Stefan Grabinski

Stefan Grabinski (1887-1936) is often referred to as "The Polish Poe," but his works exhibit a trajectory of being impactingly original, entering into what he called psychofantasy or metafantasy. Grabinski explored the mysteries of life and human nature in the fiction he wrote. Much of his work deals with such themes as the power of thought, the vital energy of life, and sexuality. His characters tend to be mavericks and misfits, intellectually and psychologically intense. But even these...See more

Stefan Grabinski (1887-1936) is often referred to as "The Polish Poe," but his works exhibit a trajectory of being impactingly original, entering into what he called psychofantasy or metafantasy. Grabinski explored the mysteries of life and human nature in the fiction he wrote. Much of his work deals with such themes as the power of thought, the vital energy of life, and sexuality. His characters tend to be mavericks and misfits, intellectually and psychologically intense. But even these attributes do not guarantee salvation. For those who are naively complacent, the situation is even more perilous. Though he was regularly published in Poland and received attention for his train collection, Demon ruchu (The Motion Demon), Grabinski remained a marginal figure in his native land and was not part of any fashionable literary school or clique. Upon his death in 1936 (from tuberculosis), he was almost completely forgotten. In the late 1950s, light began to shine again on his work, spearheaded by Professor Artur Hutnikiewicz's literary study, Tworczosc literacka Stefana Grabinskiego, and a 294-page collection of Grabinski stories published by Czytelnik. In 1975 renowned science fiction author Stanislaw Lem, an admirer of Grabinski, would edit his own edition of Grabinski's stories. The late 1980s saw the publication of several Grabinski volumes in German translation, and in 1993 Dedalus Ltd published the first English-translated Grabinski collection, The Dark Domain. Since then, there has been a gradual international appreciation of his work. Grabinski is now being rightfully recognized as one of the most unique voices in supernatural fiction. See less