Publisher’s Notes: There is information regarding ways you can help support Ukrainian fighters at the end of this article.
The original article was written by Dmytro Gromov and Oleg Ladyzhenskij, better known by the pseudonym H. L. Oldie, a highly regarded Ukrainian author of science fiction.
By Henry Lion OLDIE
Translation by Borys Sydiuk
As we hope you all already know, there is a brutal war going into its fourth year in Ukraine right now. It did not actually start on February 24, 2022, as many may think, when Russia started a full-power invasion into Ukraine. The truth is the war has been and still is on since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukrainian Crimea and began a “hybrid” war against Ukraine. That was the war but in its early stage. And it was initiated by all the same aggressor state,. Russia. The invaded and annexed Crimea and then used its “proxies”, two fake puppet so-called “people’s republics” created within the occupied Ukrainian Donbas region. They hired marginal local inhabitants, armed and directed them to maintain a puppet military administration of the Kremlin.
One can think, like, how it is possible to deal with literature in general and SF as its part during a big war? Because we have to think about defending our country rather than writing books.
But despite the war, tiredness, sleepless nights, shelling, military and volunteer efforts above and beyond human capabilities, many Ukrainian writers (science fiction & fantasy writers among them) have not stop to create new works. They write whenever possible, taking moments between their military duties and missions, raids etc.; they write in dugouts, basements and bomb shelters; they edit their work while in hospitals after serious treatments… Some of new writers started writing after they enrolled into armed forces, in the front line. We will tell you about one of them and his debut novella that happened to be not just good, but completely atypical, even “breakthrough” in some means.
We know all this from real people or our own experience. We had been surviving under Russian shelling and bombing Kharkiv which situated very close to the front line, we fled our homes and moved with our families to the west of Ukraine, to relatively safer places, and then returned home, to our beloved Kharkiv, a Ukrainian mega polis living under everyday shelling. We remain here despite the danger we face. Unfortunately, due to our age and medical restrictions, we were not accepted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), although we tried to join, but many of our friends now serve in the AFU and defend Ukraine.
And there are those who are Science Fiction and Fantasy authors.
By the way, the son of Dmytro Gromov (Henry Lion Oldie is the joint penname of Ukrainian writers Dmytro Gromov and Oleg Ladyzhenskij, who have been writing in collaboration since 1990 to this day) Serhiy Gromov joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a volunteer in 2022 and even promoted a private to a senior sergeant, and he has military awards. We regularly communicate with our friends and relatives who are in the Armed Forces, and what we could not know ourselves we know from their evidence.
During the war we created two collections of short and long works dedicated to the war: “An Angel Nicknamed Hunch” (Levada Publishing House, Lviv, Ukraine, 2023) and “Special Time” (currently being prepared for publication), as well as a novel in of 12 novelettes “A Black Drifting Snow” (Folio Publishing House, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2024), where the plot develops in the front line Kharkiv in 2023.
But we want to talk not about us. We need to admit that authors create new works not only in relatively safe locations (there are actually no safe place in Ukraine these days) but even at the front line, “at the very forefront of the front line”, defending and fighting.
The Folio Publishing House asked us to compile an anthology of contemporary Ukrainian science fiction called “Me and My Robots”.
We contacted authors who were volunteers, residents of cities under fire and who served in the Army, begged our pardon for distracting them from more important tasks, and asked to send us their stories for our anthology. And people responded, they sent stories, and the stories were really good, we must admit. It was scary when someone of them didn’t respond to our inquiry in a day or two. Then a reply would come: “I’m sorry, I couldn’t get in touch, I was on a mission…”
And it was a relief to know that they were still alive!
As a result, the third part of the Anthology contains stories from authors who defend Ukraine serving in the Armed Forces. We first wish to apologize to those authors not mentioned here as it is simply impossible to cover all of them in a single article. Although we limit ourselves to only eight extraordinary military authors who write while at war, they are only examples of the many others, under attack by battle drones and cruise missiles, who write during the intervals between combat operations while actively defending Ukraine. Stories of five of the authors-defenders are presented in the Anthology while three other authors serving in the Army have seen their solo books published in Ukraine.
So here’s a look at Ukrainian authors‘ science fiction, from the front line!
