Annotation from the publisher:
Olga Romanova, a well-known human rights activist and journalist, has suddenly written a dashing neo-noir. A political thriller with choppy elements, a coming-of-age drama with slash fanfic. It would have been typical yaoi (boys' love) if she had limited herself to men, but no.
The characters are easily recognizable, every day you see their prototypes on your smartphone or computer screens, even if you don't want to see them at all. The action starts in 1974 in the suburbs of Leningrad, moves to Moscow, Kabul, Berlin, Dresden, St. Petersburg and ends in the very near future.
All of this could have been. Or maybe it really was.
A cheerful young native of a Ukrainian village at the very beginning of the era of stagnation comes to conquer the Northern Capital. She tries to help people, she is smart, she has grip, she makes a dizzying career, crossing paths with the main Soviet female cosmonaut, with a novice KGB officer sent to Dresden, with gangsters, with members of the CPSU Central Committee, ministers, spies and assassins. Without feuding with anyone, without breaking the rules, by the end of her life she turns into a monster who has declared war on her homeland.
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Award is given annually. The jury votes, with each member selecting between one and three works. The winner is the author whose work receives the most votes. Additionally, a reader’s vote (Crowdfunding) is conducted on the Award’s website, where readers can vote for authors and support them financially.
What Awards Are Provided?
The winner of the Award receives a grant to translate the work into English, French and German. Also, as part of the reader's vote, all collected funds are transferred to the authors for whom the readers voted.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Прием заявок на конкурс второго сезона премии начнется 1 сентября 2025-го и закончится 15-го октября 2025 года.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
В январе 2026 года Совет Экспертов объявит список финалистов. Читательское голосование начинается в тот же месяц. В феврале-апреле члены жюри читают книги-финалисты, а победителей Премии и читательского голосования объявят в мае 2026 года.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
В конкурсе второго сезона могут принимать участия произведения, изданные в 2024-м году. Произведения (роман, повесть, сборники рассказов и эссе, документальная проза), вышедшие отдельными изданиями или опубликованные в журналах. Номинировать на премию имеют право как издательства и редакции журналов, так и сами писатели или третьи лица (с согласия и письменного подтверждения автора). Тексты подаются к рассмотрению в электронном виде. Премия «Дар» открыта для всех авторов. Учитывая главные цели премии: продвижение современной русскоязычной литературы за пределами РФ и характер самого вознаграждение (грант на перевод) - приоритет будет отдаваться авторам, чьи произведения ранее не переводились на английский, французский и немецкий языки.
