Michal Golkowski
Michał Gołkowski (born in Poland, Sochaczew) – Polish writer of fantasy, science-fiction and historical novels, essays and journalism. Published in Poland since 2001 by Fabryka Słów – a leading publisher of fantasy and science-fiction books.[1].
Biography[edit]
One of the best-selling authors of Poland's post-communist generation – born in the era-defining year of 1981 to a book reading and writing family, son of the General Consul in Kaliningrad and the 1st Secretary of the Polish Embassy in Belarus who lectures at Polonicum UW and the Eastern European Studium - Mr Marek Gołkowski.
Between 1992-1994 he lived in Belarus as part of a diplomatic mission and is a graduate of the Frederic Chopin High School in Sochaczew with top honors where he won numerous linguistic academic olympiads.
He studied at the Institute of Applied Linguistics at Warsaw University, specializing in live interpreting.
He has been an independent entrepreneur since 2004. He has always been fascinated with reading and writing. His first book attempt was in 1994, until the publication of his first book, time spent developing and perfecting his literary craft[2]. His first book was published in 2013 titled Lead Dawn, set in the fictional universe of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game which is loosely based on the prose writing of the Strugacki brothers and historical events related to the Chernobyl disaster, published by Fabryka Słów[3]. He is now one of the most prolific writers of the so-called new fantasy generation, publishing on average three novels a year.
In 2020, he signed a partnerships with the Gravier Venture Capital investment fund, who are using their companies Sylen Studio sp. z o.o and Nova-Tek sp. z o.o. to produce a series of video, narrative and board games set in the worlds from his novels[4].
Michał Gołkowski is an active board member in several companies, where he is responsible for copywriting and narrative consultations.
Works[edit]
His diverse body of work includes action, post-apocalyptic, criminal, psychological thriller, science-fiction, historical, romantic and dystopian genres[5]. His works stand out due to the diverse and dynamic narratives, as well as clearly defined central protagonists[6] and narratives relating to current social and political affairs (including evolution, civilization collapse, LGBT rights, moral and patriotic dilemmas, relativism, ethnic minorities).
His works are defined by the ways in which he challenges genre conventions[7] and inversions of well-trodden genre schematics – such as the Sevenbooks of Sin cycle, where the central hero turns out to be a negative character, involved in a series of court and political intrigues for reasons known only to him[8].
In Steel Rats, the heroes are Great War soldiers fighting for the German side, usually presented as the villains in the conflict[9]. Then there is Moskal featuring the rise and fall of various human beings, showing the psychological and moral collapse in the face of almost unlimited power over another human being[10].
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series[edit]
Set in the registered world environments of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. These novels follow the fictional second Chernobyl disaster in 2006[11]. They turn into a contemporary iteration of Arthurian Legends, set in the Magic Woods as a modern take on fairytale genres based on leading literary leitmotifs[12].
Michał Gołkowski set the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. novel in Poland when writing his first novel, ushering in the whole Factory Zone series created and continued by Fabryka Słów[13].
The 2019 graphic novel Night in the Zone was based on his Lead Dawn[14].
- Ołowiany świt, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7574-736-2, 2013
- Drugi brzeg, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7574-993-9, 2014
- Droga donikąd, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7574-501-6, 2014
- Sztywny, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-064-5, 2015
- Powrót, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-320-2, 2018
Steel Rats series[edit]
A series of war and spy novels set in an alternative reality around the time of World War I[15]. Gołkowski concentrates the action around the fate of a storm company of soldiers battling in the Western Front tranches, through the behind-the-scenes operations of competing great powers in the town of Königsberg (Królewiec, Kaliningrad), far from the main war arena[16] up to the horror of soldiers going insane as they are buried alive in an underground fort being bombarded by artillery shells[17].
- Błoto, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-048-5, 2015
- Chwała, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-090-4, 2015
- Königsberg, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-202-1, 2016
- Otto, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-392-9, 2019
- Fort 72, Fabryka Słów, coming in 2021
Debtcollector[edit]
A satyrical vision of a coming Apocalypse inspired by the poems of Zbigniew Herbert and songs penned by Kaczmarski, Gintrowski and Łapiński[18]. Featuring themes of totalitarian conflicts, censorship, blind adherence to traditions, symbols and religions in human existence[19][20]. The trilogy makes frequent pop-culture references, social media lexicons and modern Internet cultures[21], honoring the grim memories of the Holocaust in the name of a better tomorrow[22][23]
Since 2020, Sylen Studio has been working on adapting his Debtcollector series as a video game[24] led by Marcin Janiszewski.