Dmytro Vysotsky:
Dmytro Vysotsky was born in Chernihiv, Ukraine, in 1984. He studied culinary at a railway lyceum. He has worked as a sculptor, animation artist, and game developer. He has never been published before. Currently, he is serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhia region. He wrote the story about robot cowboys for his friends to entertain them a bit in these troubled days. He wrote it in his free time between combat duties and patrols. He posted parts of the book in a closed group on Telegram. Over time, the book began to gain popularity, and the author was literally forced to publish it. This is the author’s debut work and debut publication. The novella “Soot” was published as a separate illustrated hardcover book and was also included in the Anthology of Contemporary Ukrainian Science Fiction ” Me and My Robots” (Folio Publishing House, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2025).
The novella “Soot” by Dmytro Vysotsky. A western robopunk novella — we’ve hardly ever seen anything like it before. The story takes place on another planet where colonists who came from Earth have unleashed a nuclear war, and now the robots are left alone. What kind of civilization will they build, using the human one as a model, inheriting all of our problems and conflicts?
A quote from the novella “Soot”:
When I crossed the threshold of the “Malamute”, the singing and talking immediately stopped. Everyone stopped doing what they were doing — drinking, playing with soiled, worn cards, talking, singing. A good dozen pairs of eyes clung to me like burdock to a new poncho. Trying not to jingle my heels, I walked confidently up to the bar.
“Sorry, son, we don’t sell coal,” Boiler Bob spat a stream of solvent through his teeth into his mug and wiped it dry. “Some water?”
“Then pour me some oil,” I replied confidently.
“You see, tonight the whole “Malamute” is rented with these wonderful diesels. The party is private. If you don’t have an invitation, I can’t serve you.”
“Why not? Just a drink,” I smiled at the bartender with the most charismatic smile my steely face was capable of.
“Don’t be a pussy, young man. No means no!” He seemed to be about to lose his patience and throw me out.
Well, then, plan B.
Andrii Vakhlaev-Vysotskyi:
Born in Poltava (Ukraine) in 1968, lives in Zaporizhzhia. He graduated from Kherson State University. Worked at Zaporizhzhia National University. Member of the Mykhailo Haydabura Zaporizhzhia Regional Literary Association and the Mykola Lykhodid literary and artistic association “Search”. He is an author of two published books. He serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2015. He is a holder of the Order “For Courage”, III grade.
The story “The Limit of Power”, which was selected for the Anthology “Me and My Robots”, was written during the current war in between the forefront operations; it is published for the first time.
The story “The Limit of Power” by Andriy Vakhlaev-Vysotsky. It would seem that this is a “classic” SF story, with scientific developments, new inventions and discoveries, theory and practice, and a well-rendered atmosphere of a research institute. On the other hand, this story is close to the classical mainstream: literary language, relationships between heroes, characters, everyday details… It is also a philosophical story with references to the philosophy of existentialism and solipsism. And its ending has an ambiguous interpretation.
A quote from the story “The Limit of Power”:
“This device creates a picture of the world in the operator’s perception, which is not just invented by people, but mentally realized by them in detail, ready for realization. This world is usually not realized, as a rule, only by chance. At a later stage, the device will be useful if it is equipped with a filter that highlights the heritage of an individual person unconsciously embodied in material artifacts and materialized information. It is too early to talk about the principles on the basis of which such a filter can be created. Separating a person from the environment that actually determines all his or her thinking and activity is a task of chthonic proportions. Especially in the case when that individual person no longer exists as such. If this problem is solved, the device can be useful in a wide range of fields, from history to clinical psychiatry. In the meantime… I have conducted preliminary tests on myself, but I would not like to publish the results now. Firstly, because I want to be as objective as possible, and secondly… well, you understand. I am asking a disinterested person to work as an operator.”
Paul Donets:
Born in Crimea (Ukraine) in 1985, a graduate of the Sevastopol National Technical University, moved to Odesa region after the occupation of Crimea by Russia. Philologist by education, he works as a university lecturer. Previously, he published only science-related works, exploring aspects of transhumanism in science fiction. He started writing SF in the 2000s. The story “Wrong Door”, presented in the Anthology “Me and My Robots”, is his first printed publication. Since 2022 he serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where, in his free time, he began working on a literary cycle at the intersection of science fiction, techno-thriller, and horror, which currently includes more than ten novels and short stories. The story “Wrong Door” is a part of this cycle. The work is inspired by Bruce Sterling’s short story “It Feels So Exponential” (2017).
The story “Wrong Door” by Paul Donets. Not too far future, Ukraine. A military one returns home from a war that is still ongoing. Technologies and means of destruction have evolved and changed, the world and life have changed, and the military confrontation continues. How will the officer see a new peaceful life in the rear of an endless war? Will this life accept him?
