Upcoming Releases | September – December 2018

We are welcoming autumn with a host of important books for all ages. Read on for more information about the titles we plan to publish by the end of the year.  GREEK POETRYHaris Megalynos: Ferte Yli Haris Megalynos (the pen name of Charalambos Katsis, b. 1951) grew up in Athens. He graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens. He began writing at a young age and has published collections of poetry and translations. Ikaros Publications has also released his poetry collection On the Country Road (1994).&Kyriakos Charalambides: Poems A comprehensive volume containing all the poetry collections to date by the award-winning Cypriot poet. In 2017, Kyriakos Charalambides began his collaboration with Ikaros Publications with the poetry collection Sun and Moon, or... GREEK PROSE Mino Efstathiadis: The DiverMinos Efstathiadis launches his collaboration with Ikaros with a powerful crime novel that will thrill even the most seasoned readers of crime fiction, ensuring it remains in their memory for a long time to come.A chain of successive suicides and unexplained deaths begins to revolve around a film. Within it, the Diver comes back to life. Sometimes there are images that transcend the human imagination. Kriton Salpingtis: Shattered ToastKriton Salpingtis’s new book, Shattered Toast, is a gripping crime novel set in Thessaloniki during the Occupation. ESSAY/TESTIMONYChristos Giannaras: Metaphysics as a Timely ChallengeA lively dialogue between Christos Yannaras and the principal translator of his works into English, Norman Russell. The book serves as an excellent introduction to Christos Yannaras’s theory and an opportunity for those familiar with his work to explore his thinking in depth. Apostolos Doxiadis: Amateur Revolutionary – A Personal Novel. The book is a political autobiography covering the years of the Dictatorship and, at the same time, an extremely interesting coming-of-age story. DIARYGeorge Seferis: Days H & Days I Edited by: Katerina Krikou-Davis These two volumes complete George Seferis’s personal diaries, covering the last decade of his life.Days VIII span from January 1961 to December 1963. They cover the final months of Seferis’s tenure as Ambassador to Great Britain and extend through to his return to Greece and the announcement of the Nobel Prize.Days IX begin in February 1964 and the last entry is in May 1971, a period that also includes the imposition of the junta in Greece.These are two voluminous books which, in addition to George Seferis’s entries, include an introductory note by the editor, notes, an appendix with supplementary material and an index of persons. In her extensive commentary on the entries, Katerina Krikou-Davis provides factual explanations, identifies literary references, clarifies the political and cultural events of the era, and provides information on the countless figures who pass through the pages, whilst also highlighting the parallels with the poet’s other works. PSYCHOANALYTICSAnna Potamianou: The Poetry of DreamsThe new book will be published in the Psychoanalytic series, edited by Athanasios Alexandridis, and explores psychoanalytic theories of dreams. FOREIGN PROSE Donatella Di Pietrantonio (Italy): L’Arminuta Translation: Dimitra Dotsi Novel ‘And who is your mum?’ she asked me desperately. ‘I have two. One is your mother.” With a suitcase in one hand and a bag of shoes in the other, a thirteen-year-old girl rings the doorbell, behind which an unknown, foreign world awaits her. This is how this explosive, gripping story begins, with a teenager who, from one day to the next, is forced to return to her biological family and lose everything: her comforts, her dearest friends, the unconditional love of her parents—or rather, those she thought were her parents. Her new home is small, dark, full of siblings and with little food. Arminuta, the girl they sent back, as her new classmates christened her in the local dialect, is searching for an answer, but also for her place in this world.Donatella Di Pietrantonio listens to her land, this unknown, rugged and wild mountainous region of Abruzzo, and explores the themes of motherhood, parental responsibility, family care, abandonment and belonging with a rare expressive intensity and from an original perspective.The book was named one of the bestsellers of 2017 in Italy and its rights have already been sold to 21 countries, whilst a film adaptation is also in the pipeline. Min Jin Lee (South Korea): PachinkoTranslation: Vasia TzanakariNovelYeongdo, Korea, 1911In a small fishing village on the coast of the East Sea, a fisherman marries a fifteen-year-old girl. The poor couple have a daughter, their precious Sanja. Sanja’s unexpected pregnancy at the age of just sixteen, by a married man, brings humiliation upon the family. However, Isaac, a young