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Chernata kutiya (The Black Box) Novel 2007,
Zacharii Stoyanov, Alek
Popov tells the story of two Bulgarian brothers who lost their father in The
novel opens with a tragic scene; the family receives an unusual dispatch from
the 15
years later the answers begin to emerge… |
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Palen kurs za
naprednali (Full Curse for
Advanced) Selected Stories 2007, Ciela, Sofia Collection
of selected short stories featuring books such as Nasty Dreams, The Cabbage
Cycle, The Way to |
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Mythologia na Prehoda
(Mythology of Transition) Selected stories 2006, Zacharii Stoyanov, Sofia Collection
of selected short stories from previous books introducing the theme of
Transition from different points of views. An art version of the history
which interprets the popular myths set up in the common consciousness after the
fall of communism. “At that time I was terribly proud of the fact
that I was working with the State Security Committee, even though the duties
I had were quite insignificant. In the
morning, towards nine, I went through the offices, collected the reports and
left them at the Reception. In the
afternoon, towards five o'clock, I went once again through the rooms to
replace the worn-out typewriter ribbons and to replenish them with white
writing paper. I used to move along
the corridor in a small silvery electric truck; I enjoyed putting on speed
and dashing on the smooth marbled flooring, the small round-bellied tyres swishing at the turns. That was all. From Report Given |
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Spatnik na Radikalnia
Mislitel (The Radical Thinker’s Companion) Collection
of essays 2005, BTA, Bulgarian News Agency More
than 40 essays published in the press during the last seven years. The content
is rather broad and covers different issues and topics such as the roles of
the writer, the new myths and the junctions between societies, art and
science. Ironical
and clever the Popov’s essays are picturing the
state of minds in this particularly dynamic period of history. |
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Nivo za naprednali
(Advanced level) Short stories 2002,
Zvezdan, Sofia 2003,
Abagar, Sofia The
stories in this book fall into two sections: Advanced level and Coming over Advanced
Level won the Helikon Award for best prose book of
the year 2002. “Would
you destroy the world if it depended on you?” the Russian asked, sticking up
a small pickled cucumber on his fork. “Yes,
I would, and right away at that”, I answered without thinking much. “I’ll
render it to ashes in a pig’s whistle.” The
restaurant car of the train was empty. There was a bottle of vodka, a saucer
of pickled cucumbers and some sausage on the table. I had dropped in to drink
a beer, then this Russian man sat at the table opposite me and gradually we
reached the present stage of our conversation. I was traveling to Rouse¹; he
intended to go on to his native country. “I
am really asking you a question,” he said his pale eyes peering into mine.
“Would you do it if you had the a chance?” “O,
gladly, gladly!” I nodded my head. “Just wait and see!” “Why
would you, man? Aren’t you satisfied?” “Because
it’s rotten, that’s why. And it will get more rotten”, I went on fervently.
“I mean the human civilization. Nothing decent will come out of it.” “That’s
the honest truth”, the Russian agreed lowering his eyes. “You see, communism
failed like hell.” “Capitalism
will fail like hell too,” I added stuffing the last piece of sausage into my
mouth. “Just wait and you’ll see.” “Oh,
the world is stinking place,” he sighed. “If we could fix it somehow…” “We
couldn’t for sure” I interrupted him belligerently. ”It’s not worth one’s while,
because it will become rotten again. We’d better abolish it, if you ask me!
