Editing Janusz Zajdel

{{short description|Polish author (1938–1985)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
 | name        = Janusz Andrzej Zajdel
 | image       = Janusz Zajdel.jpg
 | imagesize   = 175px
 | caption     = 
 | pseudonym   =
 | birth_date  = 15 August 1938
 | birth_place = [[Warsaw]], [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]]
 | death_date  = 19 July 1985 (aged 46)
 | death_place = [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]]
 | occupation  = Writer
 | nationality = [[Poland|Polish]]
 | period      = 1961–1985
 | genre       = [[science fiction]], [[social science fiction]]
 | subject     =
 | influences  = 
 | influenced  =
 | signature   =Janusz Zajdel signature.svg
 | website     = 
 |spouse=
}}
'''Janusz Andrzej Zajdel''' (15 August 1938 &ndash; 19 July 1985) was a [[Polish people|Polish]] [[science fiction authors|science fiction author]], second in popularity in Poland to [[Stanisław Lem]].<ref name=tpe/><ref name=culture>{{cite web|url=http://culture.pl/pl/tworca/janusz-andrzej-zajdel|title=Janusz Andrzej Zajdel|work=Culture.pl|access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> His major genres were [[social science fiction]] and [[dystopia (genre)|dystopia]]. His main recurring theme involved the gloomy prospects for a space environment into which mankind carried totalitarian ideas and habits: Red Space Republics, or Space Labor Camps, or both. His heroes desperately try to find meaning in the world around them.

The Polish [[science fiction fandom]] award was named after him:  the [[Janusz A. Zajdel Award]]. He was a trustee of [[World SF]].<ref name=tpe/>

==Life==
Janusz Zajdel was born 15 August 1938 in [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]].<ref name=culture/> He studied physics at the [[University of Warsaw]]. He was a member of the [[Union of Polish Youth]] and the [[Polish Students' Association]].<ref name=WPP>{{cite book |chapter=Zajdel Janusz Andrzej |title=Współcześni polscy pisarze i badacze literatury. Słownik biobiliograficzny |author=Maria Kotowska-Katel |volume=9 |date=2004 |publisher=Instytut Badań Literackich PAN |place=Warszawa |isbn=83-02-05444-5 |pages=360-361 |language=Polish}}</ref> After graduating, he worked many years as a radiological engineer and an expert on [[nuclear physics]] at the Central Laboratory of Radiological Protection in Poland.<ref name=culture/> He published a number of academic works, handbooks of safety regulations, as well as educational and [[popular science]] texts.<ref name=culture/><ref name=sfe/> In 1976 he joined the [[Polish Writers' Union]].<ref name=WPP />

In his spare time, he popularized science by writing [[science fiction]].<ref name=culture/> With his brother, he started a column in a Polish magazine for young people interested in science and engineering, ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Młody Technik|pl}}'' (''Young Technician''), in which they proposed various futuristic gadgets.<ref name=culture/> In 1961 ''Młody Technik'' published Zajdel's science-fiction debut, the short story "''Tau Ceti''" ({{langx|pl|Tau Wieloryba}}).<ref name=culture/> Other stories by him soon appeared in several other Polish magazines.<ref name=culture/>

His first book was published in 1965, a short-story anthology, ''Jad mantezji'' (''The Venom of Mantesia''), which included stories from ''Młody Technik'' and some others that had already appeared a year earlier in another anthology.<ref name=tpe/><ref name=culture/> By 1982 he had published four more collections: ''Przejście przez lustro'' (Through the Mirror, 1975); ''Iluzyt'' (1976); ''Feniks'' (The Phoenix, 1981); and ''Ogon diabła'' (The Devil's Tail, 1982).<ref name=sfe/>

His first novel, ''{{ill|Lalande 21185 (novel)|lt=Lalande 21185|pl|Lalande 21185 (powieść)}}'', appeared in 1966, a year after his first short-story anthology, and was [[young adult fiction|geared toward young adults]].<ref name=culture/> His first serious science-fiction novel was a "[[first contact (science fiction)|first contact]]"-type [[SF mystery]], ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Prawo do powrotu|pl}}'' (Right of Return, 1975); but it was his novels of the late 1970s and early 1980s – ''[[Cylinder van Troffa]]'' (Van Troff's Cylinder, 1980); ''[[Limes inferior]]'' (The Lower Limit, 1982); ''[[Cała prawda o planecie Ksi]]'' (The Whole Truth about Planet Xi, 1983); ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Wyjście z cienia|pl}}'' (Out of the Shadows, 1983); and ''[[Paradyzja]]'' (Paradise: World in Orbit, 1984) – that earned him a reputation as one of the most important Polish science-fiction writers.<ref name=culture/><ref name=sfe/>

He was an active member of Polish and international [[science fiction fandom]], and a Trustee of [[World SF]].<ref name=tpe/><ref name=culture/> In the 1980s he was an active supporter of the Polish [[Solidarnosc|Solidarity]] movement.<ref name=culture/>

