Andri Snær Magnason's Blog, page 5
April 29, 2019
A New Podcast – There Is No Y.O.U
The one and only York Underwood just did this podcast here with me and The Casket of Time.
Here is some information from his website and listen here!
“Andri Snaer also elaborates on the task of switching voices and changing the tone of his writing. He started with poetry and then a children’s book and then a sci-fi novel and then a non-fiction polemic (which he also made into a documentary film). Andri Snaer may be best known for his activism and his non-fiction book, Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual For A Frightened Nation, but he is always drawn to storytelling and myth. He’s a strong believer, like the writer Jane Smiley, that all writing is political and has a point or a message.
The Casket Of Time is a homage to the fairy-tales of old or as he says “yet another story about a king and a princess,” but this is also a story about courage and strength and not hiding away when you’re needed the most. After 13 years of environmental activism, with gains made and battles lost, this fairy-tale doesn’t seem like an escape to fantasy but a reminder to himself and everyone else: don’t waste the time you have.”
April 28, 2019
The future of time – Book talk with Bjarke Ingels and Andri Snær Magnason
It would be great to see you at my book talk the 7th of May in The Scandinavian house in New York to celebrate the US launch of my book, The Casket of Time. Joining me is Bjarke Ingels, architect, lover of literature and sci-fi and renowned futurist.
Before New York I am in Minneapolis, doing quite a few readings and lectures.
For more information, location RSVP and tickets go here to Scandinavian House website.
On the launch of his new book The Casket of Time , Andri Snær Magnason, award-winning author of LoveStar , The Story of The Blue Planet and Dreamland: A Self Help Manual for a Frightened Nation, joins us with leading architect and futurist Bjarke Ingels for a discussion on time and how to give shape to the future. We are living in a time when the major forces acting on the surface of the planet are driven by humans. During the lifetime of our children, major glaciers will disappear, sea levels will rise more rapidly than ever before. Changes are happening on a scale difficult for humans to understand.
What comes to mind when we talk about the future and when a scientist talks about the year 2100? How do we relate to that future on a personal level, and how does that resonate in architecture or writing? What is the role of the imagination, fantasy and Sci-Fi in giving shape to possible futures.
Copies of The Casket of Time, a fantastical tale of time, love and magical events for readers ages 10 and up, will also be available for purchase and signing.
ABOUT BJARKE INGELS
Bjarke Ingels founded BIG Bjarke Ingels Group in 2005 after co-founding PLOT Architects in 2001 and working at OMA in Rotterdam. Bjarke defines architecture as the art and science of making sure our cities and buildings fit with the way we want to live our lives. Through careful analysis of various parameters from local culture and climate, ever-changing patterns of contemporary life, to the ebbs and flows of the global economy, Bjarke believes in the idea of information-driven-design as the driving force for his design process. Named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine in 2016, Bjarke has designed and completed award-winning buildings globally.
In 2018, Bjarke received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog bestowed by Her Majesty the Queen Margrethe II. In 2011, Wall Street Journal named Bjarke “Innovator of the Year”; he received the Danish Crown Prince’s Culture Prize in 2011; the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2004; and the ULI Award for Excellence in 2009. Alongside his architectural practice, Bjarke has taught at Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and Rice University and is an honorary professor at the Royal Academy of Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen. He is a frequent public speaker and continues to hold lectures in venues such as TED, WIRED, AMCHAM, 10 Downing Street, the World Economic Forum and many more. In 2018, Bjarke was named Chief Architectural Advisor by WeWork to advise and develop the firm’s design vision and language for buildings, campuses and neighborhoods globally.
ABOUT ANDRI SNÆR MAGNASON
Andri Snær Magnason is an Icelandic writer, born in Reykjavik on July 14, 1973. Andri has written novels, poetry, plays, short stories, essays and films. He studied Icelandic literature at the University of Iceland. His novel LoveStar got a Philip K. Dick Special Citation, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire in France, and “Novel of the Year” in Iceland. The Story of the Blue Planet was the first children’s book to receive the Icelandic Literary Award and has been published or performed in 35 countries.