- Komornik, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-133-8, 2016
- Komornik ++ Rewers, Fabryka Słów ISBN 978-83-7964-233-5, 2017
- Komornik +++ Kant, Fabryka Słów ISBN 978-83-7964-283-0, 2017
Sevenbooks Of Sin cycle - Zahred series[edit]
Set in a range of historical epochs (semi-mythological culture modeled on Minoan Crete, Predynastic Egypt, pagan border between Slavs and Prussia, Vikings before the sacking of Lindisfarne, Eastern Roman Empire during the siege of Constantinople in 719, Conquest of Mexico by Cortes) saga featuring Zahred – a hero cursed or crowned with immortality by the gods, spending eternity hunting for those who wronged him and seeking revenge[25]
This series shows the broad range and variety in Gołkowski's writing, featuring historical and action leitmotifs (realistic, believable, journalistic and factual) allowing readers to discover lesser known historical events[26]
- Spiżowy gniew, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-314-1, 2018
- Bogowie pustyni, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-365-3, 2018
- Bramy ze złota 1. Świątynia na bagnach, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-406-3, 2019
- Bramy ze złota 2. Złote miasto, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-452-0, 2019
- Bramy ze złota 3. Zmierzch bogów, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-452-0, 2019
The SybirPunk - Skinny Sasha series[edit]
Set in the dystopian future of Eastern Europe, a bandit and crime trilogy which describes the fates and adventures of Sasha "Skinny" Chudowiec, who trades in illegal substances in the metropolis of Neosibirsk[27]. Gołkowski's trilogy dissects the totalitarian regime in place in Russia today[28] being an in-depth analysis of the causes and state of decay of its aging, seemingly patriotic and indeed predatory opportunist society[29]. The book is also an action-packed adventure novel, where essential and in-depth observations of a general nature are implied by contradicting the main character's thoughts, and the suspenseful plot provides a richly detailed background for outlining the most important lines of a moralistic nature[30].
Since November 2020, Gołkowski has been expanding the SybirPunk universe via Nova-Tek, a company he founded and which owns the rights to the franchise developing video, narrative and board games set in the world of the SybirPunk trilogy. The SibirPunk RPG is planned for launch in ate 2021, to include a graphic novel and a figurine tactical game.
- SybirPunk. Vol 1, ISBN 978-83-7964-538-1, Fabryka Słów, 2020
- SybirPunk. Vol 2, ISBN 978-83-7964-568-8, Fabryka Słów, 2020
- SybirPunk. Vol 3, ISBN 978-83-7964-626-5, Fabryka Słów, 2020
Novels[edit]
- Moskal, Fabryka Słów, ISBN 978-83-7964-181-9, 2016
Psychological thriller set at the tail end of Communism in Europe and Russia, featuring a new class of hardworking, money-grabbing citizens haunted by demons from their recent past[31]. Gołkowski presents 15 years of narratives involving the changing world-views and spiritual dilemmas of their central protagonist[32], which he begins as a loving father and conscientious employee of a production firm, ending up as the boss of a Moscow based organized crime syndicate[33][34].
Moskal is something defined by the author as “orphaning narration” - a gradual change of narration from personal through to factual and then depersonalized, which amplifies the sense of alienation and abandonment of the reader along with the protagonist's moral degradation[35].