A quote from the story “Wrong Door”:
“Sir, do you have a green pass?” — the entrance to the park is blocked by a woman with a wrestling figure and obviously built-up muscles. In the sunlight, her hair is constantly changing color, like a membrane of gasoline on the surface of a puddle.
“What the f… What kind of pass?” the man begins to boil. A black drop of negative adrenaline dissolves in his blood.
“Mr. military man, this is a safe zone, you can’t go further without a psychological test. Read the laws. Please go to a medical facility, get tested, undergo a minimum rehabilitation course and come back with a green pass.
The soldier said nothing, just played with his yolks and stared at the guard like a Staffordshire terrier at a wheel he was about to hang on. “Everything for veterans,” holo-inscriptions flashed here and there, “to the heroes be eternal glory” — that’s all. Only in the shitty park where he grew up and scateded to roller skates as a kid, and then drank beer and made a hug with girls on the benches, he is now persona non grata. He has become a danger to society, you see. That’s how it is.
Radiy Radutnyj:
Born in the Poltava region of Ukraine in 1969, graduated from the Kharkiv Aviation Institute, lives in Kyiv, and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-power invasion. He is a published author since 1991, first in periodicals, then in anthologies, and in the early 2000s some of his solo books have reached mass-market readers. His favorite length is short stories, but he can do novels as well; his favorite genres are science fiction & fantasy, but he also writes horror, action, adventure, and marine prose. The story “What Do You Know About Dead Divers?” in the Anthology “Me and My Robots” is part of a large cycle about the Ukrainian special service fighting evil spirits; the story was written in 2023 specially for the Anthology “Me and My Robots” and is being published for the first time.
“What Do You Know About Dead Divers?” by Radii Radutnyj. A dynamic and slightly ironic adventure story from the series about the secret Ukrainian special service. The story is set in the near future. This work combines the traditions of science fiction, Ukrainian chimeric prose (a Ukrainian subspecies of “magical realism”), and the adventure genre and marine prose. And the ending is completely unexpected.
A quote from the story “What Do You Know About Dead Divers?”:
Last year, they also promised a singularity at the end of the year, but they deceived us.
Something went wrong. The grand opening of the singularity was postponed for twelve or even eighteen months, and even then it was inaccurate, but in the meantime, a new version of artificial intelligence was released. They say it is much smarter than all the previous ones combined. And more moral. And more ethical. And connected to plants, factories, workshops, and ateliers. The last point greatly contributed to the emergence of singular dresses, which either ended unexpectedly or just as unexpectedly turned into another toiletry item. Or they suddenly began to show what they were supposed to hide, and vice versa. Because that’s what a singularity is all about: unexpectedness.
But still, the real singularity of the dress was not replaced.
Those who were impatient sighed and grumbled, but I just laughed.
The citizens of the USSR were once promised communism in twenty years. Communism didn’t work out, so they decided to hold an Olympiad instead. It also turned out so-so…
Alexander Meshaykin (published as Alexander Lawrence):
Ukrainian science fiction writer, writes both solo and in collaboration with his wife Olena Saichuk. His works are mostly fantasy and science fiction. In 2017, Alexander Lawrence’s short story “On Silicon Shores” got in top 3 of the Star Fortress science fiction contest. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Alexander joined volunteering efforts to defend Ukraine from the enemy. He writes songs and finds time to write stories. He has been wounded three times, but after treatment he returned to the forefront every time. He created a new version of the story “On Silicon Shores” during one of his hospital rehabilitations. The new version of the story was selected for the Anthology “Me and My Robots”. Recently, Alexander demobilized from the Armed Forces of Ukraine for health reasons after another injury, returned to his wife and children, and is back to his normal life again.
The story “On Silicon Shores” by Alexander Lawrence. Cyberpunk with a philosophical context — this is a rare occurrence. What is it, national identity? Does the “genetic code of a nation” exist? And if so, can it be awakened by electron-wave impact? Is it worth? What can it bring?
A quote from the story “On Silicon Shores”:
The cars, whistling turbine accelerators, raced over the leaden waters of the Dnipro with the impetuosity of attacking hawks. Obviously, the raid was organized for a reason, not at random, and when the chain of iron mastodons was two hundred meters away, someone from the team lost their nerve. A fire flashed on the last barge and a whitish jet from a rocket projectile stretched toward one of the quadcopters. The driver immediately, following the instructions of the on-board computer, sharply lowered the vehicle almost to the water surface, but the homing projectile most likely just had a more competitive electronic filling. After making a dead loop in the air, it hit the patrolman in the left front propeller. There was a loud bang, followed by the crackling of a large-caliber machine gun mounted on the second quadcopter.
