Tähtifantasia Award Nominees

The Helsinki Science Fiction Society has announced the shortlist for the Tähtifantasia award (for best translated fantasy book published in Finnish last year). The nominees are (accompanied by the jury’s comments):

• Yövartiosto (Night Watch) by Terry Pratchett (Karisto)
  “One of the best tales by the master of humoristic fantasy deals with the essence of time and unjustice in society”
• Tuulen nimi (The Name of the Wind) by Patrick Rothfuss (Kirjava)
  “A debut novel that honors the traditions of fantasy and is of high literary quality, deals with the magic in words and music”
• Viimeinen toivomus (Ostatnie życzenie) by Andrzej Sapkowski (WSOY)
  “A thought-provoking short story collection that utilizes the eastern European fantasy tradition with skill”
• Hiljaisuus soi H-mollissa (The Earth Hums In B-Flat) by Mari Strachan (Karisto)
  “A description of a family that transforms from a murder myster into a growth story; enchants with its magical realism”
• Kuolemattomien kaarti (The Year of Our War) by Steph Swainston (Like)
  “An original, genre blending novel that doesn’t shy away from the brutal”

The Tähtifantasia award winner is decided by a jury of experts, comprising critic Jukka Halme, critic Aleksi Kuutio, writer and editor Anne Leinonen, and the representative of the Risingshadow fantasy fan forum Osmo Määttä.