Fantasy and SciFi in Swedish

[Lady of the Wind]

I couldn't find a thread like this one so I figured I'd start one. I'm looking for good scifi and fantasy in Swedish. I don't mind reading in English at all, but find it refreshing to read in my first language at times. So any suggestions? Goes for books written in Swedish originally as well as books that's translated well.

ETA: This thread goes for discussion about Swedish science fiction and fantasy, by Swedish authors as well as translation. At least that's my intension

[Seli]

You could go back to Selma Lagerlöf I'd assume :p.

Jagannath by Karin Tidbeck is great in English, I don't belief there is a Swedish version but she has some publications in Swedish.

I am kind of curious to hear some opinions on "Den Nya Människan” by Boel Bermann. No idea how good that is though.

Some of the works of Kerstin Ekman I've read in translation seem to border on genre, in a magic realist way.

[JonArryn]

Well, we don't really have any famous or prolific "fantasy writers".

And they don't seem to do that many translations regarding sci-fi and fantasy here. There are some but i wonder how good they really are. I know they have translated ASOIAF, The First LAw and Lies of Locke Lamora, but I would probably guess the original versions are written better. But as you say, sometimes its just more comfortable to read in swedish when that's your native language.

Although I do think our language actually lends itself well to the fantasy language, we have a pretty beautiful and old-sounding language if used correctly. Maybe you or me have to write a fantasy book for adults in order to create a market for it?

Nah, but there are some translations if you look in a book store, but I don't know if there are any in particular that would be good. I haven't read that many fantasy books translated to swedish.

[Eek]

I would consider Erik Granströms "Krönikan om den femte konfluxen" essential - three books are out so far ("Svavelvinter", "Slaktare Små" and "Vredesverk") with a fourth and final volume forthcoming. I consider this series to be as good as anything in sff, even when comparing with international bestsellers.

"Rymdväktaren" and "Nyaga" by Peter Nilsson are excellent scifi-novels.

I have heard good things about "Berättelsen om blodet" by Anders Björkelid, although i haven't read the books myself. They have the look and feel of a Young Adult-series however. The first book is called "Ondvinter".

There is Niklas Krogs "En krigares hjärta" and the sequels to this - I have not read them so I have no other information about them.

Bertil Mårtenssons "Maktens Vägar" is a classic albeit a bit cheesy at times.

Books with fantasy elements not normally associated with the fantasy genre: Astrid Lindgrens "Bröderna Lejonhjärta", "Mio min Mio" and "Ronja Röverdotter", Harry Martinssons "Aniara", Karin Boyes "Kallocain".

More young adult / urban fantasy: "Engelforstrilogin" by Mats Strandberg and Sara Bergmark Elfgren, and of course "Låt den rätte komma in" and other books by John Ajvide Lindqvist.

Translations: Lord of the Rings has been translated twice, with the second one being more true to the original. "Tigana" and "The Fionavar Tapestry" by Guy Gavriel Kay as well as the "Earthsea" books by Ursula Le Guin have competent translations. There are also many other translations for newer works out - GRRM, Robert Jordan, Robin Hobb, Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie and Patrick Rothfuss are all available in Swedish (although I haven't read the translated versions of either of these).

[Lyanna Stark]

Are we allowed to read SFF in Swedish? I thought that sort of stuff was generally frowned upon. :P

I've unfortunately almost given up on reading anything but non-fiction in Swedish, although I do make an exception for poetry and John Ajvide Lindqvist. I'm old enough to know my way around the Smiths and Morrissey + Lovecraft's horror, and if you do "Människohamn" is brilliant and harrowing. "Låt den rätte komma in" is great too. The rest of Ajvide Lindqvist's works are on my "To read" list. Some find his writing style really weird, but I thought it was really evocative and so far I love his anti-hero characters too.

I would consider Erik Granströms "Krönikan om den femte konfluxen" essential - three books are out so far ("Svavelvinter", "Slaktare Små" and "Vredesverk") with a fourth and final volume forthcoming. I consider this series to be as good as anything in sff, even when comparing with international bestsellers.

I think I actually own "Svavelvinter" and just never gave it a try. Perhaps I should!

[Multaniette]

Turtschaninoff's Underfors is an urban fantasy set in Helsinki (a novel enough setting). I was unable to get past the first page the three times I picked it up but YMMV.

[Lady of the Wind]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone :)

Translations: Lord of the Rings has been translated twice, with the second one being more true to the original. "Tigana" and "The Fionavar Tapestry" by Guy Gavriel Kay as well as the "Earthsea" books by Ursula Le Guin have competent translations. There are also many other translations for newer works out - GRRM, Robert Jordan, Robin Hobb, Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie and Patrick Rothfuss are all available in Swedish (although I haven't read the translated versions of either of these).

I read the first translation of Lord of the Rings and thought it was good, but I was only 14 then so that's not much to go by. I haven't wanted to read the other translation since some of the names are different (which bothers me). But if it's closer to the original, maybe I should give it a try. Do you know if it's good? Otherwise I'm very skeptical about translations. Most of the ones I've seen are pretty bad.

Are we allowed to read SFF in Swedish? I thought that sort of stuff was generally frowned upon. :P

Might be, but I don't care. I wanna be able to read in my native language, even if it's such a small one ;)

[Eek]

I read the first translation of Lord of the Rings and thought it was good, but I was only 14 then so that's not much to go by. I haven't wanted to read the other translation since some of the names are different (which bothers me). But if it's closer to the original, maybe I should give it a try. Do you know if it's good? Otherwise I'm very skeptical about translations. Most of the ones I've seen are pretty bad.