The Story of the Blue Planet received the Janusz Korczak Honorary Award in Poland 2000. Andri has collaborated with various artists. He has been active in the fight for preserving the nature of Iceland. His book Dreamland: A Self Help Manual for a Frightened Nation takes on these issues and has sold more than 20,000 copies in Iceland. He co-directed Dreamland, a feature-length documentary film based on the book. Footage from and an interview with Andri can be seen in the Oscar Award winning documentary Inside Job by Charles Ferguson. His most recent book, The Casket of Time, has now been published in about 10 languages and was nominated as the best fantasy book in Finland 2016, along with books by Ursula K. le Guin and David Mitchell. Andri Snær lives in Reykjavík with his wife Margrét, four children, and a dog.
April 26, 2019
Coming to Minneapolis and NYC – Taste of Iceland Festival 2nd – 5th of May
I am coming to Minneapolis as a part of the Taste of Iceland festival. Lots of music, food and culture from Iceland will be available – don’s miss Mammút and Kælan Mikla, two great bands from Iceland.
After Minneapolis I am coming to New York for the formal launch party of my book. A book talk in the Scandinavian house in New York with Bjarke Ingels the 7th of May.
I have many hats as a writer, poet, activist, children’s book author and sci-fi writer and now I am coming to Minneapolis for a few events, for children, academics and lovers of literature.
I will meet some children in schools and visit Wild Rumpus as part of Children’s book week, reading from The Casket of Time and The Story of The Blue Planet. I will talk about Time and Water with Global Minnesota and the Minnesota Water Council. And as I now have five books in English I will talk about my authorship in General with Eric from RainTaxi. More info here below:
Friday May 3rd: 4PM – 6PM
On Time and Water
Event Partners include Global Minnesota, Honorary Consulate of Iceland in Minnesota, Water Bar & Public Studio, University of Minnesota Water Council, University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment (IonE), Minnesota Trade Office. Information here:
https://www.water-bar.org/events/2019/5/3/taste-of-iceland-in-minneapolis-on-time-and-water
Saturday May 4th:
The Casket of Time
Wild Rumpus Bookstore at 2PM
https://www.wildrumpusbooks.com/Magnason
Sunday May 5th.
Raintaxi at 3PM
http://www.raintaxi.com/andri-snaer-magnason/
For more information about taste of Iceland – check here:
April 15, 2019
Seriously Entertaining – Joe’s Pub, NYC April 16th
From House of SpeakEasy:
Join us on April 16 for House of SpeakEasy’s literary cabaret “Seriously Entertaining” as four writers address the evening’s theme “The Strength of Ignorance.”
Journalist Max Boot delves into his personal ideological journey sparked by the Trump presidency. Poet Ross Gayhighlights the joys in our daily lives that we often ignore. Novelist Andri Snær Magnason tells a magical story of why we can’t avoid the changing world around us. Journalist Vicky Ward separates myth from reality on the Kushners.
Please join us for an exciting night of literary entertainment.
THE HOUSE OF SPEAKEASY IS A HOME FOR CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A LITERARY KIND: A PLACE WHERE AUTHORS AND THEIR AUDIENCES COME TOGETHER IN INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINING WAYS. MORE
April 7, 2019
“Imagine if you could choose just the good days and let the others go”
The Casket of Time is my second children’s book and the only Icelandic children’s book to break through the 3% translation wall in USA. So this is the only Icelandic children’s book from Iceland, since The Story of the Blue Planet came out in 2012. Both of these stories won the Icelandic literary awards and are published in many languages. The Story of the Blue Planet in 35 languages. The Casket of Time already in 12 languages. So you can support Icelandic literature and if you could donate to your public or school library that would be great. The book is available here But of course your local bookstore is the best place to look first. 
The publisher is a small independent press, Restless Books in NYC, focused on high quality translations from all over the world and immigrant literature from the USA.
