Odkrywanie fikcji kryminalnej, wojennej i ukraińskiej literatury

Crime author Kseniya Tsyhanchuk shares insights into her motivation for writing crime novels and thrillers and her exploration of another genres. She discusses the gender-neutral nature of crime fiction, highlighting the influence of an author’s personality alternatively than sex on game development. Tsyhanchuk besides reflects on the cultural importance of crime novels, acknowledging their function in reflecting societal realities while besides addressing universal themes.

The conversation delves into the impact of wartime experiences on Ukrainian literature, peculiarly the surge in war-themed literature and the shift in readers’ preferences toward Ukrainian authors. Tsyhanchuk shares her individual experiences of writing during wartime, describing how the conflict influenced her writing process and thematic choices. She emphasizes the importance of promoting the Ukrainian language through literature, peculiarly through popular genres like crime novels.

Furthermore, Tsyhanchuk discusses the societal function of crime authors in shaping perceptions of crime and justice, stressing the message of justice prevailing in her own works. She expresses a desire to change the planet through her writing, noting the transformative power of literature in providing escapism and fostering empathy during turbulent times.

The conversation offers a compelling exploration of the intersection between crime fiction, wartime experiences, and the promotion of Ukrainian language and literature, providing valuable insights into the function of literature in shaping societal attitudes and perceptions.

KINGA ANNA GAJDA: What motivates you to compose crime novels and thrillers, and why did you choose this genre of literature?

KSENIYA TSYHANCHUK: I like mystery and I like solving puzzles. Besides, detective fiction and thrillers are my favourite genres. That’s why I started writing them. However, I want to effort myself in another genres like magic realism or drama.

Do crime fiction and thrillers have a gender? Are there discernible differences between male and female authors in terms of style, themes or character portrayal in crime novels/thrillers? If so, how?

I don’t think they have a gender. Sometimes women can compose detective fiction and thrillers with very cruel plots. For example, my fresh Коли приходить темрява (When the Darkness Comes) is considered to be very cruel. And men can compose crime stories and thrillers with very soft plots. I guess a game doesn’t depend on gender. It depends on the personality of the author.

Can it be said that crime fiction and thrillers are culturally marked – carrying culture with them, promoting culture? How do Ukrainian crime novels relate to Ukrainian culture? Are their themes and narratives more universal or culturally specific?

I say all book is culturally marked in any way. erstwhile you compose a book you describe the people of your country. These people have their own worldview and they live according to the realities of their countries. However, I don’t think that crime fiction and thrillers advance culture. In these genres, authors concentrate on solving a crime and the psychology of a criminal. The communicative and the topics of these books are more universal in Ukraine. But any books can truly relate to our culture.

How has Ukrainian literature evolved since the outbreak of war, and what impact has it had on the genre of crime novels/thrillers? After all, you are dealing with a genre in which death and force are present, and there is presently no shortage of that – do people inactive read genres that affect detective problems during wartime, or do they like something cheerful, romanticist or adventurous?

We have more literature about war now (both poesy and prose). It’s understandable, I guess. quite a few Ukrainian writers went to war. So it has had a immense impact on Ukrainian literature. At the same time, quite a few fresh writers have emerged during the war, which is definitely good. It’s a very hard time for Ukrainian literature now. But we conflict and we have our victories. Before the full-scale invasion Ukrainians read quite a few Russian books. But now people don’t want to anymore. They want to know Ukrainian authors and read Ukrainian books. In this way, the war helped to make our literature. Our publishers don’t print Russian books and it’s hard to buy Russian books in Ukraine. It’s even hard to find them in libraries. Speaking about crime fiction and thrillers in Ukraine I’d like to say that people inactive love them. any people don’t want to read these genres due to the war. But it’s a very tiny percent of readers.

How have wartime experiences influenced your writing?

That’s an interesting question. At the beginning of the full-scale war, I couldn’t read anything. And it was very hard for me to compose something. However, at that time, I started writing a fresh book with a game connected to this war. I wouldn’t even have thought of this communicative had it not been for the full-scale war itself.

What does the experience of war mean to you and how does it reflect in your work?

Before the full-scale war I started writing a book in another genre. It was magic realism. This book had to be very kind, with no murders or any another cruelty. But the war changed my plans. I just couldn’t think about that plot. So now I’m writing a book connected with war (though the genre’s close to a thriller). The main characters of the book want to halt the war – and it’s a common want for all Ukrainians.

