New Books

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Your free copy The best of the latest swedish literature, selected by independent columnists sofia gydemo, Alexandra Sundqvist and björn kohlström, presented by the swedish arts council. new Swedish Books Prose Poetry Children’s and Young Adult Literature Comics swedish l i t e r at u r e exchange Autumn 2015 Autumn 2015 Welcome to a new autumn of Swedish books! We presume that you as a reader are interested in what’s new in Swedish literature, which books are published, and what the trends are at the moment. But we also believe that you are interested in which of all these books you need to take a closer look at, which books will affect people in some way, books that you most need to read in your own language. This publication is intended as a guide to help you find what you are looking for. The selection is an expression of the columnists’ personal opinions on what they view as the best books published in Sweden during this autumn. The selection does not cover all books published, or the bestselling books or the most popular ones abroad. The selection of books for children and young adults has been made by Sofia Gydemo, librarian at the Swedish Institute for Children’s Books. Prose and poetry have been selected by Björn Kohlström, critic and teacher. Comic books and graphic novels have been chosen by Alexandra Sundqvist, journalist. This issue also features a report from the Swedish Institute of Children’s books. Every year they conduct the Book Tasting, a survey of all the children’s and YA books published in Sweden in the previous year. Illustration from The Most Boring Day by Jonas Lindén (text), Mia Nilsson (ill) In the back you will find the contact details to the publishers and rights holders as well as information about all our international literature grants for translation, projects, events and travel. More information about the Swedish Arts Council’s work with international literature exchange can be found online, along with previous editions of New Swedish Books at www.swedishliterature.se. Susanne Bergström Larsson, Project Manager for Swedish Literature Exchange, Swedish Arts Council Enjoy! Autumn 2015 New swedish books Contents 40 Chapter Books 48 Young adult fiction 4 prose 22 Poetry 56 66 comics Book Tasting Publishers and rights holders 28 Children’s and young adult literature 30 Picture books 70 Publishers and rights holders Grants 72 Grants New swedish books Autumn 2015 Essay writing has become more popular in recent years, as evidenced by several of the books this autumn. Prose The imagination What distinguishes contemporary Swedish prose writing is the distinct desire to experiment and not be satisfied with simply describing a set of events. Under the guise of realism many Swedish authors are currently examining such matters that borders on improbability, or even the illusory. It’s all happening within a newly awakened sense of delight at the possibilities of fiction.   The grand master of imagination in Swedish literature is the ever resourceful and productive Lars Gustafsson, who works across several genres. In his new novel he plays freely and highly comically with identity and with moments of self-improvement offered to those who want to reinvent themselves. Kristofer Folkhammar depicts a world where everything is turned upside down when he describes a school where sadomasochistic homosexual rituals have become the norm. Jonas Hassen Khemiri steers clear of any simplifications in his new novel. It’s a love story that utilizes a full arsenal of narrative techniques and inventive tricks. The impression that persists is one of a rigorous debate about the new world economy. conventions that hamper their development. Both pursue a political discussion with unconventional methods. History In this autumn’s novels, history is depicted both factually and fictitiously. Carola Hansson, writing her third novel about the Tolstoy family, focusing this time on one of the daughters, delivers a traditional historical novel. She consistently succeeds in presenting and bringing to life the past in a most impressive manner. Aris Fioretos dispenses a slightly less traditional historical novel with an equal sense of poise, starting from a fictional character but placing him in a real world scenario; the 1970s as dominated by the military junta. His novel challenges the conditions of the historical novel. The Essay Essay writing has become more popular in recent years, as evidenced by several of the books this autumn. Tomas Lappalainen writes intimately and openly about his own aging, all with a sense of unexpected humour guiding him towards insights the reader can revel in. Jesper Svenbro’s lifelong interest in the poet Sappho is assembled in a text that moves from literary theory to intimate accounts of reading experiences. Finally Karin Johannisson describes in her new book three creative women who periodically spent time in a mental hospital. We’re presented with a piece of medical history that also considers the conditions during the twentieth century for female artists. The thriving art of the short story The short story has, since the nineties, held a strong position in Swedish literature. Amongst this autumn’s books, Åsa Foster’s second collection is worth singling out for its piercing gaze on human relationships. Sven Olov Karlsson has the ability to combine the journalist’s observant eye on our times with the ability to give his story a fictitious framework. Reportage meets short story in his unique collection. The most experienced of all the short story writers this autumn is Cecilia Davidsson, whose writing is condensed but still holds generous scope for interpretation. Contemporary life The task of putting a finger on the pulse of contemporary life is confidently given to Jonas Karlsson and Linna Johansson. Both make present day issues understandable and urgent. Karlsson’s quick-witted novel about a shopping centre that introduces a shameful punishment system demonstrates how easy it is for good intentions to spiral out of control, yet the novel firmly keeps its focus on the debate about punishment and guilt. Johansson’s novel argues for the rights of young women to break free from 4 Jonas Hassen Khemiri, photo: Martin Stenmark Absurd humour Two of this crop of debut novelists explore elements of farce in their writing. The first novel from the well-reputed cartoonist Martin Kellerman walks the same tightrope between laughter and melancholy that’s present in his comics, in a story that takes unexpected turns. In the case of Malin Axelsson, she has written an anarchic tale with a strong feminist edge. Both of these writers bestow their stories with a linguistic form that’s original and ambitious, yet also freed from conventional rules. Autumn 2015 New swedish books Jonas Hassen Khemiri All I Can’t Remember Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Ahlander Agency All I Can’t Remember Photo: Martin Stenmark An author attempts to reconstruct the last day of the deceased Samuel’s life. Was it suicide or an accident? What role was played by the girlfriend Laide and the end of their relationship? What role did the friend Vandad play, who may have been in love with Samuel? From this presumably fictional documentary material a dark labyrinth emerges, gradually resembling a lattice of unreliable memories and misleading rumours. What’s demonstrated here is just how difficult it is to trust another human being. Bound together with great linguistic flair, the internationally acclaimed Jonas Hassen Khemiri returns to the novel form with this story of contemporary life, where the truth is as difficult to capture as the lie. Aris Fioretos Mary Norstedts Rights: Hedlund Literary agency One of the most spine-chilling novels this year is set during the early seventies in an unnamed country. Mary, a student, is taken by the military to an island where she, together with five other women, is set to work on readying cells for new prisoners. Her abduction takes place on the very same day she finds out that she’s pregnant; a secret that’s becoming increasingly difficult to hide in an environment filled with uncertainty, exhaustion, hunger and pain – the latter the result of the torture carried out by the military. The reader shares this uncertainty, only slowly becoming aware of what’s going on. These horrors are juxtaposed with the friendship that the women develop. Aris Fioretos has written a tightly knit political novel in a prose that’s restrained yet witty, and in a precise style that depicts how hard it is to make reasonable choices in an unreasonable world. Mary Photo: Caroline Andersson The Wounded Diva 6 on the links between madness and creativity, where we are presented on the one hand with a historical overview of twentieth century psychiatry and on the other an intimate examination of the conditions at the time for creative women. With a touch as light as it is elegant, our eyes are opened to something that was previously concealed. Photo: David Brandt Karin Johannisson The Wounded Diva: On the Aesthetics of the Mind Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Albert Bonniers Förlag Three creative women – three diagnoses. The novelist Agnes von Krusenstjerna, the artist Sigrid Hjertén, and the poet Nelly Sachs. All of them spend periods of time in the mental hospital Beckomberga. Starting from their medical journals, Karin Johannisson, a professor in the history of science and ideas, recounts their medical histories. But it’s also a perceptive essay 7 New swedish books Autumn 2015 friends the Hyenas. The dreamily poetic events