The surviving policeman was not going to retreat. Ignoring the sinking wreckage with his still-alive partner, he went in a wide arc, bypassing the row of barges to the left. A dozen autonomous microbots flew out of the interior of his car and headed toward the alleged — but now obvious — lawbreakers. Several shots were fired from several sides at once, and Derkach decided that was enough for today.
He got to his feet and took Yuki’s hand:
“Let’s get the fuck out of there — it’s about to get crazy! And turn off the ‘potential’, you don’t want to show off your hair. I hope our microchips weren’t in today’s caravan…”
From behind the hills that separated the central part of the city from the river, the growing hum of the turbines of the jet drones of reinforcements rushing to the rescue could be heard.
Oleksa Melnyk:
Oleksa Melnyk, also known as “Sleepwalker”, he is a Ukrainian writer, journalist, blogger, gamer, actor and voice actor whose voice can be heard in many films, TV shows and video games, He is the host of the podcast “Vmistozhier” (“SenseEater”) on YouTube, and co-founder of the comic book store UA Comix in Kolomyia.
He is the author of a short story collection “A Sleepwalker in Search of Sorrow” and a space opera graphic novel about those lost in space and time, “Battlestar: Mazepa”.
Oleksa is known for as a narrator since 2010. He is the voice of the “Fairy Tales Audio in Ukrainian” project and has narrated hundreds of films, TV series, video games, entertaining and educational videos, audio books, etc. He was involved in Ukrainian dubbing projects by FanVox UA, Adrian ZP, Baibako.TV, Game Trailers in Ukrainian, and many others. He also translated into Ukrainian such games as Survarium, Metro, Baldur’s Gate, Hand of Fate, Bastion, Star Craft, Red Alert 2, Portal 2. He was the host of LUMOS Orchestra concerts and the Comic Con Ukraine.
He is the founder of the largest PlayStation fan community in Ukraine, which promotes console gaming among Ukrainians and is keen to localize into Ukrainian everything related to PlayStation.
Since March 6, 2022, he serves in the 102nd Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces. This is the fourth year Oleksa is on duty to defend Ukraine from Russian invaders. Since the beginning of his service, he has been writing about the war. But taking time between his operations in 2023, Oleksa Melnyk wrote his first big story: the dreampunk novel “And I Will Tear the Cloth of Being”. The novel was created in a dugout in a landing near the de-occupied village of Zelenyi Hai (Green Wood) in Zaporizhzhia region.
The novel “And I Will Tear the Cloth of Being” by Oleksa Melnyk. This is a story about an alternative near past in which the characters are ordinary people mixed with a handful of marginalized people who try to resolve problems of interpersonal, social and interstate relations and stop an enemy invasion.
A new invention, the oneironet, has captivated humanity. It has become more interesting to live in a dream, where you can create any image you want at any time and era. Big and small cities in Ukraine have been swallowed up by dreams, and all events take place online — movies, music, games, even a visit to the doctor and ordinary communication. The real world, which is gradually falling into decline, is only a place to make money on the oneironet, to fall asleep and find yourself in a dimension where real life is in full swing.
But what happens if there is a person who can get into the dream network physically, without being connected? What if it’s an old man who does it unconsciously? What dangers lurk behind such abilities?
A small group of desperate people is trying to find a solution to the problem. But new questions give rise to new challenges, and the answers can be very unexpected and dangerous.
A quote from the novel “And I Will Tear the Cloth of Being” by Oleksa Melnyk:
“Payment for the family doctor’s consultation will be debited from your insurance account.”
“But…”
“Next!”
A new visitor appeared before the doctor, and Gregor moved to the spacious reception area of the hospital of his oneironet node. Wearing glossy shoes, he walked tentatively toward the exit on the shiny marble floor of the hospital. The sunny weather of the supposed Kyiv had turned into a huge storm. Slanting rain pelted down the street, just fell on the city like a giant concrete slab. And beautifully, spectacularly, it hid men’s stingy tears under it. Gregor wanted to mourn Yasya in this way, and his oneiromancer helpfully changed the individual weather settings — his subscription was enough for that.
He didn’t drive, fly, or teleport. He walked on the water and looked at a soggy piece of paper, on which the letters of the word “to eat” were blurred but still recognizable. This is how the mascara flowed down Yasia’s cheeks when he made her cry.
“I’m sorry, Yasia,” Gregor whispered to himself, barely moving his lips. “I couldn’t save you, I couldn’t help you.”
