Troy's distinctive aesthetic sensibility
The decisive names for the 20th season of the much-anticipated National Literary Prize "Big Book" have been unveiled, shifting the usual one-category format to an exciting two-category showdown. With only two top positions available, seven fierce contenders battle it out in the non-fiction category, while eight formidable foes square off in the fiction category. Mikhail Prokhorov ponders whether this fresh format will ignite fiercer competition between the books vying for supremacy in their respective categories.
The shortlisted authors traditionally make their grand entrance in early June, at GUM, though this time, it diverged from the familiar Ice Cream Day unveiling. The third-floor demonstration hall remained bustling, with no vacant seats half an hour prior to the event, perhaps due to the lesser number of established authors this year and the streamlined longlist count (40, in comparison to 50 from previous seasons).
Rumors speculated a smaller shortlist, with only ten finalists, based on the hypothesis of ten bouquets on stage. Others fervently believed in success for established authors like Andrei Dmitriyev with "Troitsky Wind" and German Sadulayev with "Nobody Can Live This Life" in the fiction category, or for Eduard Verkin with "Forty on the Gallows," who has drawn considerable attention from "adult" critics with prior works such as "Sakhalin Island" and "SNARK."
Yet, before the commotion could escalate, the trumpets blared, and the presentations began. Dmitry Danilov, the Chairman of the Advisory Board, accentuated the significance of "Big Book" as a dependable beacon in the vast ocean of books for readers and a compelling motivation for contemporary Russian writers. Intriguing fans and critics alike, he unveiled the shortlist in the first instance to feature two categories, expressing his hope that this updated structure has increased fairness and piqued interest.
The stage soon brimmed with bouquets as five out of seven participants from the non-fiction shortlist and eight out of eight finalists in the fiction category made their mark. Kommersant's predictions mostly held true, with the Expert Council acknowledging works from Elena Holmogorova, Andrei Rubanov, Zoya Boguslavskaya, Vyacheslav Kuritsyn, Elena Levkievskaya, Evfrosiniya Kapustina, and Ludmila Weber in the non-fiction category, alongside new additions by Anna Basner, Anna Shipilova, and journalist Maxim Semelyak in the fiction category.
While the promised intrigue in the non-fiction category has already waned due to the uncontroversial choice and the specificity of the subjects, the second category remains shrouded in mystery. Literature enthusiasts will be perplexed when faced with selecting between authors known for their sustained critical acclaim (Dmitriyev and Maya Kucherskaya), up-and-coming favorites (Verkin and Vera Bogdanova), and three completely new names.
Given the contest's responsibility to impress and generate excitement, one expects the contrasting of superstar authors with budding talents (why aren't Viktor Pelevin, Aleksey Ivanov, or Aleksey Salnikov on the shortlist?), political ideologies against proponents of "pure art" (where is Akhmed Sakhautdinov?), or thought-provoking topics (a nod to Anna Basner's "The Paradox of Theseus" and Andrei Dmitriev's novel could have added intrigue, and perhaps "Perseus" by Andrei Volos could have joined the party) might have bolstered tension. While who's missing out may be an insurmountable issue, the real challenge lies in the award's ability to effectively engage audiences, cultivate dialogue, and showcase its worth.
Only time will tell if an imminent storm will develop and breathe life into the calm seas, revealing the award's true potential. By December, perhaps the tranquility will give way to something extraordinary.
The Kommersant's predictions for the"Big Book" shortlist were mostly accurate, with books from Elena Holmogorova, Andrei Rubanov, Zoya Boguslavskaya, Vyacheslav Kuritsyn, Elena Levkievskaya, Evfrosiniya Kapustina, and Ludmila Weber in the non-fiction category, and several new names in the fiction category, including Anna Basner, Anna Shipilova, and journalist Maxim Semelyak. The fiction category remains shrouded in mystery, as literature enthusiasts will have to choose between established authors like Dmitriyev and Kucherskaya, up-and-coming favorites like Verkin and Bogdanova, and three entirely new names.
The non-fiction category, despite the uncontroversial choice and the specificity of the subjects, has already lost some of its initial intrigue, leading fans and critics to wonder if the contest's true potential will be fully realized by December, when the tranquility might give way to something extraordinary.
