Seven Terrors

Seven Terrors is a science fiction novel by Selvedin Avdić. Originally published in 2010 in Bosnian, it was translated into English by Coral Petkovich published in the UK by Istros Books in 2012.

Seven Terrors
AuthorSelvedin Avdić
Original titleSedam Strahova
TranslatorCoral Petkovich
LanguageBosnian
GenreScience fiction
PublisherIstros Books
Publication date
2010 (Bosnian)
2012 (English)
AwardsInternational Dublin Literary Award nominated, longlist, 2013

The book, which includes themes of violence, oppression and injustice, is set in post-war Bosnia. The unnamed protagonist, while dealing with depression, navigates an underground mystical world, in search of a lost friend.

The book won praise from literary correspondents Nicholas Lezard and Eileen Battersby. It was nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Award.

Publication

Seven Terrors is the debut novel of Bosnian writer Selvedin Avdić translated into English by Coral Petkovich[1] in 2012.[2] The English language publication is by Istros Books.[3]

The book's Bosnian title is Sedam Strahova.[2]

Synopsis

The book is set in post-war Bosnia.[4] It is narrated by an unnamed former radio journalist. The protagonist, who split with his wife 9 months prior, is struggling with depression and ethnic tensions.[1][4] The protagonist meets Aleksa, the daughter of an old and now missing friend and helps her navigate a mystical underground.[5]

Themes in the book include systemic violence, worker oppression, and injustice.[6]

Critical reception

Nicholas Lezard writing in The Guardian described the book as "remarkable" and states that "This is a story that starts off weird and gets weirder, but with the logic and clamminess of a bad dream. It's quite unlike anything I've read before, but it has all the consistency and force of something major and assured"[1] Ali Alizadeh, writing in the Sydney Review of Books calls the novel "gripping", "spinechilling," and "a terrifically compelling discourse on war, violence and humanity's dark heart".[6] The Irish Times' literary correspondent Eileen Battersby described the book as witty and surreal.[7]

The book was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award in 2013[8] and shortlisted for the Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards 2013.[9] Literalab identified the book their number one on a list of 15 best books of 2012.[10]

References
  1. Lezard, Nicholas (2014-02-05). "Seven Terrors by Selvedin Avdić – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  2. "Title: Sedam strahova". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  3. "Seven Terrors by Selvedin Avdić". Istros Books. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  4. Rachel Cordasco. “What to Read Now: Horror in Translation.” World Literature Today, vol. 93, no. 1, 2019, pp. 8–9. JSTOR, doi:10.7588/worllitetoda.93.1.0008. Accessed 17 Mar. 2023.
  5. "Paperback reviews: The Sea Inside, Seven Terrors, Central Asia Through". The Independent. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  6. Alizadeh, Ali (11 March 2016). "R&R A Novel by Mark Dapin - Review by Ali Alizadeh". Sydney Review of Books. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  7. Battersby, Eileen (9 May 2015). "Girl at War by Sara Novic review: notes from a phony war-torn childhood". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  8. Aw, Tash (2013-11-14). "Impac longlist goes further than other prizes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  9. "2013 Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  10. "Literalab's Best Books of 2012". literalab. 2012-12-24. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
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