A multi-genre, socially relevant novel with an anti-hero in the main role.
Literary fiction
In this dark absurd novel, Ondřej Štindl looks at today’s divisions in Czech society from the perspective of Johan, a journalist, whose stream of consciousness provides the novel with its structure. Opposing him is Petr the internet troll – a carpenter spreading conspiracy theories and hate speech under various pseudonyms. Out for revenge, Johan sets off in pursuit of his opponent. In the end, though, he is forced to help him when it transpires that Petr has a dysfunctional relationship with his son. This eclectic novel in terms of genre draws on elements from road movies, social satire and psychological horror.
Ondřej Štindl (1966) is a film and music critic, writer, screenwriter and DJ. The film Pouta (Walking Too Fast), based on his script, premiered in 2010. He has twice received the Czech Lion Award for his screenplays: in 2010 for Pouta and in 2017 for the serial Svět pod hlavou (The World Below Your Head). In 2020 he was awarded the Ferdinand Peroutka Prize for his journalistic work. He is the author of the novels Mondschein (2012), K hranici (To the Border, 2016) and Až se ti zatočí hlava (Until Your Head Starts Spinning, 2020).