20
times until today, and the short stories are
inspired by old as well as new myths. The
myth of Homer’s Odysseus, Apollonas
and Daphne, or the legendary “assassins”
made famous thanks to Marco Polo, Jorge
Luis Borges or Dan Brown, coexist and are
mixed with incidents from contemporary
mythology from the world of show business
and globalisation. The myths are undermined
through a judgemental eye that investigates
and transforms aspects of modern life into
punchy narrative, while at the same time they
are offered as material for an investigation
into the limits of human consciousness, and as
a means of consultation over the basic issues
of time, love, friendship and communication
at a time of crisis for the values of the western
civilisation. The juicy language, imaginative
narrative, and dominant ironic stance make for
an enjoyable read.
Best New Writer Shortlist
Choreftes
(Dancers), by Eftychia Panagiotou
(Kedros Publications)
Oi mythoi: Diigimata
, by George Panagi
(Gavrielides Publications)
Dasos lykon
(Forrest of wolves), by Anthea
Christodoulou
Theophilou
(Gavrielides
Publications)
Children’s Literature
The State Prize for
Children’s Literature
published in 2014
was awarded to Maria
Olympiou, by majority
decision of the Judging
Committee, for her
work
Rochalizoun oi
ouranoxystes;
(Do
skyscrapers snore?).
The book comprises twelve small fairy-tales
that refer to the concerns, questions and dreams
that characterise childhood, in an original,
superrealistic and often poetic way. Organised
through the mechanism of word associations
and dreamy images, it moves beyond the
linear development of the narrative. As a
whole, it gives the impression of a narrative
for a dream that is transforming. All texts
are laced with humour and combined with
the surrealistic elements of reality reversal,
associations and imagination; they not only
pique the small children’s interest, but also
contribute to opening up their real world. The
author, with superrealistic images that are the
result of random meetings of words, realities,
faces and objects, creates a world filled with
astounding situations. Acquiring thus a sense
of freedom and power, the words contribute
to familiarising small readers with feelings,
situations and life values in a creative and
pleasant way, broadening the horizons of their
expectations. The unexpected bewilderment of
the fictional heroine over whether the desert or
skyscrapers snore is the springboard for the first
and final fairy-tales, which touch upon serious
issues such as different cultures, conceptions
and everyday life in Africa and America, but in
a pleasant and fun way. A surrealistic approach
to reality in a funny and paradoxical way allows
the author, by animating animals and objects,
to compose a series of stories that touch upon
self-acceptance, reaching goals, dreams and
desires, seeking success, loneliness, isolation,
but also the value of sociability and freedom.
The collection also makes clear reference to
the modern reality, its trials and tribulations.
The book stimulates the creative imagination
of children and transforms them from “passive
viewers” to live participants in the competitive
process.
Children’s Literature Shortlist
To kokkino forema tis Savel
(Savel’s red
dress), by Marina Michaelidou-Kadi (Parga
publications)
I opera tis mantaras
(The botched opera), by
Frixos Michaelides (Parga publications)
Rochalizoun oi ouranoxystes?,
by Maria
Olympiou (Neo Kyma publications)
I mathitevomeni psychoula ke o kakos lykos
(The apprentice soul and the bad wolf), by
Costas Petrides (Mikrokyklos publications)
Malaika
, by Lakis Fourouklas
