Prix Imaginales
May. 4th, 2009 11:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellenkushnerColor me étonnée et bien frappée quand'meme! ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mantichore just wrote to let me know that his French translation of Swordspoint, A la Pointe de l'Epee, is one of 5 nominees in the "ROMAN ETRANGER TRADUIT" (Foreign Books in Translation) category for the Prix Imaginales, a sort of French Hugo (or Nebula? or maybe World Fantasy Award, as it's Juried by "journalists, critics and specialists" - including the town's Minster of Culture!) which will be given out May 16th in the town of Epinal*, at the Imaginales festival.
Honestly, I'm overwhelmed and feeling like, merely by being nominated, I just won an Oscar or something: I spent part of my childhood in France, Delia & I have passed much happy time there, both in Paris and the countryside, and my connections in France are very dear to me. I can hardly believe this. I'm sure it's because Patrick's translation is so brilliant.
I actually got the notice earlier this evening, but didn't have time to look at the details since I've been rushing to get a short story in on deadline. Ah! Feeling like a writer again! How sweet it is.
*Oddly enough, just last week a former Boston friend now living in Paris (Linda Gardiner) was telling us about a tiny town in the South of France she'd stayed in, where the entire town gets together to vote on a Best First Novel prize every year. You can imagine the conversations in the town square, or in line at the bank! She explained that each syndicat (a geo-political entity in the French Republic) gets a regular sum from the government to spend on Something Fun. Some throw an annual music festival, some a night of bonfires and grillades (that would be St Martin le Redon, near Cubertou) . . . and some give literary prizes. As the website explains: Créé en mai 2002 à l’initiative de la Ville d’Epinal, le Prix Imaginales est le premier Prix exclusivement consacré à la fantasy en France.
Even if I don't win, I wish with all my heart and all my heart that I could be in Epinal for this.
mantichore just wrote to let me know that his French translation of Swordspoint, A la Pointe de l'Epee, is one of 5 nominees in the "ROMAN ETRANGER TRADUIT" (Foreign Books in Translation) category for the Prix Imaginales, a sort of French Hugo (or Nebula? or maybe World Fantasy Award, as it's Juried by "journalists, critics and specialists" - including the town's Minster of Culture!) which will be given out May 16th in the town of Epinal*, at the Imaginales festival. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed and feeling like, merely by being nominated, I just won an Oscar or something: I spent part of my childhood in France, Delia & I have passed much happy time there, both in Paris and the countryside, and my connections in France are very dear to me. I can hardly believe this. I'm sure it's because Patrick's translation is so brilliant.
I actually got the notice earlier this evening, but didn't have time to look at the details since I've been rushing to get a short story in on deadline. Ah! Feeling like a writer again! How sweet it is.
*Oddly enough, just last week a former Boston friend now living in Paris (Linda Gardiner) was telling us about a tiny town in the South of France she'd stayed in, where the entire town gets together to vote on a Best First Novel prize every year. You can imagine the conversations in the town square, or in line at the bank! She explained that each syndicat (a geo-political entity in the French Republic) gets a regular sum from the government to spend on Something Fun. Some throw an annual music festival, some a night of bonfires and grillades (that would be St Martin le Redon, near Cubertou) . . . and some give literary prizes. As the website explains: Créé en mai 2002 à l’initiative de la Ville d’Epinal, le Prix Imaginales est le premier Prix exclusivement consacré à la fantasy en France.
Even if I don't win, I wish with all my heart and all my heart that I could be in Epinal for this.
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Date: 2009-05-05 03:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:49 am (UTC)The town is twinned with LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I have been there.
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Date: 2009-05-05 08:06 am (UTC)I also promise to bring back photo and video reports of the event, and to make you jealous with tales of the fabulous wines and cheeses I discover.
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Date: 2009-05-05 10:01 am (UTC)How wonderful!!
Date: 2009-05-05 12:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 12:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 01:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 01:39 pm (UTC)Well, that would be the Air France Christian Lacroix pyjamas that Neil Gaiman has promised to have sent to me when he gets home . . . . Details over on the Dread Twitter, I'm afraid:
http://twitter.com/#replies
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Date: 2009-05-05 02:23 pm (UTC)I'm actually euphorically toying with the idea of popping over for this. I can get a good RT fare via Frankfurt; would just have to figure out how to work it from there. . . . . Knowing you & the others will be there too makes it more attractive - and having you as my "rep" less dire if in fact my tender dreams go up in smoke.
Have you been before? Does it have a good rep?
I was just there in November when Swordspoint came out; did a ton of interview IN FRENCH which I think are still up online.....
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Date: 2009-05-05 03:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:40 pm (UTC)Tad went last year and seems to have enjoyed himself.
Getting to Epinal by air appears to be a bit dodgy, but Paris and the TGV is very easy. I'm going all the way by train.
I do have a hotel reservation in the Ibis, one of the bigger town-center hotels. The share is currently on offer to a Greek lady who has been helping me out, but I don't know if she can make it.
BTW, it is about 40 years since I last picked up a sword in competition, so if I actually need to fight for Swordspoint's honor I may call on Karen Burnham for help. She's a much better fencer than I am.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 05:34 pm (UTC)http://twitter.com/EllenKushner
Félicitations !
Date: 2009-05-05 09:59 pm (UTC)À bientôt,
Bises
Maud & Luis
no subject
Date: 2009-05-06 06:54 pm (UTC)Re: Félicitations !
Date: 2009-05-06 09:52 pm (UTC)Have you read the French translation, or the original English? or both? I'm very curious to know how they compare, for someone bilingual. My French is just not good enough to capture P. Marcel's subtleties of language, but I'm encouraged to know they're there. Many a good book has been scuttled by a poor translation, and in my work the language is so important.