To describe the age group The Casket of Time has found it would be a similar one as readers of books by JK Rowling, Neill Gaiman and Phillip Pullman. That is, the classic style of a children’s fantasy with themes that appeal to grown ups and YA readers as well. The Casket of Time has reached children down to the age of 9, does very well with 14 year olds, while grown up fans of fantasy and Sci-fi around the world have found things they like in the book. The Casket of Time was nominated as best translated fantasy in Finland with authors like Ursula K. Le Guin and David Mitchell.
Bjarke Ingels architect and futurist writes this about The Casket of Time:
“Andri Snær has created an intimate epic that floats effortlessly between genres as diverse as fairy tale and political commentary, science fiction and social realism. The Casket of Time spans the chasm between “once upon a time” and “have you heard the news today” in a way that makes his philosophical fable feel both timely and timeless.”
Here are a few dates for events in the US for the next weeks:
Apríl 16th
House of Speakeasy New York 7PM
AT JOE’S PUB at The Public Theater at 425 Lafayette St, NYC 10003
The strength of Ignorance:
https://publictheater.org/Tickets/Calendar/PlayDetailsCollection/Joes-Pub/2019/House-of-Speakeasy-APR/?SiteTheme=JoesPub
https://www.houseofspeakeasy.org/andri-snaer-magnason/
Apríl 19th
University of Pittsburgh
https://calendar.pitt.edu/event/sustainability_symposium_and_awards_luncheon#.XKZRq-v7TdQ
Minneapolis
May 3rd –
4PM – 6PM
TASTE OF ICELAND IN MINNEAPOLIS: ON TIME AND WATER WITH AUTHOR ANDRI SNÆR MAGNASON
HTTPS://WWW.WATER-BAR.ORG/EVENTS/2019/5/3/TASTE-OF-ICELAND-IN-MINNEAPOLIS-ON-TIME-AND-WATER
May 4th – Minneapolis
Wild Rumpus Bookstore 2 PM.
https://www.wildrumpusbooks.com/Magnason
Mineapolis
May 5th – 3PM
Rain Taxi
Target Performance Hall at Open Book
1011 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis
FREE and open to the public!
http://www.raintaxi.com/andri-snaer-magnason/
New York
May 7th – 7PM
Scandinavian House – New York City
The Future of Time – book talk with Bjarke Ingels and Andri Snær
http://www.scandinaviahouse.org/events/future-of-time/?mc_cid=6531a23143&mc_eid=569e53ff41
February 4, 2019
The Casket of Time – English Edition – (You can preorder now!)
The Casket of Time is coming out in English in April. This is my second children’s/YA book.
The Casket of Time has been published in 10 languages and well received by children (and people that used to be children many years ago).
In Finland the book was nominated as best translated fantasy along with Ursula K Le Guin and David Mitchell.
The Casket of Time is published by Restless Books
The Casket of Time:
Teenage Sigrun is sick of all the apocalyptic news about the “situation” and, worse, her parents’ obsession with it. Sigrun’s family—along with everyone else—decides to hibernate in their TimeBoxes®, hoping for someone else to fix the world’s problems . But when Sigrun’s TimeBox® opens too early, she discovers an abandoned city overrun by wilderness and joins a band of kids who are helping a researcher named Grace solve the “situation.”
The world, according to Grace, is under an ancient curse. There once was a princess named Obsidiana, who was trapped in time by the greedy king of Pangea. To protect Obsidiana from dark and gloomy days, the king put her in a crystal casket made of spider silk woven so tightly that time itself couldn’t penetrate. The king’s greed for power doomed his kingdom and the trapped princess. Sigrun sees eerie parallels between the tale of Obsidiana and the present-day crisis, and realizes it’s up to her and her friends to break the ancient curse and fix the world.
You can preorder the book here.
And one good idea:
October 7, 2018
October 2018: UBC Vancouver, Taste of Iceland in Seattle and Montreal
I will be reading and lecturing in Vancouver, Seattle and Montreal in October 2018.