priest, offers her the chance to follow him to Japan and live together as husband and wife. Only Sanja’s salvation will be the beginning of her story: she follows a man she has only just met to a country hostile to her, where she has neither friends nor a home, and without being able to communicate with people as she does not know the language.Thus begins the unique narrative of an immigrant family spanning four generations and eight decades. Through desperate struggles and hard-won triumphs, its members remain deeply connected as they grapple with issues of faith, identity and constant survival. Kopano Matlwa (South Africa): The Night-Blooming Flower (Period pain)Translation: Maria FakinouNovelWhen Masetsamba achieves her greatest childhood dream and becomes a doctor, her ambition comes up against the harsh reality of South Africa’s public health system.She tries to ease the pain of others – working in a hospital with minimal resources, where the difficulties constantly test her resilience – yet at the same time she must also quell her own personal demons: the intense pain of her period and the shame associated with it, the grief over her brother’s suicide, and the pressures of a deeply religious and reactionary mother who does everything she can to separate her from her only friend, Niassa. The fiercely political and militant Niassa, originally from Zimbabwe, will open Masetsamba’s eyes to the prevailing xenophobic tension that bears the hallmarks of apartheid.Nightflower skilfully captures the violent and chaotic atmosphere of present-day South Africa and explores issues of race and gender, observing the medical profession through the eyes of the heroine. Truly, how much humanity is there in our modern world? GRAPHIC NOVELSoloúp: The Collector – Six short stories about a bad wolfIkaros Publications are launching their collaboration with Soloúp (the pen name of Antonis Nikolopoulos) by publishing his new graphic novel The Collector, which follows his award-winning book Aivali, beloved by readers and critics alike.In a divorce, who wins when the child is estranged from one parent? To what extent is the justice system complicit in this injustice? Butterflies, stamps, thimbles, teeth, taxis. Shadows and black holes. A group of friends in a café, a canary and a burglary, two friends, the door of a block of flats, Little Red Riding Hood. Five short stories and a fairy tale about the ‘big bad’ wolf. Antonis Nikolopoulos studied Politics at Panteion University and holds a PhD from the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication at the University of the Aegean. He has contributed cartoons, comics and comic strips to numerous newspapers and magazines, including To Pontiki, Vima tis Kyriakis, Goal News, Babel, Galera, Os3, Shedia, Metro and others.To date, 13 personal albums of cartoons and comics have been published, whilst in 2012 his thesis *Greek Comics* was released, the most comprehensive study to date on the history and development of Greek comic strips. CHILDREN’S BOOKSBenji Davies: Noah and the Whale (Board Book) (The Storm Whale Board Book)Translation: Antonis PapatheodoulouAges: from 3 years oldBenji Davies’ book that stole readers’ hearts is now available in a board book edition, with sturdy pages suitable for little hands!The story of a lonely little boy, a small whale that washed up on the shore, and a friendship that will change both their lives forever. Oliver Jeffers: Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet EarthTranslation: Filippos MandilarasAges: from 3 years oldThe popular and award-winning Oliver Jeffers creates a witty illustrated book, a tender introduction to the world around us inspired by the arrival of his newborn son, Harland. #1 New York Times bestseller Best book of 2017 according to TIME magazine, NPR and the Boston Globe So hello! Welcome to this planet. We call it Earth. The world we live in is a marvellous place, especially if you’ve only just arrived. I imagine you’ll have a whole host of questions in your little mind, so let’s explore what our planet is made of and how we live on it. From the land and the sky, to people and time, these notes can serve as a guide and the start of your journey on Earth. And they’ll help you think about lots of things for yourself. But don’t forget to keep notes so that others can read them too… Some things are very complicated, some not so much. Remember that there are many of us here, on this planet, so be kind.Oliver Jeffers & Claire Freedman-Alison Friend: Bear’s StoryTranslation: Maria ZourariAges: from 3 years oldBear really loves reading stories. But there’s a problem: he’s read the storybook so many times that it’s starting to fall apart. And one day, a sudden gust of wind blew the pages away. So, Bear made up his mind. He would write his own story! But when he sits down to write, not a single idea comes to mind. He’s probably going to need a bit of help...A wonderful story by the successful author Claire Freedman, with enchanting illustrations by Alison Friend.  