Upcoming Releases | January – June 2017

Ikaros Publications has a number of significant books due to be released over the coming months. Read on for more information about the titles we plan to publish by June 2017: GREEK FICTIONEftychia Giannaki: Halcyon DaysFollowing the warm reception and excellent reviews received by Eftychia Giannaki’s first crime novel, In the Back Seat, the author returns with the second instalment of her Athens Trilogy, starring Inspector Haris Kokkinos. Kyriakos Margaritis: KronakaThe word Kronaka refers to the seminal 15th-century work by the Cypriot chronicler Leontios Machairas and, of course, means Chronicle.With this eponymous work, Kyriakos Margaritis attempts a fictional reconstruction of the chronicle as a narrative form in the 21st century.Using methods of criminal investigation, the hero-narrator traverses the eras of human adventure and gathers evidence from ancient myths, childhood, world literature, the 1974 invasion, Auschwitz, and everywhere else, seeking an alternative reading of History and an ontological vindication for the tragic events that have marked it.Kronaka, ultimately, narrates this interpretation as an adventure and as a gesture seeking unity amidst fragmentation and difference. And it is within this framework that Hermes converses with the Joker, Palamidis with Philip Marlowe, Charles Bukowski with Saint John of the Ladder, and Friedrich Nietzsche with the Virgin Mary and the madmen for Christ’s sake. Dimitris Nollas: The Garden in FlamesThis novel by Dimitris Nollas completes the trilogy entitled ‘Difficult Times’, which includes the books The Journey to Greece (2014 State Novel Prize) and Marbles in the Middle.George Seferis: Six Nights on the AcropolisIkaros is set to reissue George Seferis’s seminal work Six Nights on the Acropolis, which was first published in 1974, three years after his death, edited by G. P. Savvidis, based on a manuscript and two typescripts found in the poet’s archive. GREEK POETRYYannis Antiochos: DissolutionFollowing the books Inhalations and Exhalations, Yannis Antiochos returns with his new collection of poetry entitled Dissolution. George Seferis: Poems with Pictures for Young ChildrenIkaros is set to reissue Giorgos Seferis’s classic book Poems with Pictures for Young Children.The book, first published in 1992, contains poems modelled on the English ‘limerick’, written by George Seferis for his great-granddaughter Anna. It also includes the opera Merlin the Magician and two translations from Edward Lear’s ‘The Book of Nonsense’ and from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’, dedicated to Anna’s daughter, Daphne. Kyriakos Charalambidis: Sun and Moon, Another WayAward-winning poet Kyriakos Charalambidis begins his collaboration with Ikaros by publishing his new collection of poetry. A comprehensive edition of all his previous collections will follow in 2018. ESSAY/TESTIMONY Athanasios Alexandridis: Parents’ School: Childhood LovesThe book Childhood Loves is the first in the ‘Parents’ School’ series by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Athanasios Alexandridis. The material in this book, as well as in those to follow, was compiled from transcribed evening discussions and lectures with the parents of pupils at the Argyris-Laios Primary School.The strong need of parents to express and discuss a range of issues relating to their children’s development, intra-family relationships, and the children’s connection to school and the social environment forms the backdrop to these meetings.The family is a constantly changing space of potential conflict, both between the forces of love and those of aggression within each of its members, and between the family as a whole and the external reality. It is through this lens that discussions take place; it is through this psychodynamic psychoanalytic perspective that answers are defined. Panourgias St. Panourgias: Free Greeks General Panourgias (1917–2008) served in the 2nd Staff Office of the General Staff from 1966 and was present at the coup d’état of 21 April 1967. He opposed the regime from the outset, was arrested in June 1969, remained in solitary confinement and was subsequently exiled. He was a member of the steering committee of the organisation known as the ‘Free Greeks’, responsible for political contacts. In this book, he describes in detail the events as he experienced them from his position both before and after the junta. The narrative begins in 1964, with emphasis on the early months of 1967 and, of course, the coup, whilst also providing an extensive account of the royal counter-coup. The book concludes with a detailed chapter on the Free Greeks. The author has drawn on an extensive bibliography, as well as material from his personal archive. The publication includes a list of the members of the Free Greeks, an appendix with interesting illustrative material and rare documents, and an introduction by the historian Tassos Sakellaropoulos. Takis S. Pappas: On a Tightrope – National Crises and Political Acrobatics from Trikoupis to Tsipras Following the success of Populism and Crisis in Greece (Ikaros 2015), Takis Pappas continues, in his new book, to delve into the