are given an unexpected distinction in Kristofer Folkhammar’s inventive and linguistically exciting novel. Aided by descriptions of rituals much is said about power relationships and the conditions faced by homosexuals in contemporary Sweden. A sanctuary for homosexuality has been established in a high school, creating the conditions for a closed off world based upon the shared erotic experiences of teachers and students. A high school teacher puts in place his own sadomasochistic punishment system in order to gain the favour of his favourite student Charles. When this isn’t enough he turns his focus to the close-knit gang of The Schoolmaster Games “The dreamily poetic events are given an unexpected distinction in Kristofer Folkhammar’s inventive and linguistically exciting novel.” Photo: Sara Mac Key Kristofer Folkhammar The Schoolmaster Games Natur & Kultur Rights: Natur & Kultur 9 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Dr Wasser’s Prescription “This man of many talents, not least erotic ones, cons his way through life simply because the society around him is so easily manipulated.” Lars Gustafsson Dr Wasser’s Prescription Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: agentur literatur gudrun hebel The amazingly inventive Lars Gustafsson already comes with a rich supply of more or less probable stories in his bag. He continues to teach us that the dividing line between truth and lies is almost non-existent. The main character in his new novel is a young Swedish man who has his head firmly screwed on, but is unsure what to do with his life. He takes on the identity of an East German man who has died in a motorcycle accident and becomes Kurt Wasser, and later on a doctor. This man of many talents, not least erotic ones, cons his way through life simply because the society around him is so easily manipulated. With its breath-taking mental leaps and cheerful treatment of existential issues this is a novel that reaffirms the author’s excellent reputation both in Sweden and elsewhere in the world. Unfree A Swedish Celebrity When the 26-year-old academic Anna Jäger is employed as the editor of a union journal she makes an inverted class journey. It’s the beginning of the seventies, and she’s attracted and appalled in equal measure by the vice-chairman Bengt, a former stonemason who takes the road less travelled. They unite in their determination to change society, beginning with working conditions in factories and industry, but their contrasting social backgrounds lead to frequent quarrels. Despite their growing love, his contempt for education and her jealousy make living together impossible. With strong character portrayals and by describing crucial moments both on a personal and social level Gunilla Boëthius succeeds in recreating the political movements of the time in parallel with their love story. The central character, who shares the author’s name, arrives in Sweden as a teenage refugee from Bosnia-Herzegovina. In this autobiographical novel she goes to high school, meets boys and wants nothing more than to get a foot in the door of the theatre world. She works as a prompter, but dreams of breaking through as a playwright. With her debut novel Alma Kirlic allows the reader an insight into a young person’s experience of not feeling at home anywhere. It’s about finding a voice for her experiences and a framework for her story, both of which she succeeds in doing. Her novel is written out of anguish as much as necessity and captures the experience of being young and lost with an unusual sensitivity. Dr Wasser’s Prescription Gunilla Boëthius Unfree – A seventies passion Wahlström & Widstrand Rights: Wahlström & Widstrand 10 Alma Kirlic A Swedish Celebrity Norstedts Rights: Norstedts 11 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Alejandro Leiva Wenger Facts Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Colombine teaterförlag Photo: Sofia Runarsdotter Facts experiences of people who, in various ways, have been let down by society and who dare to act upon their feelings of outrage are portrayed here. An inquisitive seriousness is contrasted with an audacious humour, mediated by a consistently accomplished yet restless language. This is drama that concerns itself to the highest degree with commenting on contemporary life. 12 Carola Hansson Masja Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: carina deschamps agency In her third book about the Tolstoy family Carola Hansson writes about the daughter, Maria Lvovna. At the age of two her father, the famous writer Leo Tolstoy, foretold that she would suffer greatly throughout her life, a prophecy that unfortunately came true. She married late, was sickly for long periods of her life, and had seven miscarriages before dying at 35. The focus of the novel is on the strong 13 Photo: Sara Mac Key With his 2001 short story collection Till Vår Ära (In Our Honour) Alejandro Leiva Wenger enjoyed one of the new century’s most noted debuts. Now his second book is finally here, containing three plays. The question running between them is of the extent to which you can trust someone else’s story; whose version of events is the truest. Seemingly insignificant situations are charged with misunderstanding and suspicion. Life Masja intellectual and emotional bond that existed between father and daughter, as demonstrated in their conversations about politics, art and religion. Another theme of the novel is the anything but warm relationship between Masja and her mother. The empathy with these people’s fates is so great that it leaves an unforgettable impression on the reader. New swedish books Tomas Lappalainen Life As Such Lind & Co Rights: Lind & Co Autumn 2015 “The unexpected language makes a surprising impression, and provides obvious yet unexpected insights.” Life As Such curiosity. The unexpected language makes a surprising impression, and provides obvious yet unexpected insights. He writes about children, love, dreams, death, irony, Italy and aches and pains with a light and playful touch. It’s a beautiful book that elegantly demonstrates how restriction does not necessarily mean reduction. 14 Photo: Eva Lindblad With his two latest books Tomas Lappalainen has unearthed the neglected tradition, from a Swedish perspective, of the chronicle. Where the first of the two described what happens between the age of 55 and 60 he now makes brief forays into disparate subjects, tying his reasoning together with subtle humour and bold New swedish books Autumn 2015 Åsa Foster People Do The oddest Things these days Bokförlaget Forum Rights: Nordin agency Linna Johansson Lollo Modernista Rights: Hedlund Literary agency Åsa Foster’s second collection of short stories confirms why she has quickly made a name for herself in the genre. What marks her writing out is the chaos that’s thinly disguised beneath the surface, and in particular the fragile basis upon which love is set. By suffusing everyday realism with an atmosphere of subtle absurdity the short stories approach a feeling of unease that has a great impact on the reader. Her characters are in various stages of impending breakdown. They navigate willingly towards doom, perhaps only so as to break the routine they have become stuck in. The traditionally composed short stories make, with their unexpected ideas, deep and surprising insights into human behaviour. Photo: Jörgen Linder People Do The Oddest Things These Days Lollo Photo: Caroline Andersson The two young friends Lollo and Lidija have graduated from high school but aren’t yet ready to become adults. Where Lidija is cocky and enterprising Lollo is shy and unassuming. They are united in the feeling of being different and in their desire to stall their fast approaching adulthood. They drink, experiment with drugs and pornography, moving in increasingly dangerous circles. Linna Johansson, who at a young age made a name for herself as a prominent feminist, makes her novelist debut with this razor-sharp satirical depiction of contemporary life that many will find easy to identify with. 16 17 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Sappho Has Left Us Jonas Karlsson I’m a Thief Wahlström & Widstrand Rights: Salomonsson Agency I’m a Thief Photo: Martin Stenmark The multi-talented actor Jonas Karlsson, after publishing a couple of collections of short stories, has proceeded more recently to the novel form. As always his attention is tuned to the changing tide of social progress. Here he tells the droll, yet troubling story of Roland, the chief of security who introduces the idea of letting shoplifters wear signs around their necks that read ‘I’m a thief’. In so doing he unleashes an uncontrollable series of events as the conflict with the ever more savvy youths escalates. Roland’s good intentions are difficult to sustain when he has neither his colleagues nor the shoplifters on his side. 18 Jesper Svenbro Sappho Has Left Us – six decades of sapphic studies ellerströms förlag Rights: ellerströms förlag A life-long interest in classical literature has resulted in this collection of writings on the poet Sappho. Swedish Academy member Jesper Svenbro begins with an essay from his high school days, and through interpretations and scholarly commentaries a comprehensive vision emerges from what were previously only fragments. The book is partly a slice of learned cultural history about political structures in classical society, and partly a discourse on Sappho’s relationship to Homer’s epics and influence on Socratic philosophy. Helped by a deep understanding of the Greek terms, we gain unparalleled access to the poetic texts, as illustrated by the