Grigor reveled in his own grief with all his might. There was something in it from Charles Baudelaire with his aestheticization of death, from Edgar Allan Poe with his gloomy vision of separation, and from Taras Shevchenko with his “Roars and Groans…”
“Although no, Shevchenko, that’s too much,” Gregor finally thought. And then he boiled over and disappeared into thin air, just like Yasya had a few minutes before. He was not killed by hunger. It was just that in the corner of the room where they had both been sleeping, the rags were no longer smoldering, but slowly burning out, generously filling the room with thick smoke. Gregor had simply slept through his own death.
Oleg Veretskiy:
Oleg Veretskiy was born in Odessa (Ukraine) where he lives till now. He is a screenwriter and author of the #LOLSHOW children’s show, which has been popular among young audiences in many cities across Ukraine. He is also the creator of the literary project “CWT: Club of Writers and Thinkers.” The main idea of the Club is to help aspiring authors to accept themselves and find the courage to open up to the world. At the same time, Oleg Veretskiy is an expert in real estate and is quite successful.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine Oleg Veretskiy joined the Ukrainian Army to defend our country.
Oleg Veretskiy is the author of Ukrainian fairy tales “Tales of the Wandering Mists,” published by Lazutkina Publishing House (Odessa, Ukraine). This book is the first part of his trilogy. It was recently translated into English and published in the United States by Pierce Press. The book was published in English by Pierce Press on February 24, 2025, exactly three years after the big war in Ukraine started.
Pierce Press is also preparing to release the second and third books of the trilogy:
Tales of the Wandering Mists trilogy:
Book One: Tales of the Wandering Mists (Feb. 24, 2025): https://bookshop.org/p/books/tales-of-the-wandering-mists-a-ukrainian-fairy-tale/494d80e7bc140477?ean=9780996097550&next=t
Book Two: The Man with Four Shadows
Book Three: The House of Deceit
Tales of the Wandering Mists, Book One:
Brace yourself. You are about to dive into the fantastical tale of a precocious girl named Lisa. As she embarks on a quest to save her mother using an enchanted music box that she must learn how to fix, Lisa braves heart-pounding encounters with fantastical creatures. While on the run from malevolent forces that wish to take her down in order to steal her supernatural powers, she unlocks secrets in ancient wisdom, and forges her own identity.
Throughout her adventures, Lisa takes charge of her own coming-of-age and in the process, becomes the heroine of her own journey. Readers daring enough to follow Lisa will become intimately acquainted with the strange beasts of the worlds of the Wandering Mists – the air- and earth-bound Dolphins, the petrifying Riven, the quarrelsome Inside-Out Man, the sinister Acrid, the wild and wondrous Gardener, and even the enchanting Craftsman who is able to fix anything.
Welcome to the Worlds of the Wandering Mists!
First in a trilogy for all ages. More engaging content for readers at OlegVeretskiy.com. Veretskiy receives all net proceeds from this book to continue supporting critical efforts for his brothers-in-arms and local communities, and in time, to return to his writing.
And here is what Alex Shvartsman (USA), writer, winner of several prestigious awards in the field of science fiction & fantasy, translator, editor, and compiler of science fiction anthologies, writes about the English edition of this book:
“Tales of the Wandering Mists blends the wild imagination of Alice’s journey to Wonderland with the melancholy wisdom of The Little Prince to create an altogether unique narrative.”
Quote from the American edition of: Tales of the Wandering Mists (Book One):
“Acrid is destroying This World and all of your friends and family,” Lisa said, her eyes brimming with tears. “You can’t fight him alone, and you know it.”
“We will manage,” the Dolphin answered with optimism.
“No. That’s not true.” Lisa stroked Yir’s sleek, tapered nose. “Acrid and the Riven almost destroyed the Chain of Sentinels. I can only imagine what he’ll do now that he has the Horde alongside him. I don’t know what this Horde is, but I see the fear in your eyes when you talk about it. This time Acrid will kill everyone and take over Your World. And I won’t allow that.”
“And what will you do about it?” The Inside-Out Man grimaced. “You’re just a little girl, even if you act like an adult.”
“You’re right. I am just a little girl. But I’ve fallen in love with all of you. With this land. With this magical World.” Lisa brushed away a large, contented tear as it rolled down her cheek. “I will save you.”
Illarion Pavliuk:
Illarion Pavliuk was born in Skadovsk (Kherson region, Ukraine) in 1980. He is a Ukrainian writer, producer, head of the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (since 2023), combat officer, journalist, documentary filmmaker. He is married, has children.
