Vilma Kadlečková
Vilma Kadlečková (b. 1971) has written the comprehensive pentalogy Mycelium, a distinct paragon of contemporary science fiction. The author, known primarily for her achievements in the 1990s, has returned after a hiatus with a complex work positing humanity as merely a lesser-developed species within the universe. The majority of her works belong to the “Legends of Argenite” cycle. These are tales straddling the boundaries between science fiction and fantasy (‘science fantasy’, ‘psychotronic science fiction’).They map the history of the future universe, which will be similar to to to ours, but contains the mineral “argenite”: a fictional source of energy endowed with psychotronic powers. For the first part of her Mycelium saga, Vilma Kadlečková received the Book of the Year award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, as well as the Best Original Czech and Slovak Book of 2013. This year Vilma Kadlečková won the top award in the field of fantasy for the eighth volume.
WINNER OF THE GREATEST LITERARY PRIZE IN CZECHIA (2023)
MYCELIUM SERIES
2013–2023, 8 books
Rights sold to: Russia (AST)
Available material: English summary, English sample
A milestone in Czech fantasy, which in terms of originality and complexity can compete with the best foreign sagas of a similar style
Vilma Kadlečková’s eight-part saga Mycelium is one of the most daring undertakings in the history of Czech fiction. At first glance, it impresses with its size (over 3,700 pages in total), but also with the sophistication and complexity of its fantastic fictional world. The unique universe, initially ruled by the mycelial, technology-wielding planet Osse, contains a far-future version of Earth, where humanity is forced to resist the slowly spreading cultural and technological influence of the Osseans. The series is a blend of science fiction and political thriller, but also contains a number of reflections on contemporary issues – including the role of church and religion in our lives, the paradox of exceptionalism that never comes without a price, and the age-old struggle between power and the responsibility that comes with it. Vilma Kadlečková has created a work as original and complex as the best foreign sagas of a similar style, a milestone in Czech fiction that cannot be overlooked.
Mycelium series by Vilma Kadlečková_summary
“Kadlečková enters enthusiastically into the minds of her heroes; at key moments she grills them before the eyes of the reader. It’s as if you were watching a scene from a Quentin Tarantino film. When reading, you will struggle to catch your breath, and experience an intense feeling of empathy with the book’s heroes. And all this despite the fact that you will not encounter one unequivocally positive character.”
— Reflex
From the sample translation
“You don’t know how to kill,’ said Össean. ‚You would be glad to avoid it. You are agreeing to it now because you think that when my back is turned you can ask those two for help. You think that if you confide in them, that will rid you of your responsibility. But be aware of the fact that if you warn them, you will lose the chance to discreetly carry out what you have to. You will not be rid of your responsibility as you hope, only the opportunity to choose. And then you will die with them.’ He fell silent. ’So don’t be rash,’ he added. ’I’ll send you the code which allows you to bypass the ship’s safety systems. When you enter it onto the plasmodial keypad, the transfer chamber will open on both sides regardless of whether there is air in the cabin. The vacuum will pull both passengers into space. It’s a clean way of doing it. There is no dirty work afterwards — no removal of bodies or washing away the blood. All we ask of you is a few minutes of inconvenience.”