account of new archaeological findings from 2014. The collection also includes examples of Svenbro’s richly imaginative poetry. Calling Out Westmanland A young woman is fetched from her hotel room by a cigar-smoking monkey in the opening pages of this debut novel. Together they wander the streets of an unfamiliar city, and the woman comes to notice the extent of the monkeys’ influence. She writes columns for a tabloid, and reads Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own at the same time as magazine beauty tips, something that creates a distinctly humorous contrast. This is an absurd satire that anchors magic realism in a not too distant reality. The novel concludes with a feminist manifesto, without any apparent explanation as to the significance of the monkeys. Malin Axelsson has written a novel in impressive language, anarchic and with rhythmical qualities more usually found within hip hop. Sven Olov Karlsson has with his earlier books made himself known as the interpreter of the typical Swedish character, an impression that’s reinforced with the reports from the provinces that he has published as a journalist. In this collection of short stories he takes as his starting point the county of Westmanland, located close to Stockholm, scrutinising the community with his canny observations. Modernity coexists with traditional values, an encounter that’s not without its conflicts. The community spirit of the sparsely populated countryside is put under immense pressure. The dramas that unfold have the potential to be fatal, and it’s lucky that fate and human involvement conspire in order to avoid death. Malin Axelsson Calling Out Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Albert Bonniers Förlag Sven Olov Karlsson Westmanland Natur & Kultur Rights: Natur & Kultur 19 New swedish books Cecilia Davidsson Mountains High, Valleys Low Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Albert Bonniers Förlag Cecilia Davidsson is known to experiment with reality in her short stories, giving it an added sense of something being just a bit odd. With only very slight displacements we find ourselves in an existence that’s not quite reliable. Her characters often exist on the very precipice of catastrophe. Autumn 2015 The passive aggressive style is consistent throughout and adds a surprising sense of humour to the threatening atmosphere, one where it’s not always explicit what’s going on. These technically brilliant short stories demonstrate how it’s possible to create great drama within a constrained space. Mountains High, Valleys Low The Rain Doesn’t Smell Here After an arduous journey an Iraqi family ends up on the Swedish coastline. They belong to the religious minority of Mandaeans and are escaping the terror of Saddam Hussein. The father, a goldsmith, can’t get a job in Sweden, and the mother becomes depressed. The son, Duraid, continues to get into trouble throughout his childhood on the outskirts of Stockholm. He begins to write in order to change prejudices about the suburbs. Duraid Al-Khamisi’s autobiographical novel unsentimentally describes the thorny road to assimilation in a new country, from thug to respected journalist. Fiction is mixed with reportage, for example the very current reports from the much-publicised riots in the suburb of Husby during the summer of 2013. Duraid Al-Khamisi The Rain Doesn’t Smell Here Bokförlaget Atlas Rights: Bokförlaget Atlas “the thorny road to assimilation in a new country, from thug to respected journalist.” All Becomes Nothing Photo: Cato Lein 20 Martin Kellerman All Becomes Nothing Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Albert Bonniers Förlag Florian resides on an island in the archipelago. He conceals the fact that his grandmother has died in order to keep using her prescription medicine, and in order to secretly keep growing cannabis. His plan is to become rich enough to sail around the world. The seemingly ill-matched cousins Max and Kea arrive at the island, and a crime of passion of murderous proportion ensues. As one of Sweden’s most popular cartoonists Martin Kellerman is 21 known as a sharp-eyed observer of contemporary life with the ability to create a strong sense of recognition in his satirical comic strips. In this, his first novel, he has created a chamber play that veers as much towards slapstick as it does towards despair. He has written a novel that is as beautiful as it is funny about longing and about the dreams that become the last hope for a desperate human being to hold on to. Autumn 2015 New swedish books Many of the poets published this autumn have long careers behind them but are still developing new ways to rejuvenate their poetry. Poetry Gunnar Harding, photo: Paula Tranströmer Political and playful Throughout the decades poetry has played an increasingly marginalised role in Swedish public life. What’s striking is that poetry has even become marginalised in Swedish literature, with few poetry collections being published, and far from the level of attention deserved being paid to those that are. It’s a sad trend, especially considering the renewed vigour the form has shown in the second decade of the twenty-first century: it has become not only more political but also more playful in its style. Many of the poets published this autumn have long careers behind them but are still developing new ways to rejuvenate their poetry. Lyrical narration After having published an autobiography two years ago, Gunnar Harding continues to retrieve his private past, this time in the form of poetry. There’s a note of respite in the poems, despite their melancholic starting point. In a similar fashion, Sara Hallström begins in her fourth collection of poetry from the personal experience in order to narrate the problems of the world. Movements of resistance Instead of admitting defeat in the face of the problems facing the world, Aase Berg chooses resistance in her new book that’s incontestably political and even rebellious in its call to retaliate against the oppressors. In Maria Küchen’s much-anticipated poetry collection the focus is on the consequences of human exploitation of the earth and how we can survive when everything disappears. Tradition Like no other Swedish poet, Katarina Frostenson succeeds in moving between high and low literature. In her new poems different viewpoints on the world coexist, and she moves with ease between urban environments and the upper echelons of cultured society. The world of the child meets literary traditions with curiosity and pleasure. 23 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Hackers Photo: Paula Tranströmer Gunnar Harding From Winter to Winter Wahlström & Widstrand Rights: Wahlström & Widstrand The Hag has awoken. For too long she has been surrounded by aggressors and stalkers and is now making an attempt to break free. After having powerlessly observed an increasingly aggressive world she turns herself into a hacker through a Trojan horse. With the sights set on current signs of our times a movement of resistance is formed, one which has seen through the destructive and imprisoning structures. The alliterations and newly formed compound words in her language gives the familiar world an eerie shadow, where a feminist message comes through in a completely new form, as biting as it is humorous. Aase Berg gives her seventh collection of poetry a tough rhythmical language that anchors the content in a compelling and hopeful direction. “Childhood memories coexist with fleeting images from a life that’s at the end of the line.” Aase Berg Hackers Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Albert Bonniers Förlag From Winter to Winter Photo: Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin Gunnar Harding invokes a life burdened by memories in his new poetry collection. If jazz was previously the orchestrating force in his earlier collections, it’s now more a question of the blues. Ash from Icelandic volcanoes and Nordic snow work equally well when embedding everything in a sense of hopeless inertia. Childhood memories coexist with fleeting images from a life that’s at the end of the line. His skill is demonstrated in the way the subtle impressions are recorded. With an unpretentious symbolism the poems are reconciled with a dark existence, where there’s nothing left to hope for – apart from poetry, which despite everything is described in a hopeful light. 