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Wilcza zamieć

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Fantasy short story by Jarosław Grzędowicz
Wilcza zamieć
AuthorJarosław Grzędowicz
LanguagePolish
Genrefantasy
PublisherFabryka Słów
Publication date2005, 2008
Publication placePoland

Wilcza zamieć (The Wolf Storm) is a fantasy short story by Jarosław Grzędowicz from 2005. It won the Janusz A. Zajdel Awards. It was first published in the anthology Deszcze niespokojne (The Restless Rains). Three years later, in 2008, it appeared in the collection Wypychacz zwierząt (The Taxidermist). Its content references Norse mythology and World War II.

Plot

Wilcza zamieć combines elements of Norse mythology and Kriegsmarine within the context of Nazi occultism; it is a story about a German submarine at the end of World War II that is tasked with establishing contact with the Scandinavian afterlife.

Reception and analysis

The story was well-received by critics. Adam Florczyk, writing for the portal Paradoks [pl], praised it for its excellent combination of seemingly incongruous elements – the blend of realistic depiction of life on a submarine, the psychological portrayal of a demoralized German crew, contrasted with the humorous depiction of Norse gods, creates a stunning effect. Agnieszka Szady, writing for the zine Esensja [pl], lauded the main character (the author has a talent for creating male characters... with realistic behaviors and motivations that engage the reader fully), the construction of the story (the writer skillfully builds tension and gradually reveals the secrets of the plot), and the background (an extraordinarily vivid, almost cinematic depiction of life and combat on a submarine). In the same zine, Jakub Gałka appreciated the "Lovecraftian" mood, characters, plot, well-used technical jargon, and reflections on attitudes towards war, though he criticized the poorly resolved ending, considering the story a weaker version of David Brin’s Thor Meets Captain America. Jan Bodakowski, writing for the portal Salon24.pl [pl], noted references to the comic Thorgal. Bartosz Szczyżański for Polter.pl called it surprising and fascinating, also noting the perfect preparation of the writer in terms of naval knowledge, military details, and mythology. Michał Sołtysiak, also writing for Polter.pl, described it as a well-crafted war story and a masterpiece. Robert Ziębiński [pl] in Newsweek Polska considered it an engaging, fantastic variation on the famous 'Das Boot' by Lothar-Günther Buchheim.

Years later, in 2021, Maciej Parowski praised Wilcza zamieć, noting that it is a story with a strong atmosphere, where the nautical layer impressed with its expertise, and the mythological layer was frightening.

References

  1. Słupek, Joanna. "Laureaci Nagrody Fandomu Polskiego im. Janusza A. Zajdla" [Laureates of the Janusz A. Zajdel Award for Polish Fandom]. zajdel.art.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2006-07-15.
  2. Pas, Jakub (13 August 2013). "Jarosław Grzędowicz - Wypychacz Zwierząt" [Jarosław Grzędowicz – The Animal Taxidermist]. DarkPlanet Music Magazine (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  3. Mason, Robert. "Fahrenheit nr 48: Jarosław Grzędowicz - Wilcza zamieć (fragment)" [Fahrenheit No. 48: Jarosław Grzędowicz – The Wolf Storm (excerpt)]. www.fahrenheit.net.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  4. ^ Florczyk, Adam (30 July 2008). "Recenzja książki "Wypychacz zwierząt" Jarosława Grzędowicza" [Review of the book 'The Animal Taxidermist' by Jarosław Grzędowicz]. Paradoks (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  5. ^ Szady, Agnieszka (30 September 2008). "'To nie jest świat dla normalnych ludzi'" [This is Not a World for Normal People]. Esensja.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  6. Dunin-Wąsowicz, Paweł (2008). "Wypychacz książek" [Book Taxidermist]. Lampa (in Polish) (7): 57.
  7. Gałka, Jakub (1 October 2008). "Wypychacz antologii" [Anthology Taxidermist]. Esensja.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  8. Bodakowski, Jan (19 August 2013). ""Wypychacz zwierząt" Jarosława Grzędowicza – lektura obowiązkowa" [The Animal Taxidermist by Jarosław Grzędowicz – a must-read]. salon24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  9. Szczyżański, Bartosz (9 July 2008). "Wypychacz zwierząt - Jarosław Grzędowicz. Wypchany po brzegi? (recenzja)" [The Animal Taxidermist – Jarosław Grzędowicz. Packed to the Brim? (review)]. polter.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  10. Sołtysiak, Michał (21 July 2008). "Wypychacz zwierząt - Jarosław Grzędowicz. Czyli teksty jak starzy znajomi (recenzja)" [The Animal Taxidermist – Jarosław Grzędowicz. In Other Words, Texts Like Old Friends (review)]. polter.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  11. Ziębiński, Robert (15 July 2008). "Wypychacz zwierząt" [The Animal Taxidermist]. Newsweek (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  12. Parowski, Maciej (24 August 2021). Wasz cyrk, moje małpy. Chronologiczny alfabet moich autorów [Your Circus, My Monkeys: A Chronological Alphabet of My Authors] (in Polish). Vol. I. Wydawnictwo SQN. p. 459. ISBN 978-83-8129-388-4.
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