Stories[edit]
- Czas martwy (2016), anthology Na nocnej zmianie – retro-SF story about problems experienced by a responsible leader, implications of developing artificial intelligence and the inhumanity of total war strategies[36]
- Wyklęci (2018), anthology Idiota skończony – historical fantasy genre story, featuring Polish martyrological and doomed demons driven by suicidal patriotism[37]
- Sol Invictus (2020), in the anthology Gladiatorzy – story set in the Debtcollector universe, a prelude to the Debtcollector Arena trilogy which has been announced[38]
- Tester (February 2021), anthology Niegrzeczna Miłość – erotic story set in the world of SybirPunk focused on the subjectification of love and loneliness experienced by contemporary humanity in crowded societies[39]
Literary translations[edit]
- Ślepa plama – Wiktor Noczkin
- Łańcuch pokarmowy – Wiktor Noczkin
- Czerep Mutanta Wiktor Noczkin
- Oczy Diabła – Wiktor Noczkin
- Wektor Zagrożenia – Wiktor Noczkin
- Lichwiarz – Wiktor Noczkin
- Łowca z lasu – Andriej Lewicki
- Wojna – Andriej Lewicki
- Wstęga – Andriej Lewicki
- Więzy Zony – Roman Kulikow
- Sztych – Roman Kulikow
External links[edit]
- Michał Gołkowski - Official Page
- Michał Gołkowski - Facebook Page
References[edit]
- ↑ Madness, Mobile. "Uważam Rze Historia". historia.uwazamrze.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ Saulski. "Wywiad z pisarzem - Michał Gołkowski (ponownie)". konwenty-poludniowe.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Ołowiany świt". Fabryka Słów (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Gram.pl". www.gram.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Sochaczew". tusochaczew.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Goodstory.pl - o pisaniu i tworzeniu ciekawych opowieści". Goodstory.pl - o pisaniu i tworzeniu ciekawych opowieści (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Komornik". sztukater.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Recenzja: Spiżowy gniew - Michał Gołkowski - granice.pl". https://www.granice.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Stalowe Szczury. Błoto. Okopowe szczury (recenzja) - Książki - POLTERGEIST". polter.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Recenzja książki - Moskal, Michał Gołkowski , Fabryka Słów 2016". Opętani czytaniem. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Czy S.T.A.L.K.E.R. jest postapo?". trzynasty-schron.net. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ ""Zapytaj i wygraj" – wyniki i wywiad - Stalker.pl". stalker.pl. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Nowy front Wielkiej Wojny - Stalowe Szczury - Michał Gołkowski". Impuls (in polski). 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ Próba, Paweł (2019). Noc w Zonie (in polski). ISBN 978-83-8001-401-5. Search this book on
- ↑ ""Stalowe Szczury. Otto" - recenzja". Paradoks (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Niespodzianka, niejedna, niemała – "Königsberg" Michała Gołkowskiego – Lapsus Calami" (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Legendy przemyskiej Twierdzy". www.przemysl24.pl. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ ""Komornik" tom 3: "Kant" - recenzja". Paradoks (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Ożeż k… Recenzja książki Komornik (Tom 1)". Nerdheim.pl (in polski). 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Gram.pl". www.gram.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Komornik +++. Kant - Michał Gołkowski - recenzja". Gavran (in polski). 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ Dawid (2016-03-30). "Michał Gołkowski - "Komornik" - recenzja". Marudzenie - blog popkulturowy (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ ""Komornik", czyli jak po lewacku ośmieszyć Apokalipsę. | Fronda.pl". www.fronda.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Michał Gołkowski dołącza do Sylen Studio - Gry PC - POLTERGEIST". polter.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ ""SIEDMIOKSIĄG GRZECHU", Michał Gołkowski - półmetek". Recenzarium - Portal Kulturalny (in polski). 2019-11-24. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Bramy Ze Złota Tom 3 Zmierzch Bogów". sztukater.pl (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Recenzja książki - SybirPunk Vol.1, Michał Gołkowski , Fabryka Słów 2020". Opętani czytaniem. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Kiedy przyszłość zawita do Rosji - Sybirpunk (Michał Gołkowski)". IMINFECTED.PL (in polski). 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Recenzja SybirPunk vol. 1 - na spotkanie cyberpunkowej Rosji". Co Przeczytać (in polski). 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Michał Gołkowski - SybirPunk Vol.1 - recenzja książki". Movies Room (in polski). 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Recenzja książki - Moskal, Michał Gołkowski , Fabryka Słów 2016". Opętani czytaniem. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ Marudy (2017-01-07). "Michał Gołkowski - "Moskal" - recenzja". Marudzenie - blog popkulturowy (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Michał Gołkowski "Moskal" - recenzja". Paradoks (in polski). Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "O zgubnych skutkach kupna pióra – Michał Gołkowski "Moskal"". O zgubnych skutkach kupna pióra – Michał Gołkowski „Moskal”. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ Deja, Agnieszka. "Książka od kuchni – blog recenzencki: "Moskal" Michał Gołkowski". Książka od kuchni – blog recenzencki. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Zostańcie Na nocnej zmianie!". Kawerna - fantastyka, książki fantastyczne, fantasy (in polski). 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Idiota skończony - antologia - recenzja". Gavran (in polski). 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "To jest Walka! Recenzja antologii "Gladiatorzy"". ostatniatawerna.pl (in polski). 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
- ↑ "Niegrzeczna miłość". Lubimyczytać.pl. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
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