24 25 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Sara Hallström I Want My Children to Belong Norstedts Rights: Norstedts Photo: Trinidad Carrillo I Want My Children to Belong Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Are there alternatives to this severely restricted world? Restrictions exist both between and within people. The children mentioned in the title turn out to be common creations, new alternatives offered to a world of narrowminded tendencies. The political message is proffered by way of discreet warnings that therefore become more Songs and Formulas Katarina Frostenson Songs and formulas Wahlström & Widstrand Rights: Wahlström & Widstrand Through her writing Katarina Frostenson has created one of the most unwavering literary careers in Swedish letters and a poetry that’s uniquely melodic. Both nursery rhymes and the canon are close to her heart. In her new collection, impressions of the urban environment coexist with intimate reflections on reading and writing. Sense and 26 and more urgent and meaningful. Sara Hallström finds her original poetic voice in this, a voice that bears no clear trace of influences or role models. In her fourth collection of poetry she invokes a poetic vision that reminds us of important values we have forgotten. The Rosary, the Marine sensibility are tied together in a political analysis of disappearing values and worlds. The everyday and creativity come together with a distinct focus in the poems that continuously discover new possibilities for language through assonance, rhyme and anagram. They are poems of encouragement to discover and linger upon. Maria Küchen The Rosary, the Marine ellerströms förlag Rights: ellerströms förlag After a long period of absence Maria Küchen has found her way back to poetry with this creation story arising from a position that’s both personal and universal. Rather than concentrating on the past the perspective is turned towards the future. The word ‘reconquering’ functions as the password for a civilisation to come. When 27 language is formed it also creates a whole new world. In this case the Anthropocene period, widening our understanding of the period of time when we as humans have influenced the global environment. In the poems the farmed fish swim, and the sea is proposed as a possible alternative when we have destroyed our planet. New swedish books Autumn 2015 For many people reading is a journey, and among the books for autumn 2015 there are many different journeys to embark upon. Children’s and Young Adult Literature Illustration from The Most Boring Day by Jonas Lindén (text), Mia Nilsson (ill) Publishers’ children’s and young adult lists have been growing rapidly over the last few years. The number of books published in Sweden in 2014 reached an all time high of 1860, according to the Swedish Institute for Children’s Books. Find out more about their ‘Book Tasting’ on page 66. Perhaps 2015 will turn out to be another record year? Whether or not the number of titles increases, the quality of Swedish children’s and young adult books is consistently high, as shown by the books published in autumn 2015.  For many people reading is a journey, and among the books for autumn 2015 there are many different journeys to embark upon. Back to Viking times with Elisabeth Östnäs’ The Saga of Turid; northwards to the town of Luleå in the company of Jan, in Jan Svensson by Johanna Lindbäck; or even back to the 1830s in Annika Thor’s Your Brother My Sister.   The books published this autumn are also brimming with emotion. In Karin Ahlin’s Come Rain or Shine, Malva is struck by a deep sorrow when her mother falls ill with cancer and dies. There is sorrow too in Lisa Bjärbo’s Deep Peace, in which a beloved friend dies. Loneliness is never far away in Your Turn, Adrian, by Helena Östberg and Kristin Lidström, and boredom leads to new games in The Most Boring Day by Johan Lindén and Mia Nilsson. In Doris Takes Off by Pija Lindenbaum, even Doris’s hair burns with anger, while Selma burns with shame at having betrayed a secret in Best Friends and Secrets by Ellen Karlsson and Eva Lindström.   Readers will find a host of everyday adventures among the picture books, like finding the signs that winter is on its way in Memmo and Cosy Wait for Winter by Emma Virke. Find out about all the exciting things that can be done with scissors and sticky tape in Nisse and Nora Tape It Up by Emelie Andrén and Lisa Moroni.   The children’s and young adult books that are published in Sweden are characterised by their variety – there’s really something for everyone, regardless of reading level, interest or taste. 29 New swedish books Autumn 2015 “Doris thinks life is unfair and decides to take off.” Pija Lindenbaum Doris Takes Off Lilla Piratförlaget Rights: Lilla Piratförlaget Picture books Doris Takes Off Illustration from It’s Late Now! by Emma Adbåge 30 In Doris Takes Off we meet the determined Doris. She has to go to a boring party in boring party clothes, even though she doesn’t want to. As if that’s not enough, she has to tidy up after her step-brother Egon. Doris thinks life is unfair and decides to take off. Away from it all. As her hair grows, Doris romps away across a thrilling imaginary landscape where you can be just the way you want. When it’s finally time to return home, no one seems to have missed Doris. Then comes the explosion! Pija Lindenbaum is on the side of her protagonists, but she often depicts them from many angles, both positive and negative, just as people really are. 31 New swedish books Autumn 2015 In It’s Late Now! Emma Adbåge has created something instantly recognisable to anyone who doesn’t want to go to bed. The child wants to keep playing, or at least have two stories instead of one. But it’s late, the adult keeps saying. It may be late, but there’s still time for fun. When darkness falls, you can sneak out, snack on cereal, spy on your neighbours and watch TV. In the end it gets so late you fall asleep in an armchair. Emma Adbåge made her debut at 19 in 2001 and has established herself as an illustrator. With sprawling images that often flirt with retro imagery, she creates an everyday adventure. Emma Adbåge it’s Late Now! Rabén & Sjögren Rights: Rabén & Sjögren agency It’s Late Now! Nisse and Nora Tape it up Emelie Andrén (text), Lisa Moroni (ill) Nisse and Nora Tape it up Alfabeta Rights: Alfabeta Nisse and Nora are sketching and snipping. When Nora cuts the paper it comes out wrong. Nisse helps her tape it up. It’s the trigger for Nissa and Nora to start cutting and taping all manner of things: the curtains, Nisse’s fringe, a houseplant. But cutting the cuddly elephant wasn’t a 32 good idea, you can’t mend that with sticky tape. What should Nisse and Nora do? Emelie Andrén and Lisa Moroni create a tale for tots in which scissors and sticky tape serve as the perfect ingredients for a story that will speak to curious people of any age. 33 Autumn 2015 34 35 Illustration from Memmo and Cosy Wait for Winter by Emma Virke New swedish books New swedish books “But it’s good for you to be bored sometimes, Dad says”. Mallo doesn’t agree at all. It’s raining outside, her best mate Emilia is away and everything’s dull as dishwater. When Dad suggests Mallo tidy her room, she can’t believe her ears. How dull can it get? Mallo decides to go out instead. In the playground Autumn 2015 she meets Olov from her nursery school. Mallo and Olov decide to collect some snails and have a snail race. Suddenly the day’s not so dull after all. The Most Boring Day is Jonas Lindén’s debut children’s book. Mia Nilsson’s illustrations play off the text, making this everyday adventure bubble off the pages. The Most Boring Day Ninna and the Hospital Birds Jonas Lindén (text), Mia Nilsson (ill) The Most Boring Day Rabén & Sjögren Rights: Rabén & Sjögren agency Matilda Ruta Ninna and the Hospital Birds Natur & Kultur Rights: Natur & Kultur Going to hospital can be scary. It’s big, lots of people, you might be hurting somewhere and just want to lie down. In 2014, Matilda Ruta was Artist in Residence at Gävle Hospital. This picture book is based on stories Matilda Ruta heard from the children at the hospital. It’s a poetic tale in which If You Were to Ask Micha Memmo and Cosy Wait for Winter Viveka Sjögren doesn’t shy from heavy issues. In If You Were to Ask Micha, Micha and his family are hit by war. Everything is turned upside-down. First, the family must hide, then they’re forced to flee in the middle of the night. When they reach the new country, Micha thinks everything’s weird. He can’t understand the language, and everyone at home is angry. Viveka Sjögren chose to depict all the characters in the book as pairs of scissors. With their long legs, the scissors bend, march across the pages and hide in nooks and crannies. They become human. A topical issue in a timeless book. What is winter? Emma Virke has created a magical journey of discovery through nature in which Memmo and Cosy find more and more signs that winter’s on its way. Glittering frost, icy puddles, and finally, snowflakes. But the snow doesn’t settle, it just melts again. Maybe Memmo and Cosy should make their own snowflakes that don’t melt. Emma Virke has a host of picture books to her name, in which she often uses collage. Her images are atmospheric and harmonise with the poetic texts. Viveka Sjögren If You Were to Ask Micha Kabusa Böcker Rights: Kabusa Böcker 36 a little girl with bunches guides us round a hospital. Outside the hospital live the Hospital Birds. The birds gather all the difficult feelings the children have and help them sleep better at night. This lovely story is not afraid of what hospital holds, be it fear and anxiety, or peace and quiet. Emma Virke Memmo and Cosy Wait for Winter Alvina förlag Rights: Alvina förlag 37 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Eva Lindström Everyone is leaving Alfabeta Rights: Alfabeta Everyone is leaving A melancholy atmosphere and odd characters are typical of Eva Lindström’s books. It’s certainly the case with Everyone Is Leaving, a book about Frank, who is left on his own as everyone else leaves. Frank goes home and cries into a cooking pot, tears he then makes jam from. The others can’t help being curious. What’s Frank up to? Since her debut in 1980, Eva Lindström has produced a range of picture books as well as illustrating others. In 2013, she and Ellen Karlsson won the August Prize for Snöret, Fågeln och Jag (String, the bird and I). 38 39 New swedish books Autumn 2015 “Malva doesn’t want to forget how it felt, that horrible year when Mum got ill.” Chapter Books Come Rain or Shine Karin Ahlin Come Rain or Shine Alfabeta Rights: Alfabeta Photo: Max Palm 40 We learn that Malva’s mum’s going to die right in the prologue. Malva doesn’t want to forget how it felt, that horrible year when Mum got ill. So she tells the reader straight away about those first terrible days when they found out her mum had cancer, about the treatments that might help, about hope and despair. About a dad who 41 buries himself in work and her little sister Lilian who doesn’t really know what’s going on. Karin Ahlin has previously written a picture book; Come Rain or Shine is her first book for 6-9 year-olds, but it would also suit older children. 