Even Jules Verne further spun the technical ideas of his time in his science fiction novels. Inspired by the innovative potential of the genre, Thomas Le Blanc created the "Future Life" section of the library in 2004, which recently culminated in the project "Products and Production Processes of the Near Future", funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The method? Simply reading. In close cooperation with companies, his team combs through fictional novels for relevant topics such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, traffic routes of the future, or communication.

Project manager Klaudia Seibel is pleased with the productivity of the authors and their publishers. "In the past, we worked on many Fischer TOR titles, but at the moment Heyne is more on our list. Fascinating and frightening, for example, is John Marrs' “The Passengers”, in which eight passengers can no longer get out of their auto-piloted cars and are completely dependent on technology. This fits in wonderfully with current discussions and is also incredibly exciting to read."

The team is particularly interested in novels that take place in a technically advanced fictional present, or in the very near future. They repeatedly raise the question of whether reality has long since caught up with fiction. A wonderful example of this is Marc-Uwe Kling’s satirical-futuristic novel “QualityLand”, which will be followed up in October with the much anticipated “QualityLand 2.0”. 

Another treasure trove for their work, according to Klaudia Seibel, is Zoë Beck's “Paradise City”, which deals with fake news in a critical way, but in which pandemics and a health app also play a central role.

Artificial intelligence is one of the top themes of the sci-fi project in Wetzlar. Marie Graßhoff's "Cyber Trips" particularly plays with our fears of machines becoming too intelligent.

Everyone on the team is also eagerly awaiting the publication of Klaus N. Frick's short story collection "Wie künstlich ist Intelligenz?" (How Artificial is Intelligence?), which will be published at the end of September – the announcement sounds promising.

And youth literature also has a lot to offer. For example, R.T. Acron’s gripping and dystopian "Kronox" plays on our real fears of nanotechnology and unhindered manipulation of our bodies by an external power.

To scientifically deal with the innovative ideas in sci-fi literature is more fascinating today than ever. The team working with Seibel and Le Blanc know this well. You can learn more about their work at phantastik.eu.

Text: Maren Bonacker

Johan, at what point did you realise that your life would involve books?

Johan Egerkrans: I grew up with comics and illustrated fantasy like Frazetta, Mike Mignola and Simon Bisley, and I always enjoyed drawing. Actually, I initially wanted to go more into roleplaying or comics and was incredibly fortunate to be able to land right there, albeit in a rather roundabout way. Later I worked more as a free-lancer and started illustrating children's books. That is until my publisher approached me one day and asked if would like to do something on Norse mythology. Which I certainly did! And that is how I became an author.

Is there a mythological figure that you find particularly impressive?

As a kid I literally went through anything that had to do with mythology – Chinese, Nordic, Greek, Egyptian, whatever. As long as it was mythology! But for me, Nordic mythology has always been something uniquely special. And Loki, the son of the giant Farbauti and the goddess Laufey, is my absolute favourite – he shifts so wonderfully between the clever, devious and tragic, finally becoming the number-one bad guy. Wonderful!

How important is reading or being read to in your opinion?

Reading is a key survival skill! I started reading on my own at an early age; at five or six. By the time I was ten, I was at the age where I was simply devouring everything I could get my hands on. I would not be who I am today without Tove Jansson, Jules Verne, Asimov or Tolkien. We humans, in all that we achieve, are in the end only the proverbial dwarves standing on the shoulders of giants: Everything that has inspired me in my life so far has found its way into my works, but still, my images and stories are my own creations.

Interview: Maren Bonacker

Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan remains true to the world of Greek mythology: In “The Tyrant's Tomb”, his Apollo returns to Olympus with the fourth volume of his series, and fans love the story for its perfect mix of excitement, adventure and humour.

Riordan himself has praised the first volume of the “Storm Runner” series from US Author J.C. Cervantes, in which the protagonist not only contends with the gods of the Mayans, but has to go face-to face with the God of Death in person. In addition, hero Zane is driven by the search for his father, who comes from this exotic world of gods. Avid readers quickly recognise that Cervantes is obviously a big fan of Rick Riordan...action and excitement and the fascinating mythology of the Maya make it hard for young people to put down this gripping novel while eagerly waiting the sequels.

Even more exotic and colourful adventures are to be found in the world of Hindu mythology from Sayantani DasGupta: two volumes of  the “Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond” series,“The Serpent's Secret” and the sequel “The Game of Stars” are already available in German, volume three of the cheekily fantastic demons & gods adventures is impatiently awaited by young fans.

Romantasy fans will find what they are looking for in P. J. Lehmann's novel “Return of the Gods – the Shadows of Death”. The sinister bounty hunter Halvar and the escaped, stubborn-minded Princess Iouna are two strong and multi-faceted characters who come up against each other and really set the pages on fire. Bound together by the gods, they (apparently) share a common destiny. Sensitive readers should keep a box of tissues at hand.

Without a doubt, one of the highlights of this autumn's releases in the fantasy genre is “The Gilded Ones  – Deathless Book 1” (Loewe, 508 pages, 19.95 €) by Sierra Leone-born author Namina Forna. Her novel combines a stunningly realistic world in which women and young women are repressed in a fascinating new fantasy setting featuring West African elements. The heroine Deka stands out from the others not just for her gold-coloured blood but in her inability to die. Repeatedly murdered and reborn, she is finally trained to be a warrior to defend a government she does not believe in. A wonderfully written kick-off to an incomparable fantasy trilogy!

Text: Maren Bonacker

When Maja plunged into the River Spree along with her mother in her company car, she should have died. She was trapped under water too long. Nonetheless, she awakens later, injured and confused, but still clear-minded enough to look for answers. What was behind the supposed accident? What secret is the man who pulled them out of the water hiding? What are high-level politicians and members of a research institute trying to cover up? And what role does Maja play in all this?

Anne Freytag works seamlessly with various layers of time, uses flashbacks, and allows her readers to experience the events through various characters in completely different stages of their lives. This brings the shocking truth of the novel together piece by piece like a puzzle in a swirling maelstrom of hunger for power, thirst for knowledge, egoism, and recklessness. It all centres around Maja, the unknowing link between science and research on the one hand, and this newcomer and stranger on the other, which makes the novel so incredibly absorbing. As the title suggests, the unknown comes “out of black water”, but we continue to ask ourselves if this deadly force is really the only threat to our world, or if we ourselves are not the real threat.

“Water generally carries a positive connotation in our world,” says Anne Freytag in an interview. “We are much more afraid of fire – but water should not be underestimated.” It is not just respect for water that inspired the author; it is the regard for other cultures, for life, for the world. “We could accomplish so much if we all just changed some small aspect of our behaviour”, believes Anne Freytag. Readers, who let this incredible book wash over them and leave them stunned, will face the question of whether they could have had a different influence on the course of the story with a bit more care and consideration. Madness!

Text: Maren Bonacker