The first translation by Åke Ohlmarks from is considered highly controversial, see the Wikipedia article. He is not consistent with naming, adds much more "purple prose" to Tolkiens writing style and even messes up the plot at times (many Swedish readers have come away with the impression that it is Merry rather than Eowyn who kills the witch king of Angmar for example). Erik Anderssons new translation from 2005 is in these respects much better.

However, my first experience with Tolkien came through Ohlmarks, and I really liked the books. It's just that his translation is not very accurate (or consistent) when compared to the original.

[Papirolle]

"Rymdväktaren" and "Nyaga" by Peter Nilsson are excellent scifi-novels.

This!

It is easily the best sci-fi written in Swedish. It's a surreal, highly imaginative, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic love story that is criminally underread.

For fantasy go with Erik Granströms books that start with Svavelvinter.

[Happy Ent]

Lars Gustafsson, Det sälsamma djuret från norr.

I liked that a lot, as far as I can remember.

(http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Det_sällsamma_djuret_från_norr)

[The Marquis de Leech]

The first translation by Åke Ohlmarks from is considered highly controversial, see the Wikipedia article.

This is hilarious:

Ohlmarks' translation remained the only one available in Swedish for forty years, and until his death in 1984, Ohlmarks remained impervious to the numerous complaints and calls for revision from readers. After The Silmarillion was published in 1977, Christopher Tolkien consented to a Swedish translation only on the condition that Ohlmarks have nothing to do with it. After a fire in his home in 1982, Ohlmarks incoherently charged Tolkien fans with arson, and subsequently he published a book connecting Tolkien with "black magic" and Nazism, including fanciful constructions such as deriving the name Saruman from "SA man" with an interposed Ruhm "glory", and conspiracy theories surrounding the Tolkien Society.^[1]

^{I've always loved the fact that Tolkien was an author adept enough at languages to call out foreign translators for erroneous translations into their own language.}

[Papirolle]

Yeah, Åke Ohlmarks was a bit nutty towards the end, to say the least.

[Lady of the Wind]

I had a look at the new translation of LoTR at the library today. Though I don't doubt that it's faithful, it seems to have the same problem as many other translated works: some sentences are translated to be so close to the original that it doesn't read as something you would actually write in Swedish. The result is a language which is technically correct but doesn't feel natural. I read a quote by an author who said that there are no faithful translations which are beautiful and no beautiful translations which are faithful. Might be there's some truth to that.

Also bought Svavelvinter. I'm not feeling like starting a new fantasy series right now so I might hold off on it for a while, but defiantly going to read it sometime this year.

[Night's_King]

I had a look at the new translation of LoTR at the library today. Though I don't doubt that it's faithful, it seems to have the same problem as many other translated works: some sentences are translated to be so close to the original that it doesn't read as something you would actually write in Swedish. The result is a language which is technically correct but doesn't feel natural. I read a quote by an author who said that there are no faithful translations which are beautiful and no beautiful translations which are faithful. Might be there's some truth to that.

Also bought Svavelvinter. I'm not feeling like starting a new fantasy series right now so I might hold off on it for a while, but defiantly going to read it sometime this year.

Well, from todays point of view LotR doesn't sound natural in english as well, because of it's archaic writing.

[Lady of the Wind]

Well, from todays point of view LotR doesn't sound natural in english as well, because of it's archaic writing.

I guess I expressed myself badly, because that's not exactly what I meant (I know the language is archaic, I've read it the old translation as well as some passages in English). I meant that some sentences are constructed in a way that makes it obvious it's a translation. Sometimes it's a use of word or a way of expressing something. I don't have any examples from the book but in general it can be something like "Are you okay" being translated word for word, even though you say the same thing differently in Swedish. Not sure if this makes any sense, but I don't know how to explain it.

If you've read the translation I stand corrected, though. I only read a few passages.

[Night's_King]

I guess I expressed myself badly, because that's not exactly what I meant (I know the language is archaic, I've read it the old translation as well as some passages in English). I meant that some sentences are constructed in a way that makes it obvious it's a translation. Sometimes it's a use of word or a way of expressing something. I don't have any examples from the book but in general it can be something like "Are you okay" being translated word for word, even though you say the same thing differently in Swedish. Not sure if this makes any sense, but I don't know how to explain it.

If you've read the translation I stand corrected, though. I only read a few passages.

Well, sadly I don't speak swedish (only a little danish since I'm from northern Germany). But I think I understand what you mean. Sometimes translations are just wrong. But I like to read german translations of books, because I like the language. I read most originally english books in english, but everything else in german. Most german translations are great, so it's okay. :D

[Lady of the Wind]

^ I wish there were more scfi/fantasy in Swedish, especially in fantasy since I think our language suits the genre.

I saw Samvetsmakaren by K. G. Johansson at the library, and thought it looked interesting. Apparantly it's a science fiction trilogy. Never heard of it. Anyone know anything? Is it any good?

[Lyanna Stark]

As a sidenote, there is a convention next year on Åland with GRRM as Guest of Honour. Thread here.

[Lady of the Wind]

Thanks Lyanna. I'll check it out.