But who gives a damn about me and you, man? All the buttons are in the hands
of some jerks who are interested to continue this agony of ours for ever.” “You
are not right!” he suddenly said raising his head. “We ordinary people, still
have some possibilities…” From Nineveh |
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Missiya London (Mission London) Novel 2001, Zvezdan, Sofia 2004, Zvezdan, Sofia 2007, Zacharii Stoyanov, Sofia “I
came, I saw, I described…”, this periphrasis of the famous Cesarean veni, vidi, vici could be a well-turned motto to Alek Popov’s first novel. The title “Mission London” implies
that it is a book with documentary zest due to the fact that the author has
been a Bulgarian diplomat in the British capital. But although based in a
perfectly real context, the novel remains entirely a product of imagination. The
novel represents a cross-section of the life in an Eastern-European embassy
with all the absurdities of the so called Transition. The leading story
tracks out the titanic efforts of the ambassador Varadin
Dimitroff to get on informal terms with the Royal
Family. Determined to satisfy the whims of the new political class at all
costs, he puts himself at the mercy of a shady PR-agency that promises him
direct access to the highest social circles. In his haste he fails to get
information about some essential activities of that agency and when the truth
shows up, it is unfortunately too late. A gigantic scandal is looming on the
horizon… Meanwhile,
on the low levels of the embassy hierarchy life goes on as if nothing has
changed. The officials’ basic concerns are not to be recalled to their
fatherland and to gain some additional pounds. Their actions are in abrupt
contradiction with their ambassador’s efforts to create a new western-like
image of the mission. The mix-up they have managed to muddle gradually takes
threatening dimensions. The theme of emigration is introduced by means of the
story of a Bulgarian girl student who leads a double life. Behind the modest
appearances of a hard working girl hides an attractive lap-dancer. Her
striking resemblance with the late Princess Diana pushes her destiny in
unpredictable direction… At
the end of the novel the author masterly brings together all plot lines in
order to achieve a surprising denouement – a sumptuous carnival of frenzy and
futile vanity where the illusion and delusions of the postcommunist
society are reflected. The author’s
ironic comment is devoid of any didactic and brings readers to a postmodern
insight into life. The critics: “The novel Mission London is the funniest
book in the contemporary Bulgarian Literature. So funny that in the end the
reader feel like crying… After several books of short stories bursting with
black humor Alek Popov proved his talent as novelist.” Gueorgi Tzankov, Vestnik za jenata, 21-30 May, 2001 “This is a true European comic novel in the
best tradition of P.G. Wodehouse, Roald Dahl and Tom
Sharp. There is an excellent narrative, great awareness about the detail,
fresh humor and most importantly – sense of moderation. The situations are
typically Bulgarian, yet the irony brings the taste of Englishness.” Christo Kiosev, 24 hours, 11.09. 2001 “On the book market appeared a novel that in
my opinion is the long awaited revenge for all the humiliations, experienced
by the Bulgarian citizens in their contacts with the Bulgarian authorities
abroad. A grotesque and dazzling flight over habits, left from the past. I recommend you fervently that book – the
sardonic laugh is the only defence we have at that
moment.” Ljuben Dilov J., Sega, 25.09.2001 “Through
the anecdote to the grotesque the story goes on according to the best
European traditions… If you manage to discover the possibilities for
overcoming the provincial mentality offered by this text you will be the
discovered readers.” Katja Atanassova, Kapital, 51, 2001 |
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Patyat kum
Syrakuza (The way to Syracuse) Collection of short stories 1998, Bulgarska Sbirka,
Literaturen Forum, Sofia Out
of Print |
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Zelevijat tsikal
(The
Cabbage Cycle)
Collection of short stories 1997, Anubis Publishing House, Sofia, Bulgaria Out
of Print |
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Igra na magii (Games of Magic) Novels 1995, Hemus Publishing House
& Otechestvo, Sofia Collection
of tree novellas: The Savior, The Mysterious Truck and The Soul Extractor.
Meant to represent stories from the 80s, 90s, and from the beginning of 21
century. The
book won the Bulgarian Prize for Sci-Fi and Fantasy “Graviton”, 1995 Out of print |
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Mrasni sanishta (Nasty Dreams) short stories 1994, Reporter, Sofia Book
based on the Black Collection published originally in the first Bulgarian private
newspaper after the Change “Reporter7”. The subtitle is Absurd and Horror
Short Stories. Out of
print |
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