Author of the bestselling novels “White Ashes” (a noir detective story with a touch of mysticism and references to Nikolai Gogol’s novella “Viy”), “The Idiot’s Dance” (a thrilling postmodern space science fiction / psychological action thriller; the novel was shortlisted for the BBC Book of the Year 2019 award) and “I See You Are Interested in Darkness” (a psychological mystery thriller/horror with detective intrigue and references to ancient Greek mythology, one of the most prominent bestsellers in Ukraine; the novel was shortlisted for the BBC Book of the Year 2020 award, and in 2023 was a bestseller of the Old Lion Publishing House). All of his books were published by the Old Lion Publishing House (Lviv, Ukraine).
Illarion Pavliuk graduated from the Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University in journalism. In 2001, he moved to Kyiv, where he began his media career as a journalist. He worked as an international reporter specializing in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
In early 2010, he joined the 1+1 TV channel (Kyiv, Ukraine) as a producer. In 2011, he was on the jury board of the 63rd American Emmy Awards. In December 2011, he and his team left the TV company. He is co-owner of the Ivory Films production company.
He is the author of “The Nation Code”, “Ordinary Zombies. How Lies Works”, “Zombies 2. Brainwashing”, “Azure Dust” and others.
In 2015, he joined the Harpoon volunteer battalion. From the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he joined the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Since 2023, he is a full-time employee of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
In 2025, he announced a new dark fantasy book.
A quote from the novel “I See You Are Interested in Darkness” by Illarion Pavliuk:
…they walk together along the side of the fountain, holding hands. She does not always respond even to her own name and often does not understand what is being said to her… Many people even snicker when they hear the word “peculiar” and say that the developmental delay is too obvious. That, they say, is all the peculiarness. They say all sorts of things… But when you watch these two laugh, you realize that it doesn’t matter to them.
You might to say: “It shouldn’t be like that, there was only one coin!” Indeed, there was only one. And a deal where everything is clear — the bridge and the sunset… But do we remember what the main condition sounded like? “If you don’t cross the bridge before sunset with a coin in your mouth…” And even though this makes no sense, it is just literalism… But when Andriy walked across the bridge, he did have a coin in his mouth.
If you want, call it bureaucracy. After all, where else should it be but in hell. And if you are still interested in darkness, then are you surprised? If you want, consider it another confirmation of how wrong old Einstein was. Maybe someone will see all this as proof of the highest justice — and they will be absolutely right! But the best thing to do is just come to the park on a nice Saturday afternoon, sit by the fountain and watch this amazing pair.
And who knows, maybe you too will think that happiness does not require any “ifs”. And darkness reigns only where people do not know this important and yet so simple secret.
* * *
Surprisingly enough, Ukrainian literature, and science fiction & fantasy in particular, as well as publishing activities, are actively operating even during the war. Considering the number of book titles published, i.e. thematic range and runprints, the Ukrainian book market even grew in 2022-2023. However, lLater there was a slight decline, in particular due to the destruction of a number of printing houses and several bookstores and warehouses by Russian missiles, and the deaths of employees of publishing and printing houses. Thus, in addition to fighting at the forefront, the Russians systematically target civilians and civilian infrastructure, engaging in outright terror. There were, of course, other reasons too, for the decline in book publishing. But the book industry in Ukraine is still alive, and for in these war time is doing quite well!
As about Ukrainian science fiction & fantasy: In recent years, several new stars have arisen on the Ukrainian SF&F stage, and a number of not-so-known but also quite interesting authors emerged. Also, many of those writers who were publishing authors in the 1990s and the 2000s are still active. Unfortunately, some of them sacrificed their lives defending Ukraine…
Diversity of contemporary Ukrainian SF&F is impressive. There are all kinds of fantasy present: urban fantasy, fairy-tale and magical fantasy, heroic and epic fantasy, science fantasy (including books for children, young adult fantasy, and quite “adult” books), mystical thriller and mystical detectives, mythological fantasy, dark fantasy, mystical horror, and “chimeric prose”, alternative history and crypto-history, as well as hard science fiction (both in Space and on Earth), space opera, robopunk, cyberpunk, steampunk, dieselpunk, nanopunk, post-apocalyptic fiction with a bias towards surrealism and the “new weird”, and various “hybrid” trends at the intersection of genres.
Virtual reality, artificial intelligence, neural networks, robots, and digital technologies are also topics in many stories. This is understandable: these are the trends we see all over the world. It would be surprising if they were not reflected in stories of contemporary Ukrainian SF&F authors. But the authors also discuss other problems, like: the war and the postwar Ukraine and the world, the “extra person” and the search for personal place in a new life, problems with trafficking and freedom, responsibility and mutual understanding, and much more — you count them.