So it is Vancouver Thursday October 11th, Seattle Friday the 12th and Montreal Monday the 15th. So if you know anyone in these nice cities, spread the word and let them know!
The first lecture is in the University of British Columbia the 11th of October 2018. I will be talking about my new project about “Time and Water”. During the next 100 years we will see fundamental changes in all aspects of water on our planet. The melting of glaciers, the rise of sea levels, the acidification of the oceans. Talking to scientists they often tell me that all the facts are out there, all the data, but it does not seem to resonate in peoples minds. We need stories they tell me, people understand facts to a certain level, but we need stories. In my work I am trying to understand our connection to time, My grandparents honeymoon in 1956 was a four week research trip over Vatnajökull, Europes largest glacier. The data of the glacier since then shows how nature has left geological speed and is changing in human speed.
Then Friday the 12th of October I am taking part in the Icelandic Art and Culture festival Taste of Iceland.
I will be reading in the wonderful Elliott Bay Book store in Seattle. I will talk about my past and future projects. From Bónus Poetry, one of the most sold poetry books in Iceland, to LoveStar and Dreamland, to my current project about Time and water.
https://www.elliottbaybook.com/event/andri-snaer-magnason
The Facebook event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/217724229102157/
And in Montreal the 15th of October at 17:30 in Librairie Gallimard Montreal along with Karoline Georges.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1119362551562728/
Looking forward to seeing you all!
best best
Andri
July 7, 2018
Making of an artist – From Reykjavik Grapevine
I was asked about what I thought made me an artist, by Reykjavík Grapevine. Here are some of the answers:
“Andri Snær Magnason is one of Iceland’s best known writers. His books and plays have been published or performed in over 30 countries; his book about Icelandic nature, ‘Dreamland,’ had profound impact on the Icelandic nation. Some say that his novel ‘LoveStar’ (2002), had incredible foresight about social media and its controversial impact on the world. We asked Andri Snær what made him the artist he is today. Here are his answers: https://grapevine.is/culture/2018/07/04/making-of-an-artist-old-school-techno-and-kurt-vonnegut-with-andri-snaer-magnason/
June 19, 2018
Ideas in a book are like alcohol in a drink
Here is an interveiw with mr Magnason from today in Estada De S. Paolo. The headline refers to LoveStar as the book is a tribute to ideas. If Ideas are like alcohol in a drink, some books are like light beer, about 3.5% ideas and the rest is a lot of pages, some books are like red wine, but I wanted to make a book that is closer to Tequila, about 45% ideas or like my friend Bjarke pointed out. I wanted to write a book like Cachaça.
“Mescla do tom distópico de George Orwell, Ievguêni Zamiátin e Aldous Huxley com o catastrofismo plausível e assustador de Black Mirror, Lovestar prima por mostrar que o futuro não será dominado por um governo maligno e totalitário, mas sim por corporações que vendem felicidade compulsória.”
The interview can be found online here:
June 16, 2018
My books in Brazil and Portugal
I have only been to Brazil in my dreams but my books LoveStar and The Casket of Time are in great hands with the publisher Editora Morro Branco. They have many of my favourite authors on their publishing list and seem to be finding really nice readers for the books. In 2017, my book ILUSÃO DO TEMPO, (Tímakistan or The Casket of Time), was published and now LoveStar has been published. Both books are getting lots of good reviews and comments from readers. ILUSÃO DO TEMPO is translated by Suzannah Almeida but LoveStar is translated by Fábio Fernandes. He has also translated the work of William Gibson, Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick.
“Às vezes a narrativa volta para o mundo do futuro onde estão Vitória e Marcos, mas a maior parte segue a vida do rei…”, continue lendo em: https://www.correiodocidadao.com.br/n....”
And here is a review on LoveStar:
http://acervodoleitor.com.br/lovestar-resenha/
LoveStar just came out in Portugal as well, translated by Joao Reis published by Bertrand Editora.