historical past to investigate the causes and consequences of earlier crises that have shaken the country. Starting from the era of Trikoupis and extending to the current government, he identifies four long-term cycles of crisis, the latest being the one we are experiencing today. Given that each of the three previous crises lasted 15 years on average, Pappas seeks first to explain the causes that led to the major historical crises of the past, then society’s reactions in the midst of such crises, and, finally, the ways in which the country emerges from crises and returns to normality. In the book’s final chapter, the author draws on the lessons of accumulated historical experience to envisage the future. He argues that, in all the country’s previous historical crises, the most decisive factor in their resolution was political leadership, albeit with specific characteristics analysed in the book. The question arises: Is there such leadership that gives us reason to be optimistic that a way out of the current crisis is possible, and indeed soon? Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki: When Time Spoke Efi Sapouna-Sakellaraki’s book is a special retrospective of her life with her husband, Yannis Sakellaraki. The two of them, leading archaeologists, shared scientific challenges, made significant discoveries, and met with close friends who changed their lives. The author recounts this journey as if revealing the secrets of the most extraordinary excavation. Apostolos Doxiadis: Telling and retelling: literature, the enigmatic Patroklos Giatras, and the transformations of the Deserted Country. Apostolos Doxiadis’s lecture at the Cambridge Festival of Ideas (Festival of Ideas) in Cambridge in 2016 focused on Nasos Vagenas’s short story ‘Patroclus Giatras’ and the Greek translations of ‘The Waste Land’.In addition to the lecture and the short story, the publication includes T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land in a translation by George Seferis, Ilias Lagios’s The Waste Land, A. T. Elie’s The Ready Land, and an afterword by Giorgos Giatromanolakis entitled Writers: Agents of the Mind or a Host of Enthusiasts. Together, these form a section that will aid in a better understanding of the theme of transformations and imitations in literature. FOREIGN PROSE Vicente Alfonso: Huesos de San Lorenzo (The Greek title will be announced shortly)Translation: Maria PalaiologouSurprised by the seriousness of the charges against his patient Remo Ayala, psychologist Alberto Albores agrees to join a team that will defend the young man’s innocence. As time goes by, reality reveals more and more disturbing facts about Remo’s past, and the psychologist is called upon to decide whether his monologues are mere fantasies or confessions of heinous crimes...How many lies and truths are there in the stories Remo tells his psychologist? Under what circumstances did Remo’s mother die, and why are some people trying to cover her tracks? Is it possible for a man to be murdered in a bar without anyone being able to confirm the identity of the perpetrator? Was it Remo, or perhaps his twin brother? The investigations to solve these mysteries will piece together the history of the Ayala family and show that every reality can have infinite interpretations. Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere (Neverwhere)Translation: Maria AngelidouBeneath the streets of London, as beneath every great city, lies an unknown and invisible world, full of strange creatures.Richard leads an ordinary life that will change forever when he helps a girl bleeding on the pavement. His act of kindness plunges him into a world he never imagined existed until now: he slips through the cracks of reality and lands in an underground London where spies lurk behind the stairs, and shadowy figures wait on the other side of the gate...After reading Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, no one will pass through the dark places of the modern world with the same — childlike — confidence. Enrique Vila-Matas: In Kassel, there is no logicTranslation: Nanna PapanikolaouA strange phone call interrupts a writer’s daily routine. The mysterious female voice on the other end of the line tells him that the McGuffins wish to invite him to dinner to reveal the solution to the mystery of the universe. He soon discovers that this is an invitation to take part in Documenta in Kassel, the legendary contemporary art exhibition. The writer’s task will be to sit and write every morning in a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of the city, transforming himself into a living art installation.In Kassel, the writer is surprised to find that his spirits do not sink as dusk falls and that, on the contrary, he is filled with optimism when he goes for a walk, because he is swept along by the inexhaustible energy that makes the heart of the exhibition beat. It is art’s spontaneous and imaginative response that stands tall in the face of pessimism. ‘She is probably Spain’s most important contemporary literary figure.’Joanna Cavanaugh, The New Yorker Emma Reyes: Memoria por correspondencia (The Greek title will be announced shortly)Translation: Maria