Bardugo, Arden, Kristoff, Orbitowski, et al.: how the fantasy writers worldwide support Ukraine

Foreign authors of science fiction and fantasy voice their support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as Russia wages war on Ukraine.  

Renée Ahdieh is an American-Korean author of the New York Times best-selling series The Wrath & the Dawn. She wrote: «There is no excuse for what this ex-KGB authoritarian asshole has done and undoubtedly will do. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine».

 

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Публикация от Renee Ahdieh (@reneeahdieh)

Katherine Arden, an American novelist who authored the Winternight trilogy, shared that she was told plenty of times about the USSR’s victory over Nazism and how they «saved the world», when she was a student in Russia. 

«Now Russia under Putin has decided to cosplay Germany, 1941. To add to the Orwellian doublespeak, Putin’s stated goal is to «denazify» Ukraine–by deposing, and likely assassinating–their first Jewish president», – she noted.

Katherine Arden also said that «I stand with Ukraine» has about as much effect as «thoughts and prayers» on airstrikes, so instead of saying that she remarked that «It shouldn’t be like this», – and expressed their sympathy to readers and citizens in both countries.

When I was a student in Moscow, I was informed, many times, with much pride, how during ww2 the USSR beat the Nazis and saved the world.
It’s a huge part of the modern Russian identity.
Now Russia under Putin has decided to cosplay Germany, 1941.
Christ.

— Katherine Arden (@arden_katherine) February 25, 2022

When I was a student in Moscow, I was informed, many times, with much pride, how during ww2 the USSR beat the Nazis and saved the world.
It’s a huge part of the modern Russian identity.
Now Russia under Putin has decided to cosplay Germany, 1941.
Christ.

— Katherine Arden (@arden_katherine) February 25, 2022

To add to the Orwellian doublespeak, Putin’s stated goal is to “denazify” Ukraine–by deposing, and likely assassinating–their first Jewish president.
I don’t have words.

— Katherine Arden (@arden_katherine) February 25, 2022

Jay Kristoff, an Australian author of the New York Times best-selling series The Nevernight Chronicle, shared links and ways to help the Ukrainians hoping they’re safe. 

Much love to my wonderful Ukrainian readers and my amazing publisher @NeboBooklab

I hope you folks are all safe 🖤🇺🇦

Some links and info below, assembled by Ukrainian sources https://t.co/PBE8oDbojI

— Jay Kristoff (@misterkristoff) February 27, 2022

Leigh Bardugo, an American author of the New York Times best-selling Grishaverse novels, which include the Six of Crows duology, available in the Ukrainian translation, informed that she donated her Shadow and Bone advances from her Ukrainian and Russian publishers to charities.    

Jennifer Lynn Armentrout, an American writer of contemporary romance and fantasy, shared a link to drive donations and help. She also wrote: «even for someone who deals in words, there are times when nothing written feels right. I’m privileged enough, lucky enough, not to know what it’s like to live through what I’ve watched on the news. All I can think to say is that I’m sorry for what people in Ukraine are suffering and I’m sorry for all those innocent who will inevitably suffer». She stresses that peace shouldn’t be a dream.

 

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Публикация от Jennifer L. Armentrout (@jennifer_l_armentrout)

Deborah Harkness, an American historian and the author of the All Souls Trilogy, posted that she’s standing with Ukraine.

 

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Публикация от Deborah Harkness (@debharkness)

Charles Stross, a British author of the Singularity Sky (translated into Ukrainian), supports Ukraine by actively retweeting information. For instance, he wrote an ironic post about the ‘creative’ Russian propaganda: «It’s a Chinese-made commercial laptop with a couple of stickers saying «NATO». In other news, I own a police car! Well, it’s a car with a couple of bumper stickers saying «Police».

It’s a Chinese-made commercial laptop with a couple of stickers saying “NATO”.

In other news, I own a police car! Well, it’s a car with a couple of bumper stickers saying “Police”. https://t.co/D3kWIjPYlg

— Charlie Stross (@cstross) March 6, 2022

Łukasz Orbitowski, a well-known Polish fantasy writer, who published numerous novels and short stories collected in anthologies (one of which was translated into Ukrainian), supports Ukraine and encourages donations of medical supplies and financial aid for victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Cezary Zbierzchowski, a Polish author of Holocaust F and other fantasy novels and short stories, actively supports Ukraine, shares useful information for refugees and volunteers. He also joined the boycott of the Russian books.

Previously, writers all over the world, including Alison Killing, Neil Gaiman, and Bernardine Evaristo appealed for donations for the Ukrainian refugees. 

In addition, Margaret Atwood, Olga Tokarczuk, Frédéric Beigbeder, Joanne Rowling, Yuval Noah Harari, Witold Szabłowski, Elif Shafak, and Stephen King also expressed their support for Ukraine. In this, they’re joined by 163 Nobel Prize laureates who voiced their support for the Ukrainian people as Ukraine faces Russian.

Moreover, some world-renowned writers have started to cancel their Russian book contracts.  

Translated by Natalie Domova