Contemporary Ukrainian SF&F is full with stories by authors who are now defending Ukraine in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. So, despite the war, Ukrainian literature and Ukrainian SF/F/H scene is alive and feeling well not only in the ordinary life, but also at the forefront of the war.
It is a real hope for the future we face.
***
If you would like to help support Science Fiction Authors and Fans on the Frontline in Ukraine, Dmytro and Oleg forwarded this contact information in English, Ukrainian and Russian:
Fund raising / donation for Ukrainian Army information in English (translated from Ukrainian):
To all concerned readers:
If you would like to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are currently defending their
country from Russian aggression, we would be very grateful for any donation via PayPal:
anton.umnitsyn @ gmail.com
This is a charitable volunteer fundraiser for the needs of the UCMRP (Unmanned Complex
Maintenance and Repair Platoon) workshop of the 2nd Line Battalion “Shchedryk” (“Carol of the
Bells”) of the 411th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems (SR UMS) “Yastruby” (“Hawks”) of
the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The funds raised will be used to purchase components and consumables for the repair and
maintenance of drones and for the current needs of the UCMRP workshop: car repairs, fuel and
lubricants, tools, plastic for 3D printing, and so on.
The person responsible for the fundraiser is the head of the 2nd workshop, Junior Sergeant Anton
Umnitsyn.
The authors of the article know this man well. He is a Ukrainian soldier who has been defending
Ukraine from the Russian invasion for more than three years. Anton Umnitsyn is also an avid fan
and reader of science fiction, which he finds time to read even now, between combat duties. Anton
also advises some Ukrainian science fiction writers on the realities of modern warfare related to
combat drones, their technical characteristics, and their use.
We thank all our readers in advance! And remember: there is no such thing as a small donation!
Any help you can provide will contribute to saving the lives of Ukrainians and bring Ukraine closer
to victory over the aggressor, Russia.
Fund raising / donation for Ukrainian Army information in Ukrainian:
До всіх небайдужих читачів:
Якщо буде ваша ласка підтримати Збройні Сили України, що зараз захищають свою країну
від російської агресії — будемо щиро вдячні за будь-який донат на PayPal:
anton.umnitsyn@gmail.com
Це благодійний волонтерській збір на потреби майстерні ВОРБК (Взвод Обслуговування та
Ремонту Безпілотних Комплексів) 2-го лінейного батальйону «Щедрик» 411 Окремого Полку
Безпілотних Систем (ОП БПС) «Яструби» Збройних Сил України.
На що саме підуть зібрані кошти: на комплектуючі та розхідники для ремонту та
обслуговування дронів та на поточні потреби майстерні ВОРБК: ремонт автівок, паливо-
мастильні матеріали, інструмент, пластик для 3D-друку та таке інше.
Відповідальний за збір: начальник 2-ї майстерні, молодший сержант Антон Умніцин.
Цю людину автори статті добре знають. Це український військовий, який вже більше трьох
років боронить Україну від російської навали. Також Антон Умніцин — завзятий фен і читач
наукової фантастики, яку знаходить час читати навіть зараз, проміж бойовими чергуваннями.
Також Антон є консультантом деяких українських письменників-фантастів з приводу реалій
сучасної війни, пов’язаних з бойовими дронами, їхніми ТТХ та використанням.
Заздалегідь дякуємо всім небайдужим читачам! І пам’ятайте: малих донатів не буває! Будь-
яка ваша допомога сприятиме збереженню життів українців та наблизить перемогу України
над агресором-Росією.
Fund raising / donation for Ukrainian Army information in Russian (translated from
Ukrainian):
Ко всем неравнодушным читателям:
Если вы не против поддержать Вооруженные Силы Украины, которые сейчас защищают
свою страну от российской агрессии, будем искренне благодарны за любой донат на PayPal:
anton.umnitsyn@gmail.com
Это благотворительный волонтерский сбор на нужды мастерской ВОРБК (Взвод
Обслуживания и Ремонта Беспилотных Комплексов) 2-го линейного батальона «Щедрик» 411
Отдельного Полка Беспилотных Систем (ОП БПС) «Ястребы» Вооруженных Сил Украины.
На что именно пойдут собранные средства: на комплектующие и расходные материалы для
ремонта и обслуживания дронов и на текущие нужды мастерской ВОРБК: ремонт
автомобилей, горюче-смазочные материалы, инструмент, пластик для 3D-печати и прочее.