Palaiologou In 1969, the painter Emma Reyes sent her friend, the historian Hermann Arciniegas, the first of twenty-three letters describing the harsh conditions under which her childhood unfolded. Her friend was deeply moved by these painful memories and decided to show the texts to Gabriel García Márquez, who encouraged Reyes to continue writing. The correspondence continued until 1997; during this time, Arciniegas managed to obtain Emma Reyes’s permission to publish the letters after her death.In a style distinguished by its honesty and the absence of any affectation, Reyes describes the hardships she endured during her childhood in Colombia in the early 20th century, when she and her sister were abandoned in a convent. She narrates without self-pity, with the intelligence of an adult and the perspective of a girl, and succeeds in conveying her emotions to the reader with precision.Memoria por correspondencia was first published in Colombia, where it became one of the books of the year, and has continued to move everyone who reads it ever since. George Saunders: Oblivion and Lincoln (Lincoln in the Bardo)Translation: Giorgos – Ikaros Babasakis The gripping debut novel by Folio Prize winner and National Book Award nominee George Saunders, about Abraham Lincoln and the death of his eleven-year-old son, Willie.February 1862. The American Civil War is raging, whilst President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son lies gravely ill and is dying. On 22 February 1862, two days after his death, Willie Lincoln was buried in a marble crypt in Georgetown Cemetery. That night, Abraham Lincoln arrives at the cemetery and visits the crypt, alone, spending time with his son’s lifeless body.Taking this historical event as his starting point, George Saunders tells an unforgettable story of family love and loss, but also of the forces of good and evil. Willie Lincoln finds himself in a strange state which, in Tibetan tradition, is called the Bardo. In this transitional stage, where the ghosts of those who have recently passed away and those who have been dead for a long time coexist, a monumental battle takes place for the soul of little Willie.The novel Oblivion and Lincoln is an exploration of the deeper meaning and possibilities of life, written as only George Saunders can: with humour, passion and remarkable power. Tobias Wolff: The Warrior’s Joy and Other StoriesTranslation: Yannis Palavos, Tasos AnastasiouThe book is an anthology of the author’s short stories. It includes the following stories: “Hunters in the Snow”, “An Episode in the Life of Professor Brook”, “The Liar”, “The Warrior’s Joy”, “Leviathan”, “Mortals”, “Fresh Snow”, “A Bullet in the Head”, “Her Dog” and “Sleepless”. Tobias Wolff (Alabama, 1945) is one of the leading contemporary American short story writers. He worked as a journalist and subsequently taught at the renowned Creative Writing Department of Syracuse University in New York. Since 1997, he has been a professor at Stanford University. Alejandro Zambra: The Private Life of Trees (La vida privada de los árboles)Translation: Achilleas KyriakidisEvery Sunday, Julián spends time writing a novel. And every evening, he improvises and tells his adopted daughter, Daniela, just before she goes to sleep, original stories featuring trees. But tonight is not like any other: Verónica, Julián’s wife and Daniela’s mother, is inexplicably late coming home. And as the night wears on and Verónica does not return, Julián reflects on their life and imagines what thoughts Daniela might have about his novel as she grows up… without a mother.A novel imbued with a unique sense of nostalgia and melancholy, confirming Alejandro Zambra as one of the leading figures of the new generation of Latin American writers. Alejandro Zambra: Skills Test (Facsimile)Translation: Achilleas KyriakidisTo say that Skills Test is a novel would be just as risky as saying it isn’t. Perhaps it is better simply to say that it is a book by Alejandro Zambra, because the style and themes that have made him a significant voice in Latin American literature unfold here in a substantial and intense manner.Taking as his starting point the structure of the oral examination administered in Chile from 1967 to 2002 to university applicants, the author creates a work in which stories coexist with literary excerpts and linguistic exercises, which are, in essence, moral dilemmas: the need to lie in order to be validated by others; the desire to form bonds, despite mistrust of love and family; the difficulty of navigating a minefield full of secrets; the desperate conviction that, rather than learning to think, we have been trained to obey and repeat. NON-FICTIONErik Larson: Dead Wake (Greek title to be announced shortly)Translation: Katerina SchinaThe gripping story of the sinking of the Lusitania.On 1 May 1915, with the First World War already in its tenth month, the Lusitania, a luxury ocean liner, set sail from New York bound for Liverpool, carrying a large number of passengers, including many children and infants. Despite the fact that Germany had declared the seas around Britain a war zone, the liner’s passengers did not believe they were in any danger, as for