Thursday , March 28 2024
Seeing the world through two foreign literature anthologies that captivate, educate and enlighten.

Book Review: The SFWA European Hall of Fame Edited by James and Kathryn Morrow, and Literature from the “Axis of Evil” Edited by Alane Mason, Dedi Felman, Samantha Schnee,

I'm one of those people who can count on one hand the number of times I've been out of the U.S. (even if I included taking the San Diego trolley to Tijuana). I suspect I am far from being in the minority. Still, I am fascinated by foreign countries. I decided to indulge myself last weekend with two books I just heard about. It made for a weekend of delightful and insightful reading.

The first book was The SFWA European Hall of Fame: Sixteen Contemporary Masterpieces of Science Fiction from the Continent, edited by James and Kathryn Morrow. While I stumbled across it in a reference to a panel at Readercon, which runs July 5-8, it is a very welcome addition to the world of science fiction anthologies.

The 16 stories do not depart greatly from traditional SF memes and subjects. Yet they present just a slightly different view or slant, one not so different as to be off putting but enough that you sense a somewhat fresh and unique feel. Translated from French, Russian, Italian, Finnish, Czech, Polish and Romanian, to name a few, the stories seem to have an inherent sense of place that I may well overlook in the works of the well-known American and British SF authors. As such, excellent stories were enhanced by touches both distinct and distinctive.

The other book is equally inimitable: Literature from the "Axis of Evil," an excellent compilation from Words Without Borders. Don't let the book's title or subtitle (Writing from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Other Enemy Nations) mislead you. This is not prose and poetry fomenting, expressing or based upon contempt or hatred for America. This is, insofar as any particular country is concerned, straightforward writing by its citizens, some in exile. Not only is there the so-called "Axis of Evil" itself, there are also works from Cuba, Syria, Libya and the Sudan.

Likely, not all of it will be your cup of tea. But perhaps that is to be expected when we're talking about countries that we frequently do not have but often have lacked the opportunity to learn about the cultural background. Besides, would it truly be foreign literature if some of it did not feel "foreign"? Suffice it to say that, at least to me, the works from the Middle Eastern countries seemed to share a somewhat common, although not universal, feel that stems largely from Arabic traditions, heritages and beliefs.

Yet it also provides firsthand insight into those traditions, beliefs and everyday life, as well as some basic commonality to growing up and human existence. Likewise, the work from Sudan (of which "The Sweetest Tea with the Most Beautiful Woman in the World" seemed particularly compelling) and Cuba also carried their own feel firmly rooted in their unique culture.

Yet what is perhaps most striking — and perhaps best explains why reading literature from our "enemies" helps us understand the people — is the North Korean works. Although certainly unintended by the authors, the stories may be the most explicit portrayal of just how bleak life must be in this authoritarian state. Given state control of the arts and literature, every piece glorifies the North Korean government and, particularly, "the Great Leader," Kim Il Sung. There are also plenty of barbs at Americans, the Japanese and anybody else on Kim's list. Because this is literature as it is known in North Korea, it paints a better picture of North Korean life and society than anything I have read to date.

The purpose of compilations of translated foreign works is a highly beneficial one. The editors at Words Without Borders said it quite well in their book's introduction:

Our hope was that with this book we might simply celebrate diverse works of literature and through them, provide fresh perspectives on the notion of the "enemy nation." Is the "enemy" a particular leader, or a more pervasive ideology? A system of government, a people, a social group? …. we aim simply to stimulate international conversation through literature, with all its complexity and nuanced insights into the ideas, beliefs, daily lives and articles of reference of people of other cultures, who are thinking and writing in languages other than English.

Literature from the "Axis of Evil" undoubtedly succeeds in that regard. And while The SFWA European Hall of Fame comes from an entirely different angle and genre, it, too provides an opportunity to reduce our ignorance of other parts of the world and the thought, traditions and culture that helps create any person's sense of place.

About Tim Gebhart

After 30 years of practicing law to provide shelter for his family, books and dogs. Tim Gebhart is now perfecting the art of doing little more than reading, writing and sleeping.

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