Jakub Wedrowycz
Encyclopedia
Jakub Wędrowycz is the protagonist of a number of short stories by Andrzej Pilipiuk
, a renowned Polish
writer. Wędrowycz is an elderly alcoholic, moonshine
producer, poacher, amateur exorcist
and fighter against all sorts of supernatural forces dwelling around Wędrowycz's village, from the aliens
to ancient demons and from Russian mafia
to tax inspectors.
First appearing in Pilipiuk's debut, a short story Hiena (Hyena
) in 1996, with time Wędrowycz became one of the most easily recognizable characters of Polish speculative fiction
and humorous prose. there are six collections of short stories on Wędrowycz published by Pilipiuk:
Jakub doesn't have any formal education: he was kicked out of the third grade of primary school and claiming to be illiterate whenever it may come in handy (for example, in one of his numerous run-ins with the local police).
He was very active during World War II. He, along with his father's friend Semen Korczaszko (born ca. 1881) were in the legendary Ripper Team - a guerilla squad which was responsible for most Axis and Soviet casualties in eastern Poland. This team was infamous for gruesome mutilations of their enemies: as Jakub himself once suggested, "Let's tie these corpses to these trees - then we'll run some wire through their bodies and stick some Soviet flags in their hands: when the Red Army will be passing, we'll plug the wire into a power generator, and they'll wave the flags! Now that's a greeting worthy of the Red Army!".
He is known for his paranormal knowledge: during the World War Two he pretended to help some German soldiers (and a Hitlerjugend member) escape back to Munich, as they claimed to be in the army against their own will. Jakub saw through the lie and turned them into werewolves
so "they could pass through to Munich". He forgot to mention that they could only eat on a full moon. And that they could only eat human meat.
After World War Two he resides in his house in Stary Majdan (Old Majdan), near Wojsławice in eastern Poland. This house is no normal house - Jakub stores many "trophies" from the WW2. These include a gigantic arsenal of weaponry, some outfits from various soldiers, a German motorbike and many jars full of money in various currencies from all around the world.
Jakub is practically immortal - he once went to a chiromancer, who told him his life line on his palm is awfully short. Then he proceeded to break the beer bottle he was holding on a bench and started "correcting" the line which has given him a very long lifespan. He is known to have cheated death on several occasions, including smashing Death herself to pieces (by means of Panzerfaust
) and breaking out of Hell causing heavy damage in the process. He was once drank to death by his own guardian angel, but it was reversed by St. Peter, who did not approve of such methods.
He is known for his unnaturally long penis - according to the stories, he must store it in his pantsleg and tuck the tip away into his boot.
His current hobbies include vampire hunting (which is interpreted by the local police as grave robbing
) and poaching
dogs - particularly police ones.
Some fans place his birth in January 1901, which now would make him 109 years old.
Andrzej Pilipiuk
Andrzej Pilipiuk , Polish humoristic science-fiction and fantasy author. He debuted in 1996 with short story "Hiena", which featured the first appearance of Jakub Wędrowycz, an alcoholic exorcist. Since that time, Pilipiuk has written several dozen other short stories about that character.Nine...
, a renowned Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
writer. Wędrowycz is an elderly alcoholic, moonshine
Moonshine
Moonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
producer, poacher, amateur exorcist
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
and fighter against all sorts of supernatural forces dwelling around Wędrowycz's village, from the aliens
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
to ancient demons and from Russian mafia
Russian Mafia
The Russian Mafia is a name applied to organized crime syndicates in Russia and Ukraine. The mafia in various countries take the name of the country, as for example the Ukrainian mafia....
to tax inspectors.
First appearing in Pilipiuk's debut, a short story Hiena (Hyena
Hyena
Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family Hyaenidae of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora , and one of the smallest in the mammalia...
) in 1996, with time Wędrowycz became one of the most easily recognizable characters of Polish speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
and humorous prose. there are six collections of short stories on Wędrowycz published by Pilipiuk:
- Kroniki Jakuba Wędrowycza (The Chronicles of Jakub Wędrowycz, 2002)
- Czarownik Iwanow (Ivanov the Wizard, 2002)
- Weźmisz Czarno kure (Ye Shall Take a Black Hen, 2002)
- Zagadka Kuby Rozpruwacza (Mystery of Jack the Ripper 2004)
- Wieszać każdy może (Everyone can hang (someone) 2006)
- Homo bimbrownikus (Homo Alcoholicus (bimber = moonshine) 2009)
Biography
Jakub was born around 1900. His exact date of birth is unknown even to himself. His father taught him how to produce moonshine, which would later become a skill he would be fond of. In 1912, he boarded the RMS Titanic with his father to participate in a secret moonshine society meeting, where a contest was held: whoever would produce the strongest liquid would win the secret recipe for producing moonshine out of sawdust. Due to sabotage, just after Jakub's father received his prize and was declared the best moonshine producer in the world, one of the stills exploded, causing the Titanic to sink.Jakub doesn't have any formal education: he was kicked out of the third grade of primary school and claiming to be illiterate whenever it may come in handy (for example, in one of his numerous run-ins with the local police).
He was very active during World War II. He, along with his father's friend Semen Korczaszko (born ca. 1881) were in the legendary Ripper Team - a guerilla squad which was responsible for most Axis and Soviet casualties in eastern Poland. This team was infamous for gruesome mutilations of their enemies: as Jakub himself once suggested, "Let's tie these corpses to these trees - then we'll run some wire through their bodies and stick some Soviet flags in their hands: when the Red Army will be passing, we'll plug the wire into a power generator, and they'll wave the flags! Now that's a greeting worthy of the Red Army!".
He is known for his paranormal knowledge: during the World War Two he pretended to help some German soldiers (and a Hitlerjugend member) escape back to Munich, as they claimed to be in the army against their own will. Jakub saw through the lie and turned them into werewolves
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
so "they could pass through to Munich". He forgot to mention that they could only eat on a full moon. And that they could only eat human meat.
After World War Two he resides in his house in Stary Majdan (Old Majdan), near Wojsławice in eastern Poland. This house is no normal house - Jakub stores many "trophies" from the WW2. These include a gigantic arsenal of weaponry, some outfits from various soldiers, a German motorbike and many jars full of money in various currencies from all around the world.
Jakub is practically immortal - he once went to a chiromancer, who told him his life line on his palm is awfully short. Then he proceeded to break the beer bottle he was holding on a bench and started "correcting" the line which has given him a very long lifespan. He is known to have cheated death on several occasions, including smashing Death herself to pieces (by means of Panzerfaust
Panzerfaust
The Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
) and breaking out of Hell causing heavy damage in the process. He was once drank to death by his own guardian angel, but it was reversed by St. Peter, who did not approve of such methods.
He is known for his unnaturally long penis - according to the stories, he must store it in his pantsleg and tuck the tip away into his boot.
His current hobbies include vampire hunting (which is interpreted by the local police as grave robbing
Grave robbing
Grave robbery, grave robbing, or tomb raiding is the act of uncovering a tomb or crypt to steal artifacts or personal effects. Someone who engages in this act is a grave robber or tomb raider...
) and poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
dogs - particularly police ones.
Some fans place his birth in January 1901, which now would make him 109 years old.
External links
- http://www.vandrovec.net - Fan club Jakuba Wędrowycza (Czech Republic)
- http://fabryka.pl/ksiazki.php?id=195 - the official page of polish publisher "Fabryka Słów"