13) Bästisar och hemligheter a en. New swedish books HIPPO BOKFÖRLAG Autumn 2015 Ellen Karlsson (text), Eva Lindström (ill) Best Friends and Secrets Hippo förlag Rights: Hippo förlag Branded Dare you read this book? At school an old tale is told of the root girl, who lures in children and snares them in tangled root-clumps. Fairy tales seem to conflate with reality as children start to disappear and unexplained things happen. Fear takes hold of Leo, Teddy and Natta in this creepy, exciting story. Branded is a free-standing sequel to Inmurade (Walled In), published in 2014. Ellen Karlsson & Eva Lindström Lena Ollmark Branded B. Wahlströms Rights: Massolit agency Jan Svensson Best Friends and Secrets Selma’s back! Best Friends and Secrets is the third book about Selma, the hesitant, solitary figure who develops and forms friendships in the books. The first part in the series, Snöret, Fågeln och Jag (String, the bird, and I) won the August Prize in 2013. In Best Friends and Secrets, Selma accidently betrays a secret, which gives her tummy ache. She’s also torn, wondering if it’s possible to have two best friends. Selma has both String and Fabian. Thoughts tumble around Selma’s head and sometimes it feels like a tangle of thread that needs to be undone. Ellen Karlsson is a genius at portraying children and their thoughts, complemented here by Eva Lindström’s illustrations. 42 As a trial, Jan Svensson, his dad and his sister have moved from Stockholm to Luleå in the far north of Sweden. They’re going to live there for a year as a trial, and at first Jan thinks it’s pretty okay. But as school approaches and it sinks in that he’s going to be joining a new class, Jan starts to get anxious. He gets to know Nicki, a neighbour who’ll be in the same class and who may or may not have lived in London. Johanna Lindbäck has written a number of books for children and young adults. She depicts everyday life as it is, credibly and with integrity. Johanna Lindbäck was selected as Sweden’s Ambassador for Reading 2013-2015 by the Swedish Arts Council. Johanna Lindbäck Jan Svensson Lilla Piratförlaget Rights: Lilla Piratförlaget Your Brother My Sister Annika Thor Your Brother my sister Bonnier Carlsen Rights: Bonnier rights The year is 1835. Johan has lived all his 11-year-long life in a children’s home. Life there is hard and one day Johan’s had enough. He manages to escape over the high walls surrounding the children’s home. In order to avoid detection he disguises himself as a girl. Serendipity leads him to a travelling theatre troupe with whom he gets a job as a wardrobe assistant. Johan is happier than he’s ever 43 been but lives with the constant fear of his true identity being uncovered. Without him realising, another threat looms in the form of a shadow from his past. Annika Thor has written a spellbinding tale of identity and friendship. Annika Thor is an established author with many award-winning works in her portfolio. She has been awarded the August Prize and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis. New swedish books Autumn 2015 he’s performing at a circus and goes down a storm. One day Adrian meets a wolfhound named Heidi. She never leaves his side, and it marks the start of a change for Adrian. With sensitivity and love, Öberg and Lindström have created an imaginative and melancholy tale. Your Turn, Adrian is a collaboration between the author Helena Öberg and Kristin Lidström. The book is a graphic novel for children aged 10-12. Adrian, a loner, goes to school with a lump in the pit of his stomach. He’s an outsider at school and reading aloud is one of the worst things he can think of. To stay afloat, Adrian daydreams Your Turn, Adrian Kristin Lidström 45 Photo: Eva Strindlund Photo: Jimmy Eriksson Helena Öberg (text), Kristin Lidström (ill) Your Turn, Adrian Mirando bok Rights: Mirando bok 44 Helena Öberg New swedish books Autumn 2015 Pass the Ball! Calls Kosse “Movits owes Ruben a favour, so he can’t say no, despite his awful stage fright.” Johan Rundberg Knocked-out Romeo Natur & Kultur Rights: Natur & Kultur Anja Gatu (text) Maria Källström (ill) Pass the Ball! Calls Kosse Olika förlag Rights: Olika förlag Knocked-out Romeo Movits doesn’t have it easy. His dream girl Beata has broken up with him and his friend Ruben has decided they should both be in a play. Movits owes Ruben a favour, so he can’t say no, despite his awful stage fright. To add insult to injury, Movits lands the main role and the play they’re going to be doing is Romeo and Juliet. Which means he’s going to have to kiss a girl he’s never met before on stage. Johan Rundberg writes amusingly about poor Movits’s efforts in this charming book. Knocked-out Romeo is a stand-alone sequel to the book Kärlekspizzan (Love Pizza). 46 Kosse, whose real name is Kosovare, loves football. She wants to play and train all the time but isn’t allowed to join her brothers. Kosse manages to persuade her reluctant friend Emma to go in goal so Kosse can practice. When nasty Emine and Felicia turn up it’s nowhere near as fun to train. When school starts the teacher announces there’ll be a big football tournament. Kosse can’t believe her ears. She’ll finally get to play football! Then Emine and Felicia turn up again. Are they going to ruin Kosse’s plans? Pass the Ball! Calls Kosse is written by the sports journalist Anja Gatu and based on the upbringing of Sweden’s Kosovare Asllanis. A book about following your dream and never giving up. 47 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Mum -Watching Young a d u lt fiction Johanna Thydell Mum - Watching Alfabeta Rights: Alfabeta Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson 48 In Johanna Thydell’s fourth YA novel, the reader follows Moa’s rollercoaster of a life. The rollercoaster starts when Moa’s long-disappeared mother gets in touch and wants to meet. 16-year-old Moa, who’s lived without her mum for 14 years, thinks she’s doing just fine with her dad, step-mum and cute little brother. To begin with she doesn’t want to meet her mum. But her friend Otto changes her mind and together they form a plan. Moa will treat the journey to her mum as a study trip, where she’ll observe and record her mum’s daily life like a birdwatcher would. Johanna Thydell writes Moa’s life with warmth and humour. The language is precise and the plot is driven. Johanna Thydell was awarded the August Prize for her debut I taket lyser stjärnorna (The Stars Shine from the Ceiling). 49 New swedish books Autumn 2015 April Fools April Fools begins dramatically as the protagonist Hugo finds himself in the attic of his former school, where he struggled through his school years bullied and harassed. He has a gun with him, and is planning to commit suicide. Before he has time to pull the trigger he’s interrupted. The event leads to him being admitted to a youth treatment centre. His time at the centre turns out to be life-changing. Hugo is constantly balancing on a thin line as he tries to get to know himself and the three other young people at the centre. Mattias Edvardsson has written a book about finding things to live for, even when you’ve broken down completely. April Fools is his second book for young adults. Based on a true story that shook Sweden in the middle of the 90s, of a young boy who was brutally murdered by neo-Nazis, Jessica Schiefauer has written a gripping book for young adults. Ester and Isak meet at a party, fall in love, and when summer comes they’re totally enamoured. In parallel with Ester and Isak’s love story, Jessica Schiefauer describes the change in Isak’s brother Anton. Anton seeks and finds friendship among a group of neo-Nazis. The friendship has catastrophic consequences, as Anton is involved in the beating of a boy to death. The whole community is turned upside down. Jessica Schiefauer won the August Prize for her previous YA novel Pojkarna (The Boys). Now she’s back with a frightening vision of Sweden. The Eyes of the Lake Mattias Edvardsson April fools Opal Rights: Opal Deep Peace Lisa Bjärbo has established herself on the Swedish literary scene with her insightful YA books as well as a series of picture books. In Deep Peace, Lisa’s back with a book for young adults. Four friends around the age of 20 return to Lisa Bjärbo Deep Peace Rabén & Sjögren Rights: Rabén & Sjögren agency the village where they grew up. A friend of theirs has been found dead, drowned under a jetty. The friends are meeting for the funeral, but the time they spend together gives them new insights as secrets are uncovered. 50 Photo: Hillevi Nagel “A friend of theirs has been found dead, drowned under a jetty.” Jessica Schiefauer The eyes of the lake Bonnier Carlsen Rights: nordin agency 51 New swedish books Autumn 2015 “A atmospheric, gripping story with supernatural overtones that will send shivers down your spine.” Mia Öström Shadow Summer Gilla böcker Rights: Gilla böcker Shadow Summer water. They say Rakel can join their diving club if she undertakes a number of tasks. Now the summer takes an unexpected turn. The secretive twins turn out to be something Rakel could never have imagined. The tasks are dangerous and catastrophe lurks. A atmospheric, gripping story with supernatural overtones that will send shivers down your spine. 