In your opinion, how does trauma affect people?

It affects people very badly. Even if you’re not on the frontlines you’re inactive very depressed due to what’s happening in the country. quite a few people die all day – both civilians and soldiers. You wake up due to air raid alarms very often. any Ukrainian cities are comparatively safe but you inactive never know where the next rocket or the next Shahed could hit. quite a few children lost their parents and quite a few parents lost their children. There are quite a few widows and widowers and there are quite a few disabled people due to the war. We have lots of people with PTSD. Millions of people had to flee the country or at least their cities. any people had to flee twice (in 2014 and 2022). I’m certain this trauma will have an impact on people present and future generations. There’s definitely a lower quality of life, a weakened economy and more wellness issues.

Who, in your view, qualifies as a witness of war? Is there empathy?

Everybody in Ukraine can be seen as a witness of war. due to the fact that surviving here allows you to observe what is happening. However, if you want to know as much as possible about the war you should talk to military people and the civilians who live or lived in the occupied territories. I spoke to any of them. They can tell you quite a few terrible stories about what they have seen.

What literary genres do people usually read during times of conflict, and what are their preferences?

They read different types of literature. However, nowadays the Ukrainians want to read more historical books. They want to realize crucial historical events and they are curious in historical personalities.

How has war affected the readership of crime novels in Ukraine? What does the publishing and reading marketplace look like during wartime in Ukraine?

At first most people didn’t read anything. It was very hard to concentrate on anything but the news. But then they returned to the habit of reading. As we know reading helps us to fight stress so any people started to read even more. Speaking about publishing houses, I want to say that at the beginning of the war, they stopped working. Actually, everything in our country stopped at that time. It’s especially hard for the publishers who work in the regions which were occupied. For example, my publishing home “Folio” is situated in Kharkiv (by the way quite a few publishing houses are situated in Kharkiv). The printing home of Folio is situated in Derhachy. It’s a town close the Russian border so it was occupied very rapidly in the beginning of the war. The town has been retaken since but the publishing home inactive can’t usage its printing press as it has been damaged. They gotta find another printing houses to print books. Here’s another example – we have a celebrated publishing home called “Ranok”. It’s situated in Kharkiv as well. In August 2022 its printing home was besides bombed and destroyed. However, in spite of all the obstacles our literature is developing, our publishers print fresh books and even fresh publishing houses appear in Ukraine. At the same time, it’s essential to admit that any of the publishing houses will not last due to this war.

People in Ukraine request fresh books of different genres. Crime novels are very popular in Ukraine. People like them and request them. Psychologists say that’s due to the fact that this kind of literature helps us to overcome our fears.

What function do Ukrainian crime authors play in shaping societal perceptions and attitudes toward crime and justice?

It’s a good question. I believe that crime authors play a alternatively crucial function in shaping societal perceptions and attitudes toward crime and justice. In crime novels, we always see a crime and people who want justice. In most cases, the crime is solved and the criminal is sent to prison. In crime novels, perpetrators are usually caught and it’s a good lesson for those who want to commit a crime. Teenagers like reading crime novels very much. It is at this age people learn that justice will always prevail. I think it’s crucial for people to realize that as early as possible. Both those who think about committing a crime and those who may become a victim of a crime.

What do you want to convey to your readers through your books and what do you want to tell them now? As a renowned writer, do you want to change the world?

In my books, I like playing with my readers. I like setting up traps to make it hard for people to realize who a real perpetrator is. I want them to think more. The another thing I want to convey is that justice always prevails. I want people to believe it. I think it’s very important.

Yes, I want to change the world. I want more justice in this world. And I want more happy people. erstwhile upon a time, a female told me at a presentation that my books had helped her at the beginning of the war to forget about what was happening (at least for the period she was reading). You know, it changed me. Before that, I thought my books were just for entertainment. Now I realize I can aid people with my books. That is very crucial to me.

Kseniya Tsyhanchuk is a writer, philologist and teacher of abroad languages. She has been writing since childhood. Her thriller Коли приходить темрява (When the Darkness Comes) received the Golden Pistol prize at the Word Coronation literary competition in 2016. Her latest novel, По той бік пам’яті (On the another side of memory), is an breathtaking mix of mysticism, horror and mythology from ancient fairy tales.

Kinga Anna Gajda is an associate prof. at the Institute of European Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.

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