I happened to be invited to participate in the jury of the literary Dar Prize, organized in Switzerland on the initiative of the writer Mikhail Shishkin (whom I love very much, and I consider this initiative important and necessary). The purpose of the prize, as I understand it, is to support those who write in Russian (we are talking about prose, not poetry, if anything) and oppose the policy of the Moscow authorities and the war in support of Ukraine. The main prize is a grant for translation into other languages. Below is the recently announced shortlist:
Igor Pomerantsev “My First Bomb Shelter”,
Beznosov Denis. Evidence of Habitat
Alexander Goldfarb “The Bull about Father, Son, Spies, Dissidents and Secrets of Biological Weapons”,
Karina Cochrell-Ferré's "Lusha",
Sergei Davydov “Springfield.”
Anastasia Vepreva, Roman Osminkin “Kommunalka on Petrogradka”,
Andrei Krasnyashchikh “God is +/-.”
Sergei Solovyov, “Shakti's Smile.”
Maria Galina “Near the war. Odessa. February 2022 - lute 2023.”
Nikolai V. Kononov “The Night We Disappeared”,
Viktor Melamed “Dixon”,
Riva Yevstifeeva's “Internship Stories.”
What is definitely important (to me) here? I HAVE ALL THESE BOOKS TO READ! However, I have already read two of them, but I won't tell you which ones. Those who are on the jury (the list of the jury, as well as the expert council that selected the shortlist, is on the award website, it's in the first comment) have the right to name the three most favorite books. In addition, there is a viewer's vote on the site, with the collection of money - and they will be received by the writers or writers whose works are in the shortlist. So, that's it, in a nutshell. I promise I'll keep you posted.
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 Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