52 Photo: Ola Kjelbye In Mia Öström’s first book aimed at young readers, the main character Rakel has to spend summer on an island together with her aunt, uncle and cousin Ellika. The reason is that Rakel’s mum is suffering from depression. Rakel’s relatives are rich and there’s nothing lacking in material terms. But Rakel’s fed up. Until one day she meets a pair of twins by the diving boards out in the New swedish books Autumn 2015 Johan wakes up hungover with a gash on his neck. His memory of what happened is patchy, but as time passes he begins to recall the events of his journey home on Nightbus 198. The bus crashed, the other passengers are dead. Why and how did Johan survive? After the crash, Johan feels strong, both physically and mentally. At school he starts asserting himself, talking more, getting noticed. Something not everyone is happy about. Then an animal is found brutally killed and a homeless person has been murdered in a park. As Johan’s memory returns, a terrifying and exciting story emerges. Niklas Krog has written several popular books for young people, as well as easy-to-read fantasy for younger children. Elisabeth Östnäs The Saga of Turid, The Daughter of a King Berghs förlag Rights: Hedlund literary agency Niklas Krog Nightbus 198 B. Wahlström Rights: Massolit agency Photo: Roger Nellsjö Nightbus 198 The Saga of Turid, The Daughter of a King she has inherited magic powers from her mother and grandmother. Powers that are quite outside the Vikings’ belief system. Elisabeth has an MA in the history of religion and now she makes her YA debut with The Saga of Turid. A tale that goes far back in time with traces of fantasy and magic, but which more than anything paints a vivid portrait of the Viking girl Turid. 54 Photo: Ralf Gyllenvråk As society goes from paganism to Christianity, Turid lives a hard life in the little Viking village. She’s the daughter of the village’s king, and bears a great responsibility as a result. Ahead of her lies a marriage to a man chosen by her father. A marriage Turid is set against. Turid is also fated to become a seer, just like her stepmother. But in an encounter with the old man Holme, Turid learns that 55 New swedish books Autumn 2015 When the text meets an illustrator who brings their own perspective, something new and interesting emerges. Comics Adaptations – Swedish Literary Classics in Comic Form Illustrations from Tales From Engelsfors (see page 58) Over the past few years, a number of eminent Swedish authors have been interpreted in comic form. Selma Lagerlöf, August Strindberg, Barbro Lindgren, Harry Martinson and Gustaf Fröding are just a few of the authors whose work has been given new life in graphic novels.   Graphic adaptations of literary portraits are becoming ever more common.   “I think it has to do with the fact that we live in a time that’s shaped by a cross-cultural perspective, a time of adaptations in which we move between many different media. Comics like Ghost World and Blue is the Warmest Colour have been made into films. And literature gets turned into popular TV series,” says Josefin Svenske, publisher at Kolik förlag. Kolik has published a range of adaptations, including The Changeling, in which the illustrator Emelie Östergren interprets Selma Lagerlöf’s 1908 short story, Malin Biller’s depiction of the lyric verse of Sweden’s national poet Gustaf Fröding, and Fabian Göransson’s August Strindberg’s Inferno.   “An adaptation can also be a way of bringing an author or illustrator to a larger audience. They’re helped along by another author’s work, or by a classic. But it can also be a way of introducing a body of work – Gustaf Fröding’s poetry, for example – to a new audience: perhaps one that reads comics but doesn’t come into contact with poetry so often. A graphic novel version can lead people to a classic text or a whole oeuvre,” Svenske says.   Svenske also works on an initiative focusing on children’s comics at the publishing house Rabén & Sjögren, in which the priority is original comics, but also graphic adaptations of classic children’s books.   As part of this initiative, Jujja Wieslander’s cheerful cow Mamma Moo and her more cynical companion Crow, illustrated by Sven Nordqvist, have stepped into the comic book world. Inger and Lasse Sandberg’s popular character Little Spook Laban has been allowed to spook like never before in graphic novel form this autumn. The publisher Kartago also publishes graphic novel adaptations. Their list features Knut Larsson’s suggestive interpretation of Harry Martinson’s space epic Aniara, Sara Olausson’s two Loranga books and Jakob Nilsson’s comic The Sture Murder, based on Stieg Trenter’s crime novel. LL-förlaget is also publishing graphic adaptations as part of their Illustrated Classics series, in which H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle are reinterpreted by prominent Swedish comic artists. But adaptation isn’t a novel idea, even if it’s become increasingly common in recent years. Even in the 1980s, Strindberg’s The Red Room was interpreted by Per Demervall in two volumes.   “Graphic adaptations have developed into a strong, separate genre,” Svenske argues. “The works stay in your mind for a long time. A classic has something eternal about it right from the beginning, something that has raised its status as a text. When that text meets an illustrator who brings their own perspective, something new and interesting emerges.” 57 New swedish books Autumn 2015 “Through the stories, rage and magic entwine with selfdestructiveness, romance and sensuality.” Kim W. Andersson (ill), Karl Johnsson (ill), Lina Neidestam (ill), Sara Bergmark Elfgren (text), Mats Strandberg (text) Tales from Engelsfors Rabén & Sjögren Rights: grand agency Tales from Engelsfors Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson Tales from Engelsfors is not a graphic adaptation in the traditional sense. Instead, this comic book is a follow-on from the celebrated Engelsfors trilogy about teenage witches in the fictional town of Engelsfors, which featured the books The Circle (2011), Fire (2012) and The Key (2013). The Chosen Ones, a group of high school students with magic powers, wage a war against impending apocalypse – while trying to pick their way through the minefield of teenage life. The trilogy’s authors, Sara Bergmark Elfgren and Mats Strandberg, have written the eight short stories that make up this book, while the comic artists Kim W. Anderson, Karl Johnsson and Lina Neidestam provide the visuals. Together, this trio of illustrators have hewn a coherent aesthetic that pulses with intensity and in which the individual illustrators’ quirks enrich and drive the narrative. Through the stories, rage and magic entwine with self-destructiveness, romance and sensuality. Just as for your average teenager, everything is a matter of life and death. Something that also permeates the pulsating, often terrifying images. 58 59 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Sara Olausson, after Barbro Lindgren Loranga, part 1&2 Kartago förlag Rights: Kartago förlag Loranga Barbro Lindgren’s depictions of the darkness and complexity of childhood, as well as its playfulness, has had a major influence on the Swedish cultural climate ever since the 1960s. She’s been praised for her ability to depict the often blurred boundary between childhood and adulthood – where children sometimes act as adults, while adults turn into children. Last year she received the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.  Her book Loranga, Masarin och Dartanjang (Loranga, Masarin and Dartanian) was published in 1969, and has as its protagonist a odd, chaotic, but charming family. Now this family tale has been interpreted by Sara Olausson. So far, two parts have been published, in which Olausson mixes pacey dialogue with a colourful fairground aesthetic, red log cabins and cheerful giraffes. Sara Olausson graduated from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm in 2007. She has five comic albums to her name. The latest is called Det Kunde Varit Jag (Could’ve Been Me, 2015). 60 61 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Fabian Göranson August Strindberg’s Inferno Kolik förlag Rights: Kolik förlag FABIAN GÖRANSON INFERNO dberg har just lagt pennan på hyllan, för att guld genom alkemiska experiment. Ju fler exyckas, desto mer övertygad blir han om att en ans liv. Steg för steg går han vilse i en labyrint iga tecken och paranoida vanföreställningar. Selma Lagerlöf’s short story The Changeling was first published in the magazine Idun in 1908, but was published for the first time in book form in 1915, when it was included in the motley collection Troll och människor (Trolls and Humans). In the intervening period, Selma Lagerlöf was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and elected to the Swedish Academy. As comic artist Emelie Östergren takes on the classic folk tale, over a hundred years later, she gives it a new depth and a visual language that alternates between gentle fragility and raw natural power. Emelie Östergren’s unique ability to make trolls human and humans troll-like reinforces the moral of the tale. The Changeling is a story of outsiders, but also of solidarity, morality and tolerance. It takes place against a naturalistic backdrop in the agricultural society of early 1900s Sweden, but finds a new dimension today, in the days of Fortress Europe. The Changeling rindbergs märkligaste verk. I Fabian Göransons fts denna mystiska berättelse fram med humor rationer. En sjudande sekelskiftsvärld öppnas närsbohemer, religiösa grubblerier och en helt kalden. är född 1978 och bosatt i Stockholm. Inferno ska roman. Tidigare utgivna titlar av Fabian är ch Kirurgi (2008). ISBN 9789197610384 KOLIK FÖRLAG Pirinen och Max Andersson svensk serietecknare framträtt ritet”. agens Nyheter 9 789197 610384 KOLIK FÖRLAG Emelie Östergren, after Selma Lagerlöf The Changeling Kolik förlag Rights: Kolik förlag August Strindberg’s Inferno Strindberg puzzle. In taking on Inferno, Fabian Göranson creates a distance that lends the tale both depth and humour. Göranson transforms Strindberg into a character in his comic, albeit with great respect, through the use of entertaining mimicry and dynamic body language. Göranson also makes an art of visualising Strindberg’s thought processes and inner demons. In this, August Strindberg’s Inferno comes close to being a humorous odyssey of the life of this artist’s artist. 