On 19 July 1985 he died of [[lung cancer]], after three years' struggle against the disease.<ref name=tpe>{{cite book|author1=Frederik Pohl|author2=Elizabeth Anne Hull|title=Tales From The Planet Earth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvBeJQw39RYC&pg=PA268|date=15 October 1986|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-78420-1|page=268}}</ref><ref name=culture/>

==Themes==
Zajdel's early works, from the 1960s and early 1970s, focuses on scientific inventions and their role in space exploration, alien contact or artificial intelligence.<ref name=culture/><ref name=sfe/> As his writing career continued, however, his stories evolved to focus on the social aspects and often negative consequences of those inventions.<ref name=culture/> Over time, a theme became increasingly visible in his works - a concern over dangers inherent in attempts to control the human society.<ref name=culture/> He is also condemning human ignorance, warning against [[xenophobia]], and asking philosophical questions about the nature of the universe, happiness and human destiny.<ref name=culture/> Zajdel's works from his second period - late 1970s and 1980s - and represent the genres of [[social fiction|social]] and [[dystopian fiction]].<ref name=culture/> In his works, he envisions [[totalitarianism|totalitarian states]] and societies living under extreme forms of [[mass surveillance]].<ref name=culture/>

His works are also recognized as being a critique of the totalitarian, communist state, a reality of his life in [[People's Republic of Poland]]. Science fiction genre, with its outer-worldly, clearly fictional, and often [[allegorical]] setting and [[koalang|invented jargon]] was able to debate fundamentals of such systems with frankness that more mainstream literature would not be allowed to.<ref name=culture/>

==Importance==
Zajdel has been described as the second science fiction writer in popularity in Poland after [[Stanisław Lem]].<!--<ref name=tpe/> needs a quotation for verifciation--><ref name=culturequote>{{cite web|url=http://culture.pl/pl/tworca/janusz-andrzej-zajdel|title=Janusz Andrzej Zajdel|work=Culture.pl|access-date=8 October 2014|quote=Uważany za czołowego, obok Stanisława Lema, twórcę polskiej literatury fantastycznonaukowej [Considered a leading, next to Stanisław Lem, creator of Polish science fiction literature]}}</ref> He has also been described as the writer who replaced Lem as the "top Polish SF writer", after "Lem vacated [this position] earlier of his own volition".<ref name="GepfertKozubski2000">{{cite book|author1=Elżbieta Gepfert|author2=Grzegorz Kozubski|author3=Piotr W. Cholewa|title=Anthology: chosen by fate : Zajdel award winners|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LMcZAQAAIAAJ|year=2000|publisher=Śląski Klub Fantastyki|isbn=978-83-7054-142-2|page=8|quote=Over the next years came a series of Zajdel novels which elevated him to the top place among Polish SF writers, a position Stanislaw Lem had vacated earlier of his own volition}}</ref>

He is recognized as an originator of the [[social science fiction]] genre in Polish science fiction, known in Poland as the sociological speculative fiction (''fantastyka socjologiczna'').<ref name=culture/><ref name=sfe/><ref name=zajdelarto>{{cite web|url=http://zajdel.art.pl/janusz-a-zajdel/|title=Janusz A. Zajdel|publisher=Nagroda im. Janusza A. Zajdla|access-date=29 September 2014|language=pl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007073001/http://zajdel.art.pl/janusz-a-zajdel/|archive-date=7 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He has been an inspiration to a number of younger Polish science fiction authors such as [[Maciej Parowski]] and [[Marek Oramus]].<ref name=culture/>

His works have been translated into Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Esperanto, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Russian and Slovenian.<ref name="sfe">{{cite web |last=Walewski |first=Konrad |title=Authors : Zajdel, Janusz A : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/zajdel_janusz_a |access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> {{as of|August 2015}}, the only work translated into English is the short story ''Wyjątkowo trudny teren'' ("Particularly Difficult Territory") that Zajdel wrote for the English language ''[[Tales from the Planet Earth]]'' anthology edited by [[Frederik Pohl]] and [[Elizabeth Anne Hull]].<ref name=sfe/>

==Recognition==
In 1973 Zajdel received an honorary award Magnum Trophaeum from the ''Młody Technik'' (''Young Technician'') magazine for long-term cooperation.<ref>Janusz A. Zajdel, ''List Pożegnalny'', 1989, {{ISBN|8370011896}}, p. 6.</ref> In 1980 Zajdel received the [[Polish Ministry of Culture and Arts]] Best SF Book of the Year Award for ''Van Troff's Cylinder''.<ref>Robert Klementowski, "Modelowe boksowanie ze światem: polska literatura fantastyczna na przełomie lat 70. i 80", 2003, {{ISBN|8373226087}}, p. 124</ref> Zajdel also received the [[Golden Sepulka]] Award two times: for ''Limes Inferior'' (1982 novel; 1983 award) and ''Wyjście z cienia'' ("Out of the Shadow") (1983 novel; 1984 award).<ref name=culture/> He was awarded the [[Medal of Merit for National Defence]] for his educational film scripts. Winner of [[Śląkfa]] for 1984.<ref name=WPP />