a century civilian ships had been kept safe from any attack. For months, German submarines had been sowing terror in the North Atlantic, but the Lusitania was one of the finest and fastest transatlantic liners of the era, known as the ‘Hound of the Seas’.Germany was determined to change the rules of the game, and Walther Schwieger, captain of the submarine U-20, was ready to rise to the challenge.In Dead Wake, Erik Larson, in a manner that captivates the reader, examines the sinking of the Lusitania by U-20 and the events surrounding the wreck, bringing to the fore the lives of a host of formidable characters, he paints a sweeping portrait of America during the Progressive Era. Alec Ross: The Industries of the FutureTranslation: Nikos RoussosOne of the leading experts on innovation, Alec Ross, explains what is set to happen in the world over the next ten years. He discusses the progress that will be made and the obstacles that will arise, and how we can tackle them.As Senior Innovation Advisor to the US Department of State, he worked with Hillary Clinton, travelled to forty-one countries, exploring the latest developments on every continent, and knows full well what the future holds.In his book Industries of the Future, Ross highlights the changes coming over the next ten years, pinpointing the best opportunities for growth, and explaining why countries prosper or decline economically. He examines the sectors that will shape our economic future, including robotics, cybersecurity, the commercialisation of genomics, the next step for big data, and the impending impact of digital technology on money and markets. For each of these topics, Ross asks the most difficult questions: How will we adapt to the changing nature of work? Will the prospect of cyberwarfare trigger the next arms race? How can the world’s emerging nations hope to create their own Silicon Valley? And what can today’s parents do to prepare their children for tomorrow? The author combines storytelling and economic analysis to offer a vivid and well-researched perspective on how sweeping global trends are shaping the way we live. Drawing on the insights of leaders (from tech titans to defence experts), the book Industries of the Future addresses the complex, crucial issues that concern us and summarises them in clear and accessible language. It is an essential book for understanding how the world works ―now and in the future―, and should be read by professionals in every sector and country. CHILDREN’S BOOKS Michalis Moulakis – Filippos Fotiadis: A Yellow LeafA Yellow Leaf is the short story of an autumn leaf falling from its branch to the ground. During this brief journey, the leaf meets a sparrow and an ant, sees the tree trunk that supported it all its life, and encounters the tree’s hollow for the first time. Finally, as it falls to the ground, it meets the other fallen leaves and together they wonder what will happen next. The leaf’s encounters on its short journey highlight different approaches to life. A Yellow Leaf will charm and amaze its young readers, introducing them to concepts such as life and rebirth, the perception of reality, and the balance between the forces that coexist in the world.A wonderful fairy tale, with distinctive illustrations, which will leave children with a beautiful and optimistic feeling. Thodoris Papaioannou: Silouani (working title)Two twin siblings are invited to spend their summer holidays in the mountains, at their relatives’ house, together with their parents. The prospect of a holiday far from the sea and their usual friends does not please them at all. But when they meet their cousin with the strange name Silouani, a whole new world opens up before them: the blue waterfall, the Indian-style christening, the breathing cave, the boisterous dog Leon, the mysterious old man Sokos, the watermill, the treehouse, the friends, the flowers in the garden, transform what seemed boring into a unique experience for the two children. The description of nature in the areas around Edessa, the author’s home, combined with the lively dialogue and the intensity of the narrative, create a wonderful story that will captivate young readers and encourage them to explore the magic of a different way of life.Thodoris Papaioannou, creator of the award-winning fairy tales Anapoda (Penelope Maximou Award – Greek Children’s Book Circle, 2015) and Apenanti (Public Bookshops Special Award, 2016), makes a dynamic entry into the world of children’s books aimed at older children. Series: ShipsAntonis Papatheodoulou – Maria Angelidou / Illustrations: Christos KourtoglouThe creators of the ‘Ships’ book series return with two new titles:Ships that played with fire Ships that sailed on curiosity Real and imaginary ships, from mythology and literature, from ancient and recent history, invite us to set sail with them on a journey through space and time, a journey where everything can be told as a maritime tale.The first two books in the series have been recognised by the Greek Children’s Book Circle and have been included in the international White Ravens list. Alkistis Chalikia – Daniela Stamatia: Silan’s Box Silan has arrived in his new home. Every morning, he