62 Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson Inferno has been described as one of the author August Strindberg’s strangest works, and met with fierce criticism when it was published in Sweden in 1897. The critics were repelled by Strindberg’s lack of discernment, his insanity and his superstition, after reading his autobiographical depiction of hospital visits, manic episodes and experiments with alchemy. Equally though, Inferno, which unfolds among bohemian artists in Paris and elsewhere, has come to an important piece in the 63 New swedish books Autumn 2015 Comic maker and artist Knut Larsson has created his very own corner of the Swedish comic scene with his six albums. In his suggestive visual world, unease meets sensuality. Now he’s interpreted Harry Martinson’s poem suite Aniara from 1956 in a dystopian comic album.   The space epic is one of Martinson’s key works, read as a warning in an era when nuclear weapons and ecological disasters threaten the planet. Aniara focuses on one of the many spaceships headed for Mars after nuclear disaster strikes Earth. The spaceship Aniara glides through the outer atmosphere with 8,000 emigrants on board. But when the ship goes off course, nothing can be done. The people trapped on board are doomed to sail on through the darkness until their food or power runs out. In grey tones, Larsson explores, just as Martinson did, man’s true nature – ultimately asking: how do we behave towards one another? Aniara Knut Larsson, inspired by Harry Martinson’s Aniara Aniara Kartago förlag Rights: Kartago förlag 64 65 Autumn 2015 New swedish books Number of titles 0 1800 1600 11 76 2000 1400 1200 1000 Existential picture books, tweens and reflective dystopias. These are the current trends in Swedish children’s and YA book publishing, according to the Swedish Institute for Children’s Books. Every year, they conduct the Book Tasting, a survey of all the children’s and YA books published in the previous year, in which they present trends and statistics. This is a brief guide to the books published in 2014, a year in which the number of titles increased significantly. Precocious Children on the Up! Books about tweens have been a big story in Swedish publishing this year. Ever more books are being produced that are aimed at younger adolescents but deal with content and themes more traditionally associated with young adult books. The protagonists of these books are also getting older. Increasingly, these children are referred to as ‘tweens’ – precocious children with a teenage attitude. This new phase is beginning to appear across a wide spectrum of children’s books.  For example, Charlotta Björnulfson’s Dug eller dö (Do or Die), Lena Ollmark’s Inmurade (Walled In), Katarina von Bredow’s Hon & Han (Him & Her) and Moa Eriksson Sandberg’s Flickan i de vindlande gångarna (The Girl in the Winding Walkways), all from 2014, feature girls aged 10-12 who want to hang out with older friends and will do anything to be popular. Thoughts about sex, along with curiosity about parties and alcohol are recurring themes in these and similar books. In Mårten Melin’s Lite mer än en kram (A Little More Than a Hug), we encounter 13-yearold Manne. He thinks about girls’ bodies a lot, and when he gets together with his older sister’s friend Amanda he gets close to a real one.  Depicting prepubescent children’s sexuality in tween literature is a new thing. However, explicit sex scenes are reserved for YA books, where we’ve seen an increasing number of portrayals of homo- and bisexuality in recent years. Reflective dystopias Dystopias are regularly translated into Swedish, but over the last few years Swedish YA authors have been writing more and more dystopic narratives. In 2014, this increased further. There’s a tendency for Swedish dystopias to be somewhat more reflective and less violent that those translated from other languages. Examples of Swedish dystopias include Mats Wahl’s trilogy Blodregn (Blood Rain), the first two parts of which, Ryttarna (The Riders) and Krigarna (The Warriors), were published in 2014; the third part of Sofia Nordin’s series Spring så fort du kan (Run as Fast as You Can); and Per Nilsson’s Otopia (Otopia). Wahl is inspired by Old Norse traditions 66 and describes a Sweden ravaged by environmental catastrophes and populated by feuding families. In Nordin’s book, a fever has obliterated entire populations. A few remaining teenagers struggle to survive. Nilsson’s tale is modelled on a future in which everyone lives a life manipulated by strict rules, but where nothing is quite as it seems. In 2014, the first dystopian tween book was published: Två städer (Two Cities) by Eva Susso. She describes an austere world in which Leon and Anja try to survive, but become separated. Winning picture books One category that’s been blossoming particularly brightly in recent years is picture books. This is due to a new generation of artist-illustrators who have imbued the genre with fresh creativity. Many of this new generation creating picture books have been nominated for or awarded prizes. Karin Salers and Siri Ahmed Backström’s Dom som var kvar (They Who Remain) was awarded the 2014 Snöbollen Award for Swedish picture books. Josefin Sundqvist won the Swedish Writers’ Union’s prize for debut authors for Pappersväxten (The Paper Plant). Malin Axelsson and Klara Persson were nominated for the biggest prize for Swedish literature, the August Prize, for Jag blir en bubbla som blir ett monster som blir ett barn (I Turn into a Bubble, which Turns into a Monster, 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 800 2000 Children’s and YA books published in Sweden 2014 6 18 Book tasting – some flavours and aromas Total published children’s and YA books in Sweden, 2000-2014. which Turns into a Child). What these three books have in common is that they address big existential questions that touch on life, death, sorrow, loneliness and friendship. A Record Year for Swedish Children’s Books Swedish children’s and YA publishing has generally increased during the 2000s, and accounts for approximately ten per cent of book publishing in Sweden. In 2014, it reached record levels. A total of 1860 books were published, an increase of over five per cent compared to 2013. Sales of children’s and YA books have also increased. Over the last few years, more Swedish than translated books have been published. Historically the opposite has been true. Factual Information The Swedish Institute for Children’s Books is a national centre for children’s and young adult literature. The Institute carries out and promotes research and dissemination of research findings, and has a dedicated library with one of the world’s largest collections of theoretical literature on the subject. It is funded by the Minstry of Education and Research. 67 Photo: Klara Rasmussen Photo: Ralf Gyllenvråk Photo: Angelica Zander Photo: Martin Stenmark Photo: Stefan Tell Photo: Jimmy Eriksson Photo: Eva Lindblad Photo: Martin Stenmark Photo: Olika Photo: Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin Photo: Sara Mac Key Photo: Lars Andrén Photo: Max Palm Photo: Richard Gustafsson Photo: Gabriel Liljevall Photo: private Photo: Jonas Adner Photo: Ulrica Zwenger Photo: Karl Thorsson Photo: Martin Edvardsson Photo: Cato Lein Photo: Nadja Hallström Photo: Leif Hansen Photo: Henric Lindsten Photo: Pontus Orre Photo: Hillevi Nagel Photo: Jan-Åke Eriksson Photo: Mia Carlsson Photo: Patrik Nilsson Photo: Olika Photo: Nicklas Thegerström Photo: Caroline Andersson Photo: Sara Mac Key Photo: David Brandt Photo: Snezana Vucetic Bohm Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson Photo: Bonnier Carlsen Photo: Ulla Montan Photo: Henric Lindsten Photo: Paula Tranströmer Photo: Trinidad Carrillo Photo: Sara Mac Key Photo: Karl Thorsson Photo: Fredrik Hjerling Photo: Ola Kjelbye Photo: Roger Nellsjö Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson Photo: Eva Strindlund Photo: Sofia Runarsdotter Photo: Hippo Photo: Natur & Kultur Photo: Martin Stenmark Photo: Jörgen Linder Photo: Caroline Andersson 69 68 Sara Olausson Mia Nilsson Mia Öström Elisabeth Östnäs Emelie Östergren Helena Öberg Alejandro Leiva Wenger Ellen Karlsson Sven Olov Karlsson Jonas Karlsson Linna Johansson Karin Johannisson Emma Virke Johanna Thydell Annika Thor Jesper Svenbro Mats Strandberg Gunnar Harding Sara Hallström Carola Hansson Fabian Göranson Lars Gustafsson Viveka Sjögren Jessica Schiefauer Matilda Ruta Johan Rundberg Lena Ollmark Anja Gatu Katarina Frostenson Åsa Foster Kristofer Folkhammar Aris Fioretos Johanna Lindbäck Kristin Lidström Tomas Lappalainen Maria Küchen Niklas Krog Alma Kirlic Jonas Hassen Khemiri Martin Kellerman Eva Lindström Pija Lindenbaum Jonas Lindén Mattias Edvardsson Cecilia Davidsson Gunilla Boëthius Lisa Bjärbo Sara Bergmark Elfgren Photo: Lina Alriksson Authors Knut Larsson Maria Källström Aase Berg Malin Axelsson Emelie Andrén Karin Ahlin Emma Adbåge Autumn 2015 New swedish books Autumn 2015 New swedish books Publishers and rights holders Agentur Literatur Gudrun Hebel +49 (0)30 25799266, +49 (0)30 34707767 [email protected] www.agentur-literatur.de Berghs förlag AB Box 45084 SE -104 30 Stockholm +46 (0)8 31 65 59 [email protected] www.berghsforlag.se Ahlander Agency Västmannag. 