In 1984 Polish fantasy and science fiction [[fandom]] (associated with the Polish SF convention [[Polcon]]) decided to establish an annual award, initially named ''Sfinks'' ("Sphynx"). Janusz A. Zajdel became the first winner of this award, for his 1984 novel ''Paradyzja''. He won the award posthumously in 1985, shortly after his death, at which time it was decided to rename the award after him, and it became known as the [[Janusz A. Zajdel Award]].<ref name=culture/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zajdel.art.pl/historia-nagrody/|title=Historia Nagrody|access-date=29 September 2014|language=pl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093305/http://zajdel.art.pl/historia-nagrody/|archive-date=6 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Frederik Pohl]] dedicated the anthology ''[[Tales From The Planet Earth]]'' to Zajdel and [[A. Bertram Chandler]].<ref name="PohlHull1986">{{cite book|author1=Frederik Pohl|author2=Elizabeth Anne Hull|title=Tales From The Planet Earth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvBeJQw39RYC|date=15 October 1986|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-78420-1}} p. v</ref>

==Bibliography==
In addition to the solo-authored works listed below, Zajdel's stories have also appeared in many anthologies of science-fiction stories, together with works by other authors.<ref name=culture/>

===Novels===
* ''{{ill|Lalande 21185 (novel)|lt=Lalande 21185)|pl|Lalande 21185 (powieść}}'', 1966
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Prawo do powrotu|pl}}'' (Right of Return), [[Nasza Księgarnia]], 1975
* ''[[Cylinder van Troffa]]'' (Van Troff's Cylinder), 1980
* ''[[Limes inferior]]'' (The Lower Limit), 1982
* ''[[Cała prawda o planecie Ksi]]'' (The Whole Truth about Planet Xi), 1983
* ''Wyjście z cienia'' (''[[Coming out of the Shadow]]''), 1983
* ''[[Paradyzja]]'' (Paradise:  World in Orbit), 1984
* ''{{ill|Drugie spojrzenie na planetę Ksi|pl}}'' (A Second Look at Planet Xi), 2014
** Posthumously completed by Marcin Kowalczyk, see ''[[Cała prawda o planecie Ksi]]'' for details<!-- until own article written-->

===Short-story collections===
* ''Jad mantezji'' (The Venom of Mantesia), [[Nasza Księgarnia]], 1965
* ''Przejście przez lustro'' (Through the Mirror), [[Iskry]], 1975)
* ''Iluzyt'', [[Nasza Księgarnia]], 1976
* ''Feniks'' (The Phoenix), [[Nasza Księgarnia]], 1981
* ''Ogon diabła'' (The Devil's Tail), [[KAW]], 1982
* ''Dokąd jedzie ten tramwaj?'' (Where Is This Streetcar Going?), 1988
* ''Wyższe racje'' (Higher Considerations), [[Wydawnictwo Poznańskie]], 1988
* ''List pożegnalny'' (Farewell Letter [including outlines of unfinished novels]), Alfa, 1989
* ''Relacja z pierwszej ręki'' (First-hand Account), [[superNOWA]], 2010

==See also==
* [[Koalang]] – term invented by Zajdel

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.rp.pl/artykul/509793_Nowe_mapy_piekla.html|title=Twórczość Janusza Zaldla|work=Rzeczpospolita|date=2010-07-16|language=pl}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.rp.pl/artykul/61991,509772-Tworczosc-Janusza-Zajdla.html?referer=redpol|title=Twórczość Janusza Zajdla|work=Rzeczpospolita|date= 2010-07-16|language=pl}}
*{{Cite encyclopedia
|title=Zajdel Janusz Andrzej
|encyclopedia=[[Internetowa encyklopedia PWN]]
|url=http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3999935
|access-date=2007-08-27
|language=pl
|archive-date=7 June 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607140711/http://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo.php?id=3999935
|url-status=dead
}}
*{{Cite encyclopedia
|title=Zajdel Janusz Andrzej
|encyclopedia=[[WIEM Encyclopedia]]
|url=http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/31393,,,,zajdel_janusz_andrzej,haslo.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060113173325/http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/31393,,,,Zajdel_Janusz_Andrzej,haslo.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=13 January 2006
|access-date=2007-08-27
|language=pl
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zajdel, Janusz Andrzej}}
[[Category:Janusz Zajdel| ]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of Merit for National Defence]]
[[Category:Polish science fiction writers]]
[[Category:University of Warsaw alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Warsaw]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Poland]]