It is with the greatest glee and not a small amount of pride that we can now say that the cover for our anthology Slavic Supernatural, lovingly illustrated and designed by Antonio Filipović – Athan, has been recognized by the European Science Fiction Society, who have awarded it the Achievement Award for Best Work of Art! The award was announced at Erasmuscon, the 2024 Eurocon in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The cover, portraying the ancient Slavic goddess Morana in characteristically Slavic attire has been one of the biggest points in favor for this Slavic-inspired fantasy and horror anthology which includes stories by eleven authors, three of whom played with different versions of the goddess herself. Antonio also used various symbolism connected to Morana, referencing her connection to winter and death, to both her young form and old, which he hints at with her arms (since in one of the myths she turns from a beautiful maiden to the old crone after the murder of her brother-spouse Jarilo). And following the cold atmosphere of the stories and the recurring motif of seasonal changes, you can see the hints of spring sprouting on the cover (both front and back).
The anthology is available in ebook and paperback, so if you’re interested in reading these tales of seasonal changes, life, folklore, and Slavic wonder, and to see this, now awarded, cover from up close, this is the perfect opportunity to get the book!
Antonio Filipović – Athan is a young Croatian illustrator and comic book artist who’s just finished his first solo book of comics, Sinestezija, soon available in print in Croatian. His main interests lie in the ancient, pre-Hellenistic cultures and the intersection of mythology and queer identity. You can follow his illustrated adventures on IG @a.th.a.n and ArtStation Antonio Filipović – Athan.
While we’re at the ESFS awards, another member of the Shtriga family has been recognized this Eurocon by receiving the Chrysalis Award for an emerging writer!
Ivana Geček, whose debut queer horror novella Bye-Bye, Babaroga is our upcoming release, is a multitaletend Croatian artist. Originally a comics artist and illustrator, she has in the past few years started making forays into writing speculative fiction, with works published in our Slavic Supernatural anthology and multiple issues of Morina kutija magazine. Her fiction features Slavic motifs and while she often deals in dark themes, she is prone to infusing her work with humor.
Big congrats to Antonio, Ivana, and all other winners! To see the full list of winners you can check out this article at File 770, and for the Chrysalis Awards go to the official ESFS site.
Shtriga Books 