RUDOLPH,
THE KILLER REINDEER (“Veado Assassino”)
A political
novel by Santiago Nazarian
Brazilian edition by Companhia das Letras, 2023.
The far-right President of Brazil is shot
by a nonbinary teenager. Through a long interview, we get to know the teen’s
story and the decisions that led him to that final act. Is he a victim, a
terrorist, or a violent incel?
In a
narrative structured only through dialogue, Santiago Nazarian presents the
portrait of a generation that is equally engaged and individualist, that knows
what to fight against, but not what to fight for. Racial, sexual and gender
issues are placed in an always-unbalanced balance, and the partial perspective
of a character can reveal much more than his words. With Nazarian’s typical
cynicism and sarcasm, RUDOLPH, THE KILLER REINDEER is a crazy
speculative novel, both fun and thoughtful.
(English
translation available)
"Santiago
Nazarian brings in
collision course two voices, of a teenager who fetishizes violence and a figure
that examines his actions, both as hesitant and uncertain as Brazil's recent
history." -- Andréa del Fuego
THE
AUTHOR:
SANTIAGO
NAZARIAN was born in São Paulo in 1977, from an Armenian family, and has
become an insider's tip on the Brazilian literary scene, so far with thirteen
books published by the biggest publishing houses in the country. In 2007, he
was selected by the Hay Festival as one of the 39 highest profile Latin American
writers under the age of 39. In 2021, his novel Fé no Inferno (“Faith in
Hell”), about the Armenian Genocide, was shorlisted for all the major literary
prizes in Brazil and Portugal.
His literary project is oddly known as "bizarre existentialism" in
which he mixes classic literary references and existential ideas with horror, dark
humor and pop culture.
Santiago Nazarian’s virtues as a writer have never been so visible, from his
well-measured pop morbidity to the powerful symbolism of some of his
scenes. Daniel Galera, O Globo
We are in presence of a great talent. Luis Augusto Fischer, Zero
Hora
Nazarian writes too well, he knows how to create characters and has a
fascinating and daring style all his own. Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Folha
de S. Paulo.
Nazarian crosses the imaginative narrative of the fable with his narrative
momentum to culminate in fantastic poetics, sweeping away the literary
tradition within current fiction. Simply beautiful. O Globo
Nazarian conveys an inimitable freshness. Bizarre and visceral. If
literature is experience, Santiago demonstrates to the highest degree what the
experience of a written text can be like. Folha de Pernambuco
RIGHTS:
Novels:
- Veado Assassino, São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2023, 108p.
- Fé no Inferno, São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2020, 348 p. (shortlisted for the Jabuti, Oceanos and Machado de Assis prizes).
- Neve Negra, São Paulo: Companhia das Letras 2017, 250 p.
- Biofobia, Rio de Janeiro: Record 2014, 240 p.
- O prédio, o tédio e o menino cego, Rio de Janeiro: Record 2009, 344 p.
- Mastigando humanos, São Paulo: Nova Fronteira 2006; Rio de Janeiro: Record 2013, 175 p.
- Feriado de mim mesmo, São Paulo: Planeta 2005, 157 p.
- A morte sem nome, São Paulo: Planeta 2004, 205 p.; Portugal: Palavra 2006
- Olívio, São Paulo: Talento 2003, 139 p.
Stories:
- Órfão, Formas breves 2014 (e-pub)
- Pornofantasma, Rio de Janeiro: Record 2011, 316 p.
Young readers:
- A Festa do Dragão Morto, São Paulo, Melhoramentos 2019, 50p.
- Garotos Malditos, Rio de Janeiro: Record 2012, 256 p.
Participation in anthologies:
Popcorn unterm Zuckerhut. Junge brasilianische Literatur
Germany: Wagenbach 2013
die horen. Brasilien. Ed. Michi Strausfeld
Germany: Wallstein 2013
A mulher barbada, Peru: Factotum
In El futuro no es nuestro: Espinazo de pez, Buenos Aires: Eterna Cadencia 2009, 272 p.
Selection and foreword by Diego Trelles Paz
Bolivia: La Hoguera 2009 ● Brazil: Melhoramentos ● Chile: UQBAR 2010 ● Hungary: L’Harmattan 2011 ● Mexico: Sur Plus 2011 ● Panama: Fuga 2010 ● Peru: Madriguera2012 ● US: Open Letter Books 2012
Bogotá 39, Bogotá:Ediciones B 2007, 413 p.
In Lusofômica. La nuova narrativa in lingua portoghese: Seis dedos para contar, Rome: La Nuova Frontiera 2006