

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of Mange s�re ting for (Doing Many Odd Things), by Svend �ge Madsen.

Outline: An atheist writer gets an assignment from God: write a defense of God. And right after �rhus Festuge (�rhus Festival) there's a body, dangling from the top of a church spire.

Is it SF? Well. There are some predecessors, clearly SF (Mnemosynes b�rn, Lad tiden g�), and looking-at-the-past machines and, indeed, playing havoc with time plays a certain part. But, I still have some doubts, though I can't quite say why.

Themes: The deceased, dangling from the church spire, was called Adam. With Holger and Hanumag, he was very much into a project where you could look at the Earth 2,000 years ago. Even more to the point: what did Jesus do exactly? But now Adam is dead, and Holger and Hanumag have disappeared. Their 3 students, Dja'far, Klaus and Devala respectively come to �rhus, to figure out what happened. -- Felia is trying to solve the murder, that's already been committed, and a few more that happen later. -- A different project altogether is to find the truth about Jesus through DNA analysis. -- Here and there and everywhere there's foreboding, fun with time, destiny etc. -- The writing is full of half sentences, words tripping over each other etc.

Is it good? I have a clear sense that there's more to this book than I could wrestle from it. And I constantly tripped over words. But, I am left with a somewhat clear image of the plot (why and how did Adam die, etc.), and that's cool.

Note: The name of the book is from the Bible, Ecclesiastes 7:29, King James version: �Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.� By some freak of interpretation, in (old) Danish �sought out many inventions� becomes �doing many odd things�.

Both-And Monday

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of Baade-Og Mandag (Both-And Monday) (gratis), by Jesper Knallhatt - Lene Andersen.

Outline: Celebrity Cornelius and journalist Tenna have a long talk. Or rather, Jesper Knallhatt has written a long talk between two fictitious persons. Or rather, editor Pamfilia Severinsen finally publishes the manuscript of Knallhatt in 2035. -- Knallhatt is sort of a mystery, it might be a pseudonym. Or rather, Lene Andersen holds the copyright for a novel, with the names Jesper Knallhatt and Pamfilia Severinsen on the cover.

Is it SF? Even though it pretends to be science, interviews and other stuff (non-fact in other words), then yes, it's a novel, and it's SF. Both �writers� refer to stuff we know hasn't happened (yet). So we're in something like an alternate history / the future.

Themes: As the book says: 'Using the headlines What are we Doing? How is Everything Connected? Who are We? the book describes the latest technological development, as well as theories of the �mechanisms�, according to which the world develops: chaos theory, complexity theory, and the theory of scalable networks. The book also has 15 hypotheses for societal and global development, and finally, the book ends with a tour de force through the idea history of the last 2,500 years.'

Is it good? No. It's kind of fun reading 2035-Danish, that's much closer to English than 2010-Danish. Then it got a little tiring reading Tenna and Cornelius fight (�I want to interview you�, �well, you can't�). And when it finally got rolling, it was just a long speech from Cornelius (even though Pamfilia meddles with small footnotes that are kind of funny). A lot of tell, not a lot of show. So I only reached page 35 of 409. Which is sad, because I know this series is about stuff, I find exciting! It's just very un-excitingly presented.

Behind the Sky

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of �Bag himlen� (�Behind the Sky�), by Richard Ipsen, read in Dr�mmetid (Dreamtime).

Outline: He's always on the move, but finds peace under the starry night sky.

Is it SF? Astronomy, discovering life in space etc. Oh yeah!

Themes: Communication galore. The narrator communicates with Karoline a lot, even though she's deaf. And they both communicate with beings on another planet. But others don't communicate that well.

Is it good? A good short story from a good collection, yes, baby!

Russian Roulette

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of "Russisk roulette" (�Russian Roulette�), by Maria Kj�r Madsen, read in Ingenmandsland (No man's country).

Outline: Kimberley takes another walk in her virtual rain forest, while she's waiting to trade it for something more exciting.

Is it SF? One aspect of virtuality we haven't seen before, and another kind of society: yes.

Themes: Should you do what you love, or what you're good at? And, if the answer implies boredom, isn't it okay to look for the ultimate excitement/thrill? The two themes are connected. Students can both get bored studying and look for excitement elsewhere, in some virtual reality / internet / something environment. -- The characters have English names: Kimberley, Jim, Melanie, Casper.

