Xavras Wyżryn
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| Author | Jacek Dukaj |
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| Cover Artist | Bogusław Polch |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction, Alternative History |
| Publisher | SuperNOVA (1st edition), Wydawnictwo Literackie (2nd edition) |
| Released | January 1997 |
| Media Type | Paperback, printed in both editions with author's other novels |
| Pages | 150 (counted excluding other novels printed within the same paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 83-7054-118-6 (1st edition) |
Xavras Wyżryn (eng: Xavras Vyshryn) is a alternate history novel written in 1997 by Jacek Dukaj, famous Polish science fiction writer. It is considered as one of the best Polish alternative history novels, discussing Polish martyrology, circling around philosophical aspects of war and showing thin line between terrorism and fighting for freedom, and last but not least, "packing lots of action", making it also part of a military science-fiction genre.
The story's divergence point is set during the Polish-Soviet War, which in this alternate reality ends with a decisive Soviet victory. The actual story takes place in the 1990s and is told from a point of view of American reporter, who is an embedded journalist with anti-Soviet Polish resistance.
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[edit] Inspiration and Background of the novel
Dukaj wrote his novel inspired by First and Second Chechen War (which started while he was writing). It's obviously clear that Xavras' guerillas fighting against Soviet forces resemble Chechens battling with the Russian army. As in the Chechen conflict, it is hard to decide which side is the right one, as both commit crimes and horrible acts to reach their goals. Nowadays, after 9.11, a story about terrorists calling themselves "freedom fighters" gains much more meaning, and dialogues in the book concerning morals, ethics and freedom become deeper than ever.
[edit] Editions
Xavras Wyżryn book had two editions. First in 1997, in the book entitled 'Xavras Wyżryn' which contained the title story and another one, 'Zanim Noc' (Before the night). Second time the story was reprinted in 'Xavras Wyżryn i inne fikcje narodowe' (Xavras Wyżryn and other national fiction'), this time instead of 'Zanim Noc' the Xavras story was accompanied by the following three stories: 'Sprawa Rudryka Z.' (The case of Rudryk Z.), 'Przyjaciel prawdy' (Friend of the truth) and 'Gotyk' (Gothic).
[edit] Plot Summary
[edit] Short summary
In 1996, a young American reporter, Ian Smith, is sent by his news network to Soviet republic of Poland, to document guerilla actions of Polish freedom fighters against the Soviet regime. His task also includes interviewing a charimastic leader of Polish freedom army, Colonel Xavras Wyżryn. He doesn't know that during his long trip from Ukrainian steppes to Moscow itself, alongside hardened veterans of Polish forces, he will meet the horror of war, where there is no good and bad side - only bad and worse. He also doesn't know that his assignment will take him along the most reckless of Wyżryn's campaigns - when the Polish forces capture a Soviet atomic bomb and smuggle it straight towards Moscow...
[edit] Alternative world in the novel
The world as we know it doesn't exist. After World War I Poland managed to regain its freedom, but not for long - Polish-Soviet War was lost in 1920 and communists made Poland, alongside with Ukraine and Baltics into Soviet republics. Stalin quickly took the chair of first secretary in USSR and his regime in conquered lands tried to eradicate Polish culture to prevent any Polish uprisings that shook the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Thousands of Polish civilians were sent to Siberia. Death was the one and only penalty for speaking Polish language or using Polish symbols.
Due to an increase of power of the Soviet Union and the Republic of China, the League of Nations, out of fear, soon signed treaties with USSR, allowing it to annex Poland. Meanwhile another power rose in the south - the followers of Islam created a huge empire in the Middle East. The United States were far away enough to ignore European problems, but still were supporting those armies which were in conflict with Soviet forces. Those conflicts were relatively minor, mostly only "border engagements", as the media called them.
But then, in 1939 came the Great Bolshevik War, as Soviet Union tried to take control over Western Europe. The war, taking place mostly on former Polish and Ukrainian territories, lasted till 1944, when allied forces dropped three atomic bombs on Lviv, Kiev and Warsaw to stop the huge Soviet armies. Millions were killed in explosions, and many more died because of radiation poisoning. The area between three bombed cities was later called "The Atomic Triangle". Children born there died at a young age from radiation sickness, and the few who survived were consumed by mutations.
