We’re publishing this list at the last possible minute since the first round of nominations for Hugo awards is closing this Saturday (March 9th, 2024). To be quite honest, the reason this is coming so late is because the whole situation with last year’s Hugo’s destroyed our enthusiasm over the awards. But this is the first time our editorial team is going to a Worldcon, the first time we’re nominating and voting for the Hugo, so we wanted to take this opportunity to spotlight Croatian writers and artists, and their fantasy and sci fi works in English that we know about. If you see that there’s something that we didn’t include, please drop us a comment so we can edit the list.

Also, I do believe all of us are going to do last minute nominations, so we’re not that late. We’re just in time.

Here’s our list of Croatian works and persons for your consideration.

Best Novel

There are a few novels published last year eligible for the Hugo.

1. Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato – this mix of medieval fantasy and gothic horror inspired by the Eastern Adriatic coast, history, and Slavic mythology is amazing and worth a read. Three characters of different social status end up in an enchanted castle and have to survive a vengeful Goddess. Dark but hopeful, atmospheric and cold, this book is perfect for fans of Slavic fantasy and gothic horror.
2. Seasons of the River by Igor Rendić – the sequel to the Slavic urban fantasy trilogy A Town Called River has everything from Croatian culture, Slavic mythology and folklore, action, adventure, and cozy slice-of-life moments. Krsnik Paul is learning how to become the protector Rijeka city needs. Fall to summer, a krsnik’s job stays the same. Perfect for fans of Slavic fantasy and urban fantasy series like Rivers of London or The Dresden Files.
3. Girls Ashore by Vesna Kurilić – the fifth installment of the queer retrofuturistic mystery series Ranger Paraversum, continues to be a unique blend of alternative history, portal fantasy, lesbian romance, and mystery novel in the style of great Agatha Christie. Set in another version of Rijeka, Lina and Karol are closed in a cliff-side manor turned artist residence, hidden from the world and their enemies, keeping their charge safe, when old secrets and new dead bodies start popping up.  
4. The Chronicles of Nemesis Book 2: Beast Within by Andrea Krikšić – the second book in The Chronicles of Nemesis, a dark adventure horror fantasy series, for fans of Dungens and Dragons and Forgotten Realms. Nemesis is exiled from her home and has to find her way back, and survive her ever stronger enemies wanting to see her dead.

Edit with the additions by @vedran9000 on Instagram who pointed these books out to us:

5. Ancient Enemies and Max’s Logs Vol. 3 by Igor Mikulić – these are book 3 and 3.5 of The Space Legacy series which is a military scifi and space adventure.

6. The Rise of the Nothingness by Orsat Stražičić – an illustrated fantasy/horror book about the conflict of light and dark. It’s a prelude of The book of [alfa], [ultima], [omega] series, and it seems it’s only available as a paperback in the Croatian web shop, so it’s probably tricky to get it outside of Croatia.

Best novella

(between 17,500 and 40,000 words)

1. Trial of the Bells by Igor Rendić (published in Morina kutija, no. 5, August 2023) – set in the A Town Called River universe, this standalone novella is a sweet and adventurous coming-of-age tale of a girl with magical legacy, and who now has to learn what it means to be a hero. Inspired by Slavic pagan tradition of bellringers (zvončari). You can read it for free here.

Best novelette

(between 7,500 and 17,500 words)

1. The Gentleman’s Hat by Ivana Geček – published in Slavic Supernatural: An Anthology of Slavic-Inspired Speculative Fiction (2023), gothic horror set in the Zagorje region, about the bigotry of rural places, revenge, and women’s rage.
2. As Long as I Can See the Light by Ivana Geček – published in online magazine Morina kutija, no. 5 (August 2023), dystopian tale with old Slavic gods, atmospheric, melancholic, but also funny, about love, the need for human connection, and fighting for a better tomorrow. You can read it for free here.
3. Once Upon a Winter by Ivan Botica – published in Slavic Supernatural: An Anthology of Slavic-Inspired Speculative Fiction (2023), a retelling of the Russian folk tale of Koschei the Deathless, centers around the themes of winter and death, violence, twisted love, and bargaining with gods.

Best short story

(less than 7500 words)

1. Morana’s Song by Petra Valković – published in Slavic Supernatural: An Anthology of Slavic-Inspired Speculative Fiction (2023), an urban fantasy story about Morana, seasonal change, winter, and friendship, giving us a new and fresh look at the Slavic pantheon.
2. Out of Linden and Oak They Made You by Srebrenka Peregrin – published in Slavic Supernatural: An Anthology of Slavic-Inspired Speculative Fiction (2023), set during the war for Croatian independence, this is a melancholic dark fairy tale about horrors of war, the pain of loss, and healing nature.

Best series:

1. A Town Called River by Igor Rendić – urban fantasy series with a Slavic twist. This is an action-packed series filled with magic, witches, creatures from Slavic folklore and mythology, brimming with Croatian culture and the town of Rijeka’s history and familiar locales. You can see more about it above at Best novel (Seasons of the River), and Best novella (Trial of the Bells).
2. Ranger Paraversum by Vesna Kurilić – this queer retrofuturistic series has six books in total (five main novels and one standalone novella, for the newest book look up at the Best novel category – Girls Ashore). This series is unique for queering up history, using portal fantasy to explore different universes and versions of the town of Rijeka, and different expressions of identity, especially gender, focusing on lesbian romance and mystery-solving adventures

Edit: an addition thanks to @vedran9000 on IG:

3. The Space Legacy by Igor Mikulić – is a military space scifi with AI, nanotechnology and space adventure.

Best graphic story or Comic:

1. Eclictation of the Ectopic by Korin(a) Hunjak – published in CBA vol 61, dark, erotic fairy tale of aching desire, with just gorgeous art.
2. Goddamn Money by Ivana Geček – originally published in Ohoho zin no. 5, a humorous and anti-capitalist story that subverts the classic tale of devil bargain, with Ivana’s unique style. You can read it for free on her Instagram.

Best professional artist

The two professionally working artists that we’ve worked with are Korin(a) Hunjak and Antonio Filipović.

1. Korin(a) Hunjak is illustrator, comic artist and graphic designer, and last year two books were published with their cover illustrations—Seasons of the River and Girls Ashore (the Girls Ashore illustration was also on  public display at an annual exhibition of the Croatian Association of Artists)
2. Antonio Filipović is an illustrator, and comic artist. He is the artist behind the Slavic Supernatural cover.