Is it good? I want people to be able to live the best possible lives that they can, seen from within; so I'm shocked when somebody says otherwise. I would feel bad if I could only study what others said was best for me. So the short story shocks me in the best possible way. At the same time, I have small annoyances: why is only one half of the theme (the ultimate excitement) still with us on the last page? And why do the characters have English names, when there's no other reference to where the short story is taking place, and the characters could be from all over the world and speak random languages? But mostly: satisfying, and a good short story from an author, I will pay more attention to in the future.

Eyes in the sky

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of �jne (Eyes) (free), by Lars A.R. Stender.

Outline: 2026. Todd, NASA-flightcontroller. NASA and ESA working together. Mission to the Moon. And then the team disappears.

Is it science fiction? Mission to the Moon in the future: check.

Themes: NASA and ESA have to work together, because USA isn't as strong as it used to be. There's actually a possibility the Chinese "vanished" the NASA/ESA team. On the 14th hand: it could be E.T.? Luckily we know from Roswell that E.T. can't handle our bacteria, so we're prepared if the threat is coming from there. -- There's also a fantastic super plane, and a man with pathces on his eyes.

Is it good? No. That's the short version. I only got about 100 pages into this 565 page giant. My primary problem is the language. 1st sentence on 1st page: "The ghostly, taunting and hungry atmospheric noise filled earth controls command center." My, that's a clever noise! And before getting much further, there's an infodump (on page 2!), and English expressions weirdly translated. Americans calculate amounts in DKK. On yeah, and suddenly there's an all knowing narrator, commenting, that a certain line of thought isn't a waste of time (I doubt the thinker would think this). -- On top of that it feels like painful recycling, that E.T. can't handle a cold. -- The back of the book tells me, that there will be a new mission to the Moon, and the one with the eye patches will join it. But more than 100 pages into the book, there's a huge gallery of people still being introduced (presidents, flight leaders, astronauts etc.). So I stopped reading. -- It's interesting, that USA isn't a super power anymore, and yes, I would have liked to know, what was going on on the Moon. But I didn't have the energy.

Bald heroes

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Science fiction, Star Trek

I am risking repeating myself, but: There's just not enough stories with Kirk and Spock! And the same can be said for other characters from Star Trek, like Picard. But this is being remedied, in the short story "Den skaldede fris�r" ("The bald hairdresser"), in Novum no. 95.

Climate heroes

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Danish, Science fiction, Star Trek

There's just not enough stories with Kirk and Spock! And the same could be said for other heroes, like Frodo. But this situation is now remedies, in the short story Alle helte forener Eder (All heroes join together).

Neo is just being naughty

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Could it be, that Neo in Matrix is Christ, actually? Or Antichrist? Maybe he's Shiva? Or Jahwe? Or should we look for him quite a different place -- maybe the head of the postmodernist Baudrillard?

These are some of the questions Rune Engelbreth Larsen tries to answer in Matrix og ulydighedens evangelium (Matrix and the gospel of disobedience) (free).

I'm fascinated with the fact, that the answers to all of these questions seems to be "no", and that the answer should be found in quite a different place. Religion is important, yes. But there's faith, hope and love -- especially love. Neo loves Trinity so much, that he's willing to sacrifice the rest of the world to save her life. Integrity and personal freedom are important as well. The human being, as an individual, colors all of the world, as portrayed in Matrix I-III.

Disobedience becomes a key word in the world, Neo rules.

From the content, I would certainly recommend this book for the Matrix lovers out there. The text has a few minor errors -- spelling mistakes and repetitions, but luckily not that much.

But let me repeat: if you know Matrix, you will also love this book.

The secret travels

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Danish, Me, Review, Science fiction

Review of "Smoke and travel" ("Ryg og rejs") by H. H. L�yche, read in The secret valley (Den hemmelige dal).

Outline: Have you ever tried waking up, not knowing where you are? Henning has, and he tells us exactly what that's like.

Is it science fiction? Henning has slipped a little sideways, into a parallel world, and the differences have a lot to do with technology. So, yes.

Themes: If you don't count Denmark being larger and happier in this parallel version, the biggest difference probably is, that you pop pills for many more things in this world, and the propaganda associated with that phenomenon: pills are good, and you have a lot of problems, only pills can cure. And how free is a world, if the propaganda squeezes you from the outside, and the pills from the inside?

Is it good? Another excellent story from this writer.

Note: And that means you should be able to buy The secret valley (Den hemmelige dal) today. Exciting to have a short story of my own in print, for the first time!