Ответственный за сбор: начальник 2-й мастерской, младший сержант Антон Умницын.
Этого человека авторы статьи хорошо знают. Это украинский военный, который уже более
трех лет защищает Украину от российского вторжения. Также Антон Умницын — заядлый
фэн и читатель научной фантастики, которую находит время читать даже сейчас, между
боевыми дежурствами. Также Антон является консультантом некоторых украинских
писателей-фантастов по поводу реалий современной войны, связанных с боевыми дронами,
их ТТХ и использованием.
Заранее благодарим всех неравнодушных читателей! И помните: маленьких донатов не
бывает! Любая ваша помощь будет способствовать сохранению жизней украинцев и
приблизит победу Украины над агрессором-Россией.
***
Two professional SF & Fantasy authors Dmytro Gromov and Oleg Ladyzhenskij writing under the joint pen-name of Henry Lion Oldie are living in Ukraine and writing in co-authorship from 1990 to nowadays. Both co-authors were born in March, 1963, in Ukraine (a territory of the USSR at that time). Dmytro Gromov is a chemical-engineer, and Oleg Ladyzhenskij is a theater director. But from 1996 they both became professional authors of fiction literature.
Dmytro and Oleg are the authors of many different books in such fields of SF & Fantasy literature as heroic, mythological, epic, adventure, urban, dark and ironic fantasy, and also science fiction, space opera, cyberpunk, mystical thrillers, alternate history and etc. Up to now more than 280 books of Fantasy and Science Fiction by H. L. Oldie have been commercially published (including re-prints and translations into different languages), which is more than 60 original books (first prints). The sum of all H. L. Oldie’s books sold up to now is about 2.000.000 copies. The most part of H. L. Oldie’s books have been published in Russian and Ukrainian, but some books also have been translated and published in France, in Canada (in French), in Poland, Czech Republic, and Lithuania. Some H. L. Oldie’s short stories have been also published in USA, Poland, Israel, Hungary, Mexico, China, Czech Republic, and in France.
At “EuroCon-2006” (International European SF & Fantasy Convention) H. L. Oldie got the title of The Best European SF & Fantasy Author of 2006 (ESFS Award). We are also the owners of many other Ukrainian, Russian and international literary awards and prizes.
During the war that Russia started against Ukraine Dmytro Gromov and Oleg Ladyzhenskij still live in Ukraine and continue to write new SF & Fantasy stories and novelettes, mostly on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
* * *
Oleg Ladyzhenskij was born on 23.03.1963 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. In 1980 he enrolled in the Kharkiv Institute of Culture as a student of the Theatre Production Department and was graduated from there in 1984. Oleg married the same year. His daughter was born in 1985.
From 1984 to 1999 Oleg Ladyzhenskij worked as a stage director. He organized more than a dozen performances.
Oleg Ladyzhenskij has a Black Belt of the 2nd Dan (degree) in Goju Ryu Karate-do. He is the Chief Instructor of Goju Ryu Karate school in Kharkiv and a full-contact Karate referee, Ukraine.
At present time Oleg is a professional writer. Since 1990 he writes Science Fiction & Fantasy stories and novels in co-authorship with Dmytro Gromov.
Oleg enjoys jazz music.
* * *
Dmytro Gromov was born on 30.03.1963 in Simferopol, Ukraine. In 1969 his family moved to Sevastopol and in 1974 to Kharkiv, Ukraine, where Dmytro lives now.
In 1980 Dmytro enrolled the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute as a student of the Inorganic Chemistry Department and graduated from there in 1986. Dmytro worked as a chemist at the Scientific-Research Institute of Chemistry in Kharkiv.
Dmytro Gromov married in 1989. His son was born the same year.
Since 1988 to 1991 Dmytro obtained his MS in Sciences. Since 1992 to 1994 he worked as an editor. At present time his occupation is a professional writer.
Since 1976 Dmytro Gromov writes Science Fiction & Fantasy. Since 1990 Dmytro Gromov and Oleg Ladyzhenskij write in co-authorship.
Dmytro has a Black Belt of the 1st Dan (degree) in Goju Ryu Karate-do.
Dmytro enjoys hard rock music (“Deep Purple” especially).
Dmytro’s son, Sergiy Gromov, is a major sergeant of Ukrainian Armed Forces now.
Dmytro Gromov and Oleg Ladyzhenskij (Henry Lyon Oldie)
Steve Davidson is the publisher of Amazing Stories.
Steve has been a passionate fan of science fiction since the mid-60s, before he even knew what it was called.
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