73 SE -113 26 Stockholm +46 (0)8 27 54 55 [email protected] www.ahlanderagency.com Bokförlaget Atlas Sveavägen 61 SE-113 59 Stockholm +46 (0)8-522 574 59 [email protected] www.bokforlagetatlas.se Albert Bonniers förlag Box 3159 SE -103 63 Stockholm +46 (0)8 696 86 20 [email protected] www.albertbonniersforlag.se Bokförlaget Forum AB Box 3159 SE -103 63 Stockholm +46 (0)8 696 84 40 [email protected] www.forum.se Alfabeta Box 4284 SE -102 66 Stockholm +46 (0)8 714 36 32 AnnaKaisa Danielsson [email protected] www.alfabeta.se Bonnier Carlsen Bokförlag AB Box 3159 SE -103 63 Stockholm +46 (0)8 696 89 30 [email protected] www.bonniercarlsen.se Alvina förlag Björnsonsgatan 25 SE -168 43 Bromma +46 (0)70 22 81 903 Kristina Hoas [email protected] www.alvinaforlag.se B. Wahlström SE -Box 6630 113 84 Stockholm  +46 (0)8 409 30 700 [email protected] www.wahlstroms.se Bonnier Rights Box 3159 SE -103 63 Stockholm +46 (0)8 696 89 10 www.bonnierrights.se Children’s books contact: Ludvig Kullander [email protected] Fiction contact: Amanda Bertolo Alderin amanda.bertolo.alderin@ bonnierrights.se 70 Carina Deschamps Agency [email protected] www.carinadeschamps.com Colombine Teaterförlag Gaffelgränd 1A SE-111 30 Stockholm Telefon: +46 (0)8 411 70 85 [email protected] www.colombine.se ellerströms förlag Stora Fiskaregatan 9 I SE -222 24 Lund +46 (0)46-32 32 95 [email protected] www.ellerstroms.se Gilla böcker Bergsundsgatan 25 bv SE -117 37 Stockholm +46 (0)709 942 160 [email protected] www.gillabocker.se Grand Agency Vanadisvägen 41 SE -113 23 Stockholm Sweden +46 (0)8 444 47 47 [email protected] www.grandagency.se Hedlund Literary Agency Box 2262 SE -113 16 Stockholm +46 (0)70 669 05 68 Magdalena Hedlund [email protected] www.hedlundagency.se Hippo förlag Malmgårdsvägen 55A SE -116 38 Stockholm +46 (0)8 684 39 550 marianne.lindfors@ hippobokforlag.se [email protected] www.hippobokforlag.se Mirando bok c/o Jenny Franke Wikberg Utkiksbacken 17 117 67 Stockholm +46 (0)709 28 59 23 Jenny Franke Wikberg [email protected] www.mirandobok.se Kartago förlag Box 3159 SE -103 63 Stockholm +46 (0)8 696 84 94 Rolf Classon [email protected] www.kartago.se Modernista Group AB ”Garaget” Kvarngatan 10 SE -118 47 Stockholm +46 (0)8 702 04 11 Pär Sjölinder [email protected] www.modernista.se Kabusa Böcker Box 14001 SE -400 20 Göteborg +46 (0)31 85 95 80 Kerstin Aronsson [email protected] www.kabusabocker.se Kolik förlag Box 2052 SE -103 12 Stockholm 0703-21 42 72 +46 (0)70 21 42 72 Josefin Svenske [email protected] www.kolikforlag.se Lind & Co Box 2036 SE -103 11 Stockholm +46 (0)8 643 38 46 [email protected] www.lindco.se Lilla Piratförlaget Kaptensgatan 6 SE -114 57 Stockholm +46 (0)8 412 13 50 Erik Titusson [email protected] www.lillapiratforlaget.se Massolit agency Box 6630, SE -113 84 stockholm +46 (0)8 409 30 700 Karin Alexandersson [email protected] www.massolit.se Natur & Kultur Box 27323 SE -102 54 Stockholm +46 (0)8 453 87 35 www.nok.se Fiction: Nina Eidem [email protected] Children’s books: Catharina Lantz [email protected] www.nok.se Nordin Agency Box 4022 SE -102 61 Stockholm Joakim Hansson +46 (0)40 6116939 [email protected] www.nordinagency.se Norstedts förlag Box 2052 SE -103 12 Stockholm +46 (0)10 744 22 00 [email protected] www.norstedts.se Olika förlag Torggatan 6 SE -582 19 Linköping +46 (0)708 62 28 08 Marie Tomicic [email protected] www.olika.nu Opal Tegelbergsvägen 31 SE -168 66 Bromma +46 (0)8 28 21 79 Catrine Christell [email protected] www.opal.se 71 Rabén & Sjögren Agency Box 2052 SE -103 12 Stockholm +46 (0)10 744 21 11 Kerstin Öberg kerstin.oberg@ rabensjogren.se www.rabensjogren.se Rabén & Sjögren Bokförlag Box 2052 SE -103 12 Stockholm +46 (0)8 789 88 00 [email protected] www.rabensjogren.se Salomonsson Agency Götgatan 27 SE -116 21 Stockholm +46 (0)8 22 32 11 [email protected] www.salomonssonagency.se Wahlström & Widstrand Box 3159 SE -103 63 Stockholm +46 (0)8 696 84 80 [email protected] www.wwd.se Swedish Arts Council Box 27215 SE -102 53 Stockholm www.swedishliterature.se Susanne Bergström Larsson, Co-ordinator & Translation grants +46 (0)8 519 264 83 susanne.bergstrom.larsson@ kulturradet.se Zoi Santikos, Literature project-, travel- and events grants +46 (0)8 519 264 87 [email protected] Susanna Höijer, Translator’s travel grants +46 (0)8 519 264 50 [email protected] New swedish books Grants The Swedish Arts Council offers support for translations, projects, travels for publishers, organizations, and translators of Swedish literature. For more information – see www.swedishliterature.se GRANTS FOR TRAVEL AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE FOR TRANSLATORS OF SWEDISH LITERATURE The Swedish Arts Council is responsible for allocating funds for work-related travel and skill improvement activities for translators of Swedish literature and drama. Professional translators of Swedish literature and drama may apply for these grants. Swedish literature means literature that is written in Swedish, or any of the national minority languages, and published in Sweden. any of the national minority languages rather than via any third language. The publisher must have the rights to publication of the work in the said language, and must have signed a contract with the translator. The application can only be made by publishers within the Nordic countries. Open for application: 8 September – 6 October 2015 Application deadlines for 2016 will be posted on our website at the end of December. Open for application: 20 October – 17 November 2015 Application deadlines for 2016 will be posted on our website at the end of December. GRANTS FOR LITERATURE PROJECTS AND TRAVEL The objective of this grant is to support literary events and international exchange which promote high quality Swedish literature and drama internationally. Foreign publishers may apply for funding to help cover the cost of inviting Swedish authors for book launches, literature festivals and similar events. Organizations may apply for funding for projects or international exchanges. Projects can include, but are not limited to, translation seminars, collaborative literary projects and themed events. Financial support may also be awarded to information campaigns and publications aimed at promoting Swedish literature internationally. TRANSLATION GRANTS FOR SWEDISH LITERATURE The support scheme applies both to fiction for children and adults, comics and non-fiction, and could be granted for either translation costs or both translation and production costs for foreign editions of Swedish books, such as fully illustrated children’s books, non-fiction or comics and graphic novels. Foreign publishers can also apply for support for translation of Swedish plays to be published in book form. One condition is that the translation must be done directly from Swedish or any of the national minority languages rather than via any third language. Open for application: 20 October – 17 November 2015 Application deadlines for 2016 will be posted on our website at the end of December. Open for application: 8 September – 6 October 2015 Application deadlines for 2016 will be posted on our website at the end of December. GÖTEBORG BOOK FAIR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM – FOR TRANSLATORS, PUBLISHERS AND SUB-AGENTS The Swedish Arts Council and the Göteborg Book Fair together provide funding for translators, non-Nordic publishers and subagents interested in attending the Göteborg Book Fair. Non-Nordic publishers and subagents who are interested in publishing/working with Swedish literature of high quality can apply. Translators of Swedish literature can also apply for this grant. The grant will cover a part of the travel cost, accommodation for 3 nights, and entrance card to all seminars at the fair. The program is partly booked, with information meetings, lectures, and evening activities, and partly open to individual programs. TRANSLATION and production GRANTS FOR STAGE PERFORMANCE OF SWEDISH DRAMA The translation must be made directly from Swedish or any of the national minority languages rather than via any third language. Application for this support scheme may only be filed by the theatre where the Swedish translation will be performed, and the applicant must have the right to perform the play in question and have signed a contract with the translator. Open for application: 8 September – 6 October 2015 Application deadlines for 2016 will be posted on our website at the end of December. Open for application: Application deadline for 2016 will be posted on our website at the end of December. TRANSLATION GRANTS FOR PUBLICATION OF SWEDISH LITERATURE IN OTHER NORDIC LANGUAGES The translation must be made directly from Swedish or 2 © The Swedish Arts Council 2015 Texts Sofia Gydemo (Children’s and Young Adult Literature), Björn Kohlström (prose, poetry), Alexandra Sundqvist (comics), Åsa Warnqvist (Book Tasting) Translations Nichola Smalley (Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Comics, Book Tasting), Anna Tebelius (Prose, Poetry) Editor Andreas Åberg, Swedish Arts Council Graphic design Dalston Creative Printed by Leanders grafiska Front cover Jonas Karlsson (see page 18) Back cover Pija Lindenbaum (see page 31)