Linda Sarah - Ben Mantle: Tom’s Magnificent MachinesTranslation: Antonis PapatheodoulouAges: 3 years and upFrom the author of Friends on the Hill comes another emotionally charged yet deeply optimistic book that thoughtfully explores themes such as love and support between children and parents.Tom and his Dad loved making things together—and more specifically, things that move! Soon their inventions became bigger, faster and crazier. Now their house was full of creations that went up and down, spun round and round, and flew. And then, a change came, as fast as lightning. Dad lost his job. Sadness spread through the house like a winter cloud. Until Tom came up with a brilliant idea inspired by their unique vehicle inventions, creating something amazing, something the world had never seen before... Axel Scheffler: Pip and Posy: The Christmas TreeTranslation: Filippos MandilarasAges: from 1 year oldThe new story of Pip and Posy is a Christmas one!Pip and Posy baked biscuits to decorate the tree, but they’ve gone missing! Shortly afterwards, Pip gets a tummy ache. Can you guess why? A funny story, with lots of decorations for children to count and a few words about kindness and honesty. Axel Scheffler: Tick and Tella: The Balloon – Special Edition (Book and puzzle cubes)Translation: Filippos MandilarasAges: from 1 year oldThe Balloon, one of Tick and Tella’s most beloved stories, is released in a new edition that includes the book and nine wonderful puzzle cubes in a box.The ideal gift for every pre-school child! Helen Stephens: How to Hide A Lion at SchoolTranslation: Marilena PanourgiaAges: from 3 years oldFrom the creator of the successful book series ‘How to Hide a Lion’, Helen Stephens brings us a new, exciting story featuring Ellie and the lion who are never apart, not even at school! Lions aren’t allowed to go to school. But Ellie’s lion doesn’t want to be left on his own. He secretly follows her, and accidentally ends up with her on the school trip to the museum. Can Ellie hide the lion from her teacher?KNOWLEDGE BOOKS Ikaros is set to publish two new children’s knowledge books in a deluxe hardback edition, exploring Space and Planet Earth, translated by Ilias Maglinis.How did the Big Bang occur and how was our world created? What is the universe like today? What was our planet like 250 million years ago? How do volcanoes work? How has human activity affected our world, and what can we do to save it?The two books Destination: Space & Destination: Planet Earth offer young readers (aged 7+) a detailed introduction to understanding our world, its creation and its evolution to the present day in a simple and meaningful way. Each book also includes a large double-sided poster. Dr. Christoph Englert- Tom Clohosy Cole: Destination: Space (Destination: Space) Hop on the space shuttle and get ready for the journey of a lifetime as you explore deep space with a team of five other astronauts.This journey of discovery will take you through our own Solar System and beyond, to distant and vast galaxies. At each stop, you’ll learn more about the science behind the stars, planets, meteors and comets of our skies, the history of our universe and the origins of our own planet, Earth. Jo Nelson- Tom Clohosy Cole: Destination: Planet Earth Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime as you explore Planet Earth. You’ll climb the highest mountains, dive into the deepest oceans and experience extreme weather phenomena on a journey full of discoveries.You’ll learn what shapes the weather and how the climate is changing, see how the water cycle works, and explore the science behind earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. You’ll learn about the threats facing our beautiful planet — and what you can do to save Planet Earth. Dr Steve Brusatte-Daniel Chester: Day of the DinosaursTranslation: Chara GiannakopoulouAges: from 7 years oldWho were the dinosaurs really?What was their life like in the sea?How did they defend themselves?Which of them were herbivores?Why did they ultimately fail to survive?Written by palaeontologist Dr Steve Brusatte, this educational book invites us to journey into a world lost in the depths of the past, many millions of years ago... exploring more than 100 different species of dinosaur.A journey through four periods—the Triassic, the Early-Middle Jurassic, the Late Jurassic and the Cretaceous—where we will discover how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals lived on land, in water and in the sky.The book’s substantial size, which includes notes and a detailed index, combined with the vivid colours of Daniel Chester’s illustrations, will win over even the most discerning readers!