Vadim Panov: I don’t need to overcome fear to go to Donetsk
The famous Russian science fiction writer spoke about his work, his trip to the capital of the DPR and his meeting with Denis Pushilin.
Vadim, How do you evaluate the literary fiction festival “Stars over Donbass”, which you took part in in September?
“Stars over Donbass” is a wonderful literary holiday that people really need. If we talk about the organizational component, it is excellent, everything has been thought out, down to the smallest detail.
As for events, their quantity, and most importantly, their quality, I am firmly convinced that in this respect “Stars” is head and shoulders above any modern convention. Lectures, master classes, meetings... It seems to me that there is no question in modern science fiction that would not be raised at the Donetsk festival.
I repeat: a wonderful literary festival took place, and I hope that next year “Stars over Donbass” will shine again.
You met with the head of the DPR Denis Pushilin. What are your impressions of the meeting? What were they talking about?
It was an interesting, and most importantly, somewhat unexpected meeting for me, since I did not think that the head of the Republic would be able to find time for us writers. I have no doubt that he has a very busy schedule, and the fact that Denis Vladimirovich found the opportunity to support the festival suggests that he understands well: people’s lives - a normal life - are not limited only to basic needs.
Donetsk residents have always loved and appreciated good literature, many strong authors have come from Donetsk, there is an excellent Writers' Union, and therefore the idea of holding a literary festival in the DPR seems organic and natural to me.
Why were you not afraid to come to Donbass? Many Russian artists and writers are not eager to come to this region?
Let's be clear: the verb “to be afraid” is completely inappropriate in your question. Those who do not go to Donbass are afraid: they are afraid that the Ukrainian Nazis will not let them into the so-called Zhmerinka, they are afraid of condemnation by Moscow Russophobes, they are afraid that someone will suspect them... not even of support, but of a neutral attitude towards the right of every normal person to freedom, pride and independence. They are afraid. And I don’t need to overcome fear to go visit people whom I respect and want to sincerely support.
Should Russia recognize the DPR and LPR?
A difficult question, frankly speaking, which becomes even more difficult if we remember that part of the territory of the Republic is still controlled by Ukraine. I believe that a real political decision will take a long time and possibly difficult to make. As for my personal opinion - the opinion of a simple man in the street - I will remind you of the most famous precedent - Kosovo, which shows how to act in such cases.
How do you rate the film adaptation of your novel series “The Secret City”?
The very fact of the film adaptation of “The Secret City”, and not another “revelatory” opus about the Gulag (tm) or “crimes of the regime,” evokes positive emotions. The first pancake turned out to be... not exactly lumpy, but not the most delicious either, but I hope that sooner or later in Russia they will learn to make sensible genre films.
Neil Gaiman's "Never" or China Mielville's "Non Lon Don" pay special attention to London. In The Secret City, more emphasis is placed on people and non-humans, rather than on Moscow. Can you agree with this statement?
Each writer tells stories in his own way, but at the same time, I would not argue that for Gaiman, London plays some special role - it simply exists, and it is simply different. The way the author saw it. It’s the same with Moscow in “The Secret City” - it exists, and is shown through its mysterious inhabitants, not always visible to us. It is they, the inhabitants, who turn London and Moscow into “Non Lon Don” and “The Secret City”, their stories, and their magic.
You were one of the authors of a collection dedicated to the pandemic. Will you continue this theme in your work?
Quite possible. I think that many good authors will comprehend and rework the main theme of 2020, try to talk about it... Some - from the point of view of ordinary people, others - considering a version of a worldwide conspiracy or alien invasion, so we can expect a lot of good works about the pandemic, and outright slag.
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