Jan Matzal Troska
Encyclopedia
Jan Matzal known under pen names J. M. Troska and Jan Merfort, was a Czech writer.
After studies Jan Matzal worked in Škoda Works
and other industrial companies. During World War I
he was sent to the front because of attempt to cover up a sabotage by factory workers. After war Matzal lived in Yugoslavia
(1921-1926), then returned to Czechoslovakia
. As a lifelong sufferer from Ménière’s disease he obtained a disability pension in the age of 49. During years 1932–1949, he spent his time by writing.
, to point out his physical suffering) and published mostly sci-fi novels. In these novels Matzal freely ignored rules of physics, used very simple and naive language, employed dramatic situations and many novel ideas of his time (powerful robots, huge underground cities constructed inside the Hollow Earth
, nuclear weapons, automatically guided missiles, interplanetary travels, cosmic empires, aliens and telepathy). His books were very popular among by children and teenagers: they are similar to fairy tales where characters are crystal clear and the good always wins.
The books were illustrated by Zdeněk Burian
(covers) and Jiří Wowk. Some of his books were reprinted in 1960–70 (illustrated by Miloš Novák) and 1990–2000 (illustrated by Teodor Rotrekl
).
discovered in 1998 by a Czech astronomer from the Ondřejov Observatory
was named after the writer. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=17776;orb=1 The name was chosen at the meeting of sci-fi fans Avalcon in Chotěboř
on May 5th 2001. http://www.astro.cz/planetky/detail.phtml?hljmeno=&hlobs=&hlobj=
After studies Jan Matzal worked in Škoda Works
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
and other industrial companies. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was sent to the front because of attempt to cover up a sabotage by factory workers. After war Matzal lived in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
(1921-1926), then returned to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. As a lifelong sufferer from Ménière’s disease he obtained a disability pension in the age of 49. During years 1932–1949, he spent his time by writing.
Writer
He published his first novel, Boží soud (1935, about village life), under pen name Jan Merfort. Later (1936 – 1943) he used pen name J. M. Troska (Troska means a ruin in CzechCzech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
, to point out his physical suffering) and published mostly sci-fi novels. In these novels Matzal freely ignored rules of physics, used very simple and naive language, employed dramatic situations and many novel ideas of his time (powerful robots, huge underground cities constructed inside the Hollow Earth
Hollow Earth
The Hollow Earth hypothesis proposes that the planet Earth is either entirely hollow or otherwise contains a substantial interior space. The hypothesis has been shown to be wrong by observational evidence, as well as by the modern understanding of planet formation; the scientific community has...
, nuclear weapons, automatically guided missiles, interplanetary travels, cosmic empires, aliens and telepathy). His books were very popular among by children and teenagers: they are similar to fairy tales where characters are crystal clear and the good always wins.
The books were illustrated by Zdeněk Burian
Zdenek Burian
Zdeněk Michael František Burian was a Czech painter and book illustrator whose work played a central role in the development of palaeontological reconstructions during a remarkable career spanning five decades...
(covers) and Jiří Wowk. Some of his books were reprinted in 1960–70 (illustrated by Miloš Novák) and 1990–2000 (illustrated by Teodor Rotrekl
Teodor Rotrekl
Teodor Rotrekl was a Czech illustrator and painter. His most known works are illustrations of science fiction books and journals.-External links:***...
).
Works
- Captain Nemo I. Nemo's empire. / Kapitán Nemo I. Nemova říše. / 1939. /
- Captain Nemo I. Nemo's world. / Kapitán Nemo I. Nemův svět. / 1941. / (censored edition)
- Captain Nemo II. Commands from ether. / Kapitán Nemo II. Rozkazy z éteru. / 1939. /
- Captain Nemo III. Invisible army. / Kapitán Nemo III. Neviditelná armáda. / 1939. /
- Rays of life and death. / Paprsky života a smrti. / 1937/1938. /
- Hell in paradise. / Peklo v ráji. / 1941. /
- Gun of peace / Pistole míru. / 1941./
- Planet Leon I. / Planeta Leon I. / 1943. /
- Planet Leon II. / Planeta Leon II. / 1944. /
- Ruler of depths of sea. / Vládce mořských hlubin. / 1942.
- Rulers of universe. / Vládcové vesmíru. / 1947. /
- Mysterious island. / Záhadný ostrov. / 1941. /
- Fight with heaven I. Deathbringer. / Zápas s nebem I. Smrtonoš. / 1940. /
- Fight with heaven II. Godlike. / Zápas s nebem II. Podobni bohům. / 1940. /
- Fight with heaven III. Scourge of heavens. / Zápas s nebem III. Metla nebes. / 1941. /
Trivia
A main-belt asteroid 17776 Troska17776 Troska
17776 Troska is a main-belt asteroid discovered on March 22, 1998 by Petr Pravec at the Ondřejov Observatory. It is named after Czech sci-fi writer J. M. Troska.- External links :* *...
discovered in 1998 by a Czech astronomer from the Ondřejov Observatory
Ondrejov Observatory
The Ondřejov Observatory is the principal observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. It is located near the village of Ondřejov, 35 km southeast of Prague....
was named after the writer. http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=17776;orb=1 The name was chosen at the meeting of sci-fi fans Avalcon in Chotěboř
Chotebor
Chotěboř is a town in the Havlíčkův Brod District, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic. It belongs to the historical land of Bohemia. Population: 9,739 .- External links :*...
on May 5th 2001. http://www.astro.cz/planetky/detail.phtml?hljmeno=&hlobs=&hlobj=
External links
- Biography, downloadable books (in Czech)