Andrzej Ziemiański, also known as Patrick Shoughnessy (born 17 February 1960), is a Polish author of
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures.
The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
, science fiction,
thriller
Thriller may refer to:
* Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television
** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre
Comics
* ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...
and crime, who by 2012 have sold over 500,000 copies of his books. Ziemiański was educated as an architect and he holds a PhD in architecture.
Ziemiański is best known for his epic fantasy/sci-fi series
Achaia
Achaea () or Achaia (), sometimes transliterated from Greek as Akhaia (, ''Akhaḯa'', ), is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Western Greece and is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The ...
. His ''Achaia'' series was deemed to be one of the most important novels in modern Polish fantasy and it was called by
Science Fiction magazine
A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard-copy periodical format or on the Internet. Science fiction magazines traditionally featured speculative fiction in short story, novelette, nov ...
a series, which started a new era. Ziemiański fashioned a world that transgressed the border between life and fiction. The main protagonist of the series, Achaia, became synonymous with a certain type of female character and numerous readers identified with her. The novel entered
Polish fantasy
Science fiction and fantasy in Poland dates to the late 18th century. However, science fiction as a genre in Polish literature truly began to emerge at the end of the 19th century under the influence of Jules Verne's work. During the latter yea ...
canon, and the author became one of the most recognizable brands in the Polish publishing market.
His novels and short stories often top bestseller lists and popularity rankings. The author has been called the creator of "Polish urban fantasy" genre.
In 1997 he was one of the creators and the first chief editor of ''
Fahrenheit
The Fahrenheit scale () is a scale of temperature, temperature scale based on one proposed in 1724 by the German-Polish physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736). It uses the degree Fahrenheit (symbol: °F) as the unit. Several accou ...
'', the first Polish
Internet
The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
science fiction fanzine
A science-fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science-fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day. They were one of the earliest forms of fanzine, within one of which the term "''fanzine''" ...
. In 2004, as he claims, he was thrown out by
Eugeniusz Dębski
Eugeniusz Dębski (b. 26 January 1952; sometimes referred to as ''EuGeniusz'', a word-play coined after the Polish word for genius) is a Polish science-fiction writer and translator of Russian literature.
Born in Truskavets (then in USSR), ea ...
. According to other members of the editorial office, Ziemiański left it himself.
Biography
Andrzej Ziemiański was born in
Wrocław
Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...
,
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
, where he grew up and settled. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at Wroclaw University of Technology in 1983. Subsequently, he worked as a fellow researcher and professor in various institutions. In 1992, he acquired a PhD in technical sciences.
Ziemiański started publishing short stories and novels in 1978, at first in the sci-fi genre. However, his focus gradually changed and he wrote a mainstream novel ''Miecz Orientu'', which was published in episodes in the prestigious ''
Twórczość
''Twórczość'' (, Creativity, or Creative Output) is a Polish monthly literary journal, first published in 1945. Since 1 April 2000, ''Twórczość'' has been published by the state-funded Book Institute (Instytut Książki).Janusz A. Zajdel Award. At the 2002 Sfinks Awards, four various Ziemiański’s short stories won subsequently: seventh, third, second and first prize.
During that time, the first part of ''
Achaia
Achaea () or Achaia (), sometimes transliterated from Greek as Akhaia (, ''Akhaḯa'', ), is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Western Greece and is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The ...
'' (2002) trilogy was published and it quickly became the bestselling book at the main Polish chain bookstore,
Empik
Empik (stylised as empi̓k) is a Polish commercial chain selling books, international Print media, press and media products (including film, music, and software). The chain also owns a photo company, Empik Foto, as well as a foreign language schoo ...
. The trilogy strengthened the author's position by settling into the Polish canon of fantasy genre. The following ''Achaia'' volumes (as well as their continuation – ''Pomnik cesarzowej Achai''
012 012 may refer to:
* Tyrrell 012, a Formula One racing car
* The dialing code for Pretoria
Pretoria ( ; ) is the Capital of South Africa, administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive br ...
would top bestseller lists. Ziemiański's other novels were also well-received leading publishers' books rankings .
From 2010, Ziemiański writes a blog regarding railways, which was awarded the first prize by the Social Media, Poland, in the category of Corporate Blog.
Since 2010, the author teaches Creative Writing at the Faculty of Journalism at
University of Wroclaw
A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...
.
Ziemiański's novels and short stories were translated into Czech, Slovak and Russian language.