The Bolshevik War ended with the Treaties of Berlin, documents which were signed on Prussian territory. Soviet Union and League of Nations agreed to stop the bloodshed. Still, countries taken by force in 1920 remained as Soviet republics.
After Stalin's death the Soviet regime in Poland eased up a bit, but Soviets still maintained a huge force there, remembering all Polish uprisings during earlier occupation. People living inside the "Atomic Triangle" quickly became hardened, nearly souless creatures, balancing on the edge of death and rendered numb because of the great suffering of the whole nation. Meanwhile, the USSR had some minor border conflicts with China, Sweden and Prussia.
The status quo lasted until the 1988, when Xavras Wyżryn appeared. He quickly organised a considerable guerilla force and commanded his troops with uncommon charisma and valor, fighting with Soviets on their own ground. His legend quickly spread around the world, and his victories inspired other nations to fight against the Soviet Union. Many local conflicts started, when Hungary, Balkans, Czechoslovakia and Ukraine also started their own revolutions against Soviet occupants. On the south, the power of the Islamic empire increased, and under the command of a figure known only as Muhammad's Son, the war in the Middle East began, reminiscent of the old wars between Russian Empire and Ottoman Empire. On the east China saw an opportunity to attack the weakened USSR and started yet another conflict. The whole Central-Eastern Europe was now known as European War Zone, bordering on Constantinople on the south, Finland on the north, the Prussian border on the west and the Dnieper river on the east, with whole battles taking place mostly on radiated, polluted territory.
The plot of the novel starts in the year 1996. The whole European War Zone is a no man's land, where Soviet control is based on a 'shoot first, ask questions later' strategy. Various partisan groups, in uneasy truce with each other, are scattered throughout the area and engaged in battles with small Soviet garrisons, German troops are making occasional raids across the borders to test Soviet defences, Soviets retaliate in kind, China's forces are advancing towards Ural, and Muhammad's Son is preparing a Jihad in the Middle East. US government finances guerillas secretly, while Western Europe fortifies its borders to defend against presumed Soviet or, more feared, Chinese attack.
[edit] Main Characters
- Xavras Wyżryn (English: Xavras Vyshryn) is the commander of the Armia Wyzwolenia Polski (Polish Liberation Army), a considerable guerilla force fighting with Soviet army in the European War Zone. His past is a mystery. He was born within the "Atomic Triangle" and has a visible mutation - his hands are red and burned. He was a junior officer in the Red Army, till he deserted and formed the PLA. He is a truly charismatic leader, inspiring his men to do unbelievable things, even giving their lives for the "higher cause". For giving his beloved country freedom, he is capable of killing everyone standing in his way, including women, children and even his men, calling this a "sacrifice for a better future". He is seen as a unhuman terrorist by Soviets and as a romantic, tragic hero in the West. In United States, MGM even made a blockbuster movie about him, titled "Uncatchable". A main US news network made an agreement with him, offering him 250 million dollars for exclusive interviews and footage from the battlefield. Xavras knows the role of media and propaganda role in modern warfare, so he censors the footage before it is sent to the network and makes himself a true TV celebrity.
- Ian Smith- US news reporter sent by the network to film Xavras' actions. Because of his Polish descent and linguistic abilities, he's the network's best choice after the previous reporter attached to Wyżryn was killed in action. Raised in a democratic country, he has moral doubts about Xavras and considers his brutal methods no better than Soviet ones. The entire story is told from his point of view.
- Jewriej (English: Yevrey) - mysterious Xavras' aide and advisor, with his face hidden behind Balaclava, because of (as it is rumored) his horrifying mutation. It is said that radiation gave him precognition abilities and that Xavras is using them to escape Russian ambushes and to plan his actions.
- Sienkiewicz's Triple- Three trusted companions of Xavras, who took their names (Michał, Andrzej and Jan) after heroes of Henryk Sienkiewicz's books characters. Their missions are mostly undercover and they can almost literally disappear. It is they who lead Smith to Xavras' hideout.
- Two Bodyguards- Xavras' guards, which are titled by Ian after biblical quotes printed on their T-Shirts, because he doesn't know their real names. Their fighting skills are exceptional and they are Xavras' most trusted soldiers.
[edit] External links
- "Stronice Dukaja" - Jacek Dukaj's official page, English version
