Mónika Rusvai, Kígyók Országa (GABO Könyvkiadó, 2023)

Mónika Rusvai’s novel “Kígyók Országa” is considered a unique book because it has few predecessors in Hungarian literature, thus making it a pioneering work. It is a novel that bridges the gap between literary fiction and genre fiction, thereby winning over a large readership. Its refined language and rich fantasy world are captivating; it simultaneously draws from the Hungarian everyday life of the recent past and the world of Hungarian folk tales, while also being able to engage foreign readers.

Mónika Rusvai is a Hungarian writer and environmental humanities scholar. Her novel “Kígyók országa” (“Country of Snakes”, 2023) received the Zsoldos Péter Award, while her short story “Bone by Bone” won the BSFA Award for Best Translated Short Fiction. Her short fiction appears in leading Hungarian speculative anthologies, offering nuanced, thought-provoking prose that engages with more-than-human perspectives, marginalized voices, and the cultural legacy of post-Soviet societies. 

International Visegrad Fund, Národní institut pro kulturu, Slovenské literárne centrum, MNMKK – Petőfi Irodalmi Múzeum