Awards
* 2000, 2001, 2002 – first prize for Best Short Story of the Year from Nowa Fantastyka magazine
* 2001 Sfinks Award, Polish Short Story of the Year, „Bomba Heisenberga”
* 2002 Janusz A. Zajdel Award, „Autobahn nach Poznań”
* 2002 Sfinks Award, Polish Short Story of the Year, „Waniliowe plantacje Wrocławia”
* Bacchus Cup, „Autobahn nach Poznań”
* 2003 Nautilus, „Zapach szkła”
* 2003 Nautilus, Achaia volume 2
* 2003 Sfinks Award, Polish Short Story of the Year, „Legenda, czyli pijąc wódkę we Wrocławiu w 1999 roku”
* 2003 Sfinks Award, Polish Novel of the Year, Achaia
* 2004 Janusz A. Zajdel Award, „Zapach szkła”
* 2004 Sfinks Award, Polish Short Story of the Year, „Zapach szkła”
* 2010 Social Media, Poland, Best Corporate blog wroclawnowyglowny.pl/blog
Bibliography
Novels
* ''Wojny urojone'' (Iskry 1987, , w odcinkach w „Kurierze Polskim” oraz w Programie III Polskiego Radia)
* ''Zabójcy szatana'' (KAW 1989, , wspólnie z Andrzejem Drzewińskim, w odcinkach w Kurierze Polskim)
* ''Bramy strachu'' (Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie 1990, , wznowienie: 2006, )
* ''Nostalgia za Sluag Side'' (KAW 1990, wspólnie z Andrzejem Drzewińskim)
* ''Dziennik czasu plagi'' (Europa 1991, oraz w odcinkach w Polskim Radiu Wrocław)
* ''Przesiadka w przedpieklu'' (CIA-Books/SVARO 1991, , pod pseudonimem Patrick Shoughnessy, wznowiona pod własnym nazwiskiem jako ''Przesiadka w piekle'', DW Ares 2004, )
* ''Miecz Orientu'', Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie 2006, .
* ''Toy wars'', Fabryka Słów 2008, .
* ''Breslau forever'', Fabryka Słów 2008, .
* ''Ucieczka z Festung Breslau'' (tytuł autora: ''The Holmes''), Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie 2009, .
* ''Das Building'' (jak sam pisarz informuje: powieść jest skończona i wstępnie zredagowana, jednak z uwagi na niezadowalający autora efekt, szanse na to by została wydana są bardzo nikłe)
* ''Wzgórze zwane Cymbo'' (początkowo powieść miała nosić tytuł ''Czarownice'', prace nad powieścią zostały przerwane. Fragment został opublikowany w antologii Strefa Mroku)
* ''Żołnierze grzechu'', Wydawnictwo Bukowy Las 2010, .
* ''Za progiem grobu'', Fabryka Słów 2012, .
''Achaia''
*
Achaia
Achaea () or Achaia (), sometimes transliterated from Greek as Akhaia (, ''Akhaḯa'', ), is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Western Greece and is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The ...
** tom I (Fabryka Słów 2002, )
** tom II (Fabryka Słów 2003, )
** tom III (Fabryka Słów 2004, )
* '' Pomnik Cesarzowej Achai''
** tom I (Fabryka Słów 2012)
** tom II (Fabryka Słów 2013)
** tom III (Fabryka Słów 2014)
** tom IV (Fabryka Słów 2014)
** tom V (Fabryka Słów 2014)
* ''Virion''
** ''Wyrocznia'' - tom I (Fabryka Słów 2017, )
** ''Obława'' - tom II (Fabryka Słów 2018, )
** ''Adept'' - tom III (Fabryka Słów 2019, )
** ''Szermierz'' - tom IV (Fabryka Słów 2019, )
* ''Szermierz Natchniony''
** ''Zamek'' - tom I (Fabryka Słów 2021, )
** ''Pustynia'' - tom II (Fabryka Słów 2022, )
** ''Legion'' - tom III (Fabryka Słów 2023, )
* ''Legenda''
** ''Krew'' - tom I (Fabryka Słów 2024, )
** ''Ona'' - tom II (Fabryka Słów 2025, )
Short story anthologies
* ''Daimonion'' (Iskry 1985, , opowiadania: ''Blisko granicy'', ''Czekając na barbarzyńców'', ''Daimonion'', ''Koloryt lokalny'', ''Port'', ''Reguły gry'', ''Twarze'', ''Zakład zamknięty'')
* ''Zapach szkła'' (Fabryka Słów 2004, , opowiadania: ''Autobahn nach Poznań'', ''Bomba Heisenberga'', ''Zapach szkła'', ''Waniliowe plantacje Wrocławia'', ''Legenda, czyli pijąc wódkę we Wrocławiu w 1999 roku'', ''Lodowa opowieść'', ''Czasy, które nadejdą'')
* ''Toy Wars'' (Fabryka Słów 2008, opowiadania: ''Toy Toy Song'', ''Toy Trek'', minipowieść ''Toy Wars – Wojownik Ostatecznej Zagłady'')
* ''A jeśli to ja jestem Bogiem'' (tytuł roboczy – zbiór w przygotowaniu. Planowane wydanie – połowa roku 2013. Opowiadania: ''A jeśli to ja jestem Bogiem'', ''Polski dom'', ''Wypasacz'', ''Chłopaki, wszyscy idziecie do piekła'', ''Pułapka Tesli'')
Short stories
* ''Zakład zamknięty'' („Sigma” 101, 1978–1979, „
Fantastyka
''Nowa Fantastyka'' (established as ''Fantastyka'' in 1982, renamed in 1990) is a Polish speculative fiction monthly fantasy and science fiction magazine. It is the leading and oldest of the Polish magazines on this topic.