leaves the reception centre and goes to school, taking his box with him. He has a wonderful time there: he plays with the other children, draws, learns music, but he won’t reveal to his classmates—no matter how much they insist—what’s inside his box.When, at the end of the story, its contents are revealed, Silan’s friends—and the book’s readers—will feel deeply moved and take great joy in it.A book by two award-winning authors that tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time with great sensitivity and tenderness, leaving a sweet sense of optimism. Benji Davies: The Storm WhaleTranslated by Antonis PapatheodoulouFrom the creator of the books Grandad’s Island and Friends on the Hill, as well as the successful series Little Bear, comes a new book.Little Noe lives with his dad and six cats. One day, after a storm, a whale washes up on the shore and Noe decides to help it by taking it home and looking after it as best he can. When Noe’s dad returns home, he understands Noe’s need for companionship and realises how lonely he has been.The adventure of a lonely little boy, a little whale, and a friendship that will change both their lives forever, is a warm, tender story told with the unique talent of Benji Davies.The book has been awarded the Oscar’s First Book Prize, the Generalitat Valenciana Best Picture Book in Spain, and the CPNB Dutch Picture Book 2017 in the Netherlands. It was also shortlisted for the Booktrust Best Books and Peter’s Book of the Year, as well as the Bookseller’s Guild of Madrid Picture Book in Spain. Series: Bizzy BearBenji Davies: Bizzy Bear Travels to Space (Bizzy Bear Space Rocket)Translation: Filippos MandilarasLet’s count down and help Bizzy Bear set off on his journey into space! Another fantastic book from the series of pre-school books featuring Bizzy Bear.Made from sturdy cardboard, with moving parts for hours of exploration, this book is ideal for children aged 1 to 3. Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston: A Child of BooksTranslated by: Filippos MandilarasA girl made of books sails her raft across a sea of words until she reaches a boy’s house. She invites him to join her on an adventure into the world of stories, where anything can happen with the power of imagination.Oliver Jeffers’ characters move and find their way through Sam Winston’s distinctive typographic landscape, in a book that is a hymn to the power of storytelling. The illustrations feature forty classic works of children’s literature, creating countless opportunities to remember, discover and share them.The unique illustrations, which blend harmoniously with the text, offer an unforgettable reading experience that will inspire and encourage readers of all ages to explore, learn and create their own stories inspired by the original ones. Axel Scheffler & Julia Donaldson: ZogTranslated by: Filippos MandilarasZog is the kindest little dragon at dragon school. However, he is also a bit clumsy, and every time he learns to roar, fly or breathe fire, something happens to him. But who is this girl who is always there to support him? Will she be able to help him with his toughest challenge: catching a princess? Despite his misfortunes, Zog’s persistence will make him the most beloved hero of an incredible story!The two creators have also published the books *The Wedding of the Two Scarecrows* and *Xylarakis*, whilst Axel Scheffler has released the successful book series *Tick and Tella*. New series: Kiki and BobosThe new series of pre-school books stars a cat and a dog: Kiki and Bobos! The two friends spend a lot of time together exploring the world around them, with humour and sensitivity.This brilliant duo is the creation of illustrator and animator Yasmeen Ismail, who has won The New York Times’ and V&A awards for best illustrated book and has been longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Yasmeen Ismail: Kiki and Bobo: A Sunny Day (Kiki and Bobo's Sunny Day)Translated by: Maria ZourariKiki and Bobo are going to the beach. It’s the perfect day to eat ice cream and swim in the sea. But why is Bobo so worried? Can Kiki help him? Lift the flaps and find out what happened on this sunny day. Yasmeen Ismail: Kiki and Bobo: Super Surprise (Kiki and Bobo's Super Surprise)Translated by: Maria ZourariBobo knows that today is a very special day. And so does Kiki. They’re both organising a surprise party, but for whom? Lift the flaps, play and find out who the biggest super surprise is for. New series: I’m playing hide and seek! Ingela P. Arrhenius: Where’s Mr Lion?Where’s the Ladybird? In this new series of pre-school books, our little friends are invited to discover where their favourite animals are hiding by lifting the soft, fabric flaps. The playful illustrations and the surprise mirror on the last page will bring great joy to every young reader! Two ideal books for very young children (aged 1–3). Rebecca Jones: Colouring Cards and Envelopes – NATUREA book for all ages containing 24 cards, envelopes and stickers!Grab your crayons and felt-tip pens and colour the pages of this book in the most amazing colours. Create unique cards and envelopes with a NATURE theme and give them to your friends and family.