History
''Fantastyk ...
" 2/1982, zbiór ''Daimonion'', Iskry 1985, antologia "Spotkanie w przestworzach 4", KAW 1985)
* ''Twarze'' (antologia ''Bunt robotów'' Gorzowski Klub Miłośników Fantastyki i Fantastyki Naukowej 1980, zbiór ''Daimonion'', Iskry 1985)
* ''Koloryt lokalny'' ("Sigma" 120/121, 1980–1981, zbiór ''Daimonion'', Iskry 1985, antologia ''Spotkanie w przestworzach 4'', KAW 1985)
* ''Blisko granicy'' (fanzin "No Wave" 01-02 (01) 1982, zbiór ''Daimonion'', Iskry 1985)
* ''Poziom zerowy'' (fanzin "No Wave" 01-02 (01) 1982)
* ''Martwa fala'' (fanzin "No Wave" 01 (03) 1983)
* ''Gra'' (fanzin "No Wave" 02 (04) 1983)
* ''Ghost'' (wspólnie z Andrzejem Drzewińskim, " Młody Technik" 4/1983, "
Science Fiction
Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
Polcon
Polcon is the oldest Polish speculative fiction convention, organized each year in a different place by the local speculative fiction club. The Janusz A. Zajdel Award is awarded during the convention. The first Polcon was held in 1985 in Bła� ...
- Krakon. Tom 2, KAW 1991, "Science Fiction" 6/2001, zbiór ''Zapach szkła'', Fabryka Słów 2004)
* ''Bomba Heisenberga'' ("Nowa Fantastyka" 9/2000, zbiór ''Zapach szkła'', Fabryka Słów 2004)
* ''Toy Toy Song'' ("Science Fiction" 1/2001, zbiór ''Toy'', Fabryka Słów, 2008)
* ''Autobahn nach Poznań'' ("Science Fiction" 2/2001, antologia ''Zajdel 2001'', Fabryka Słów 2002, zbiór ''Zapach szkła'', Fabryka Słów 2004)
* ''Toy Trek'' ("Science Fiction" 4/2001, zbiór ''Toy'', Fabryka Słów'', 2008)
* ''Waniliowe plantacje Wrocławia'' ("Nowa Fantastyka" 9/2001, zbiór ''Zapach szkła'', Fabryka Słów 2004)
* ''Lodowa opowieść'' ("Science Fiction" 5/2002, zbiór ''Zapach szkła'', Fabryka Słów 2004)
* ''Czarownice'' (antologia "Strefa mroku – jedenastu apostołów grozy" – dodatek do czasopisma " Click! Fantasy", grudzień 2002)
* ''Legenda, czyli pijąc wódkę we Wrocławiu w 1999 roku'' ("Nowa Fantastyka" 10-12/2002, zbiór ''Zapach szkła'', Fabryka Słów 2004)
* ''Spadek'' (antologia "Wizje alternatywne 4" Wydawnictwo Solaris 2002)
* ''Ghost II – dwadzieścia lat później'' (wspólnie z Andrzejem Drzewińskim, "Science Fiction" 4/2003)
* ''Zapach szkła'' ("Nowa Fantastyka" 10-12/2003, zbiór ''Zapach szkła'', Fabryka Słów 2004)
* ''Ciężka sprawa'' (antologia "Wizje alternatywne 5" Wydawnictwo Solaris 2004)
* ''Chłopaki, wszyscy idziecie do piekła'' (antologia " PL +50. Historie przyszłości",
Wydawnictwo Literackie
Wydawnictwo Literackie (abbreviated WL, lit. "Literary Press") is a Kraków-based Polish publishing house, which has been referred to as one of Poland's "most respected".
Company history
Since its foundation in 1953, Wydawnictwo Literackie has ...
Official website *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101130183644/http://wroclawnowyglowny.pl/aktualnosci/fantastyczny-dworzec Wrocław Nowy Główny – interview with Andrzej Ziemiański (about the railway station's blog, written by himself)]
Nautilus Award