Andri Snær Magnason (born 14 July 1973) is an Icelandic writer. He has written novels,

poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

, plays,

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

, and

essays An essay ( ) is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a Letter (message), letter, a term paper, paper, an article (publishing), article, a pamphlet, and a s ...

. Andri is also a director and producer of three documentary films that have premiered in IDFA and CPH:DOX. His work has been published or performed in more than 40 countries. He has received the Icelandic Literary Prize in all categories, fiction, non-fiction and for children's literature. The first time in 1999 for the children's book ''The Story of the Blue Planet'', and again in 2006 for the non-fiction book '' Dreamland'', a critique of Icelandic industrial and

energy policy Energy policies are the government's strategies and decisions regarding the Energy production, production, Energy distribution, distribution, and World energy supply and consumption, consumption of energy within a specific jurisdiction. Energy ...

. He also won the prize for his 2013 book, Tímakistan, The Casket of Time. Andri wrote an obituary for the first glacier Iceland lost to climate change, Ok-glacier in 2019 with these words: “Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done, only you know if we did it." His book, On Time and Water from 2019 is a work of narrative non fiction, translated to more than 30 languages. The book explores climate change through language, memory and mythology. He did a TED talk on the issue. He was a candidate in the 2016 Icelandic presidential election.

About

Andri was born in

Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...

on 14 July 1973. He has four children. Andri studied Icelandic Literature in the University of Iceland and finished his BA degree in 1997. At that time he had already published three books, two books of poetry and a short story collection. His poetry book, Bónus Poetry, a mythological journey through the isles of an Icelandic Bónus Supermarket, based on the Divine Comedy by Dante became a best seller in 1996. His children's book, ''Blue Planet'', was the first children's book to receive the Icelandic Literary Prize and has been published in 30 countries. ''Blue Planet'' was a 2014 United Kingdom Literacy Association Book Award Winner, an Honor Book for the Nature Generation's 2013 Green Earth Book Award in Children's Fiction, and received the 2002 West Nordic Children's Book Prize and the Janusz Korczak Honorary Award in 2000. The play from the story has been staged in The National Theatre of Iceland, The City Theatre of Reykjavík, at YPT in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, and the City Theatres of

Aalborg Aalborg or Ålborg ( , , ) is Denmark's List of cities and towns in Denmark, fourth largest urban settlement (behind Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense) with a population of 119,862 (1 July 2022) in the town proper and an Urban area, urban populati ...

in Denmark, Lahti and Waasa in Finland and

Lucerne Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...

in Switzerland. His Sci-Fi novel, ''LoveStar'', was chosen “Novel of the year” by Icelandic booksellers 2002, received the DV Literary Award and a nomination to the Icelandic Literary Prize, and was awarded the Philip K. Dick Award Special Citation of Excellence in 2013 and the Grand prix de l´imaginaire in 2016 as best foreign Science Fiction in France. In 2006 he published Dreamland - a Self Help Manual for a Frightened Nation, where he criticises the energy policy of the Icelandic government, marketing Iceland as a source of cheap hydro electricity for international aluminium corporations. At the time the Kárahnjúkar dam was being built in Eastern Iceland, damaging one of the last and largest intact wilderness in Europe. The book became a documentary film, Dreamland (2009 film) directed by Thorfinnur Gudnason, co-directed by Andri. Andri has collaborated with various artists in film, music, theatre, architecture, activism and design. Collaborators include

múm Múm (stylized in lowercase) () is an Icelandic indietronica band whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments. History The band was formed in ...

, Högni, Anni Ólafsdóttir, Eivör Pálsdóttir,

Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...

, Þorleifur Arnarson, Valgeir Sigurðsson, Ásta Fanney,

Bjarke Ingels Bjarke Bundgaard Ingels (; born 2 October 1974) is a Danish architect, founder and creative partner of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). In Denmark, Ingels became well known after designing two housing complexes in Ørestad: VM Houses and Mountain Dwe ...

and more.. Andri was vice-president of The Icelandic Writers Union and a board member of The Culture House in Reykjavik. He has been active in the fight against the destruction of the Icelandic Highlands. In 2021, he won the Writers Award from the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service

RÚV Ríkisútvarpið (, ; abbr. RÚV ) is Iceland's national public broadcasting, public-service broadcasting organization. Founded in 1930, it operates from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the count ...

Bibliography

* ''Ljóðasmygl og skáldarán'' – Nykur 1995 * ''Bonus Poetry'' (original title: Bónusljóð). Published by Icelandic supermarket chain

Bónus Bónus () is an Icelandic No Frills#No-frills supermarkets, no-frills supermarket chain owned by Hagar (company), Hagar. Bónus operates thirty-three stores in Iceland, eight stores in the Faroe Islands, and one store in Denmark. It follows the n ...

in 1996. * ''Very Short Stories'' (original title: Engar Smá Sögur). Published by Mál og menning. 1996. * ''Maður undir himni, um trú í ljóðum Ísaks Harðarsonar''. Published by University of Iceland Press in 1999. * ''LoveStar'' (published in English by Seven Stories Press) * ''The Story of The Blue Planet'' (published in English by Seven Stories Press) (original title: Sagan af bláa hnettinum. Published by Mál og menning) * '' Dreamland – A Self Help Manual For A Frightened Nation'' (published in English by Citizen Press). (original title: Draumalandið – sjálfshjálparbók handa hræddri þjóð published by Mál og menning in 2006) * ''The Time Casket'' '' Tímakistan'' – Mál og menning 2013 *''Sofðu ást mín'' Mál og menning 2016 *''Bónusljóð 44% meira'' (2017) * ''On Time and Water'' '' Um tímann og vatnið'' (published in English by Serpents Tail) – Mál og menning 2019

Plays

* ''Natures Opera'' (original title: Náttúruóperan) LFMH 1999 * ''Blue Planet'' (original title: Blái hnötturinn) Icelandic National Theater 2001 * ''Hlauptu Náttúrubarn'' Útvarpsleikhúsið 2001 * ''Úlfhamssaga'' Hafnarfjarðarleikhúsið/Annað svið 2004 * ''Eternal Happiness'' (original title: Eilíf hamingja) with Thorleif Arnarson – City Theater/ Lifandi Leikhús 2007 * ''Eternal Misery'' (original title: Eilíf óhamingja) with Thorleif Arnarson- City Theater/ Lifandi Leikhús 2009

Music

* ''Voices/Raddir'', Smekkleysa/Stofnun Árna Magnússonar 1998 * ''Flugmaður'' – spoken word CD with

– Leiknótan 1999

Films

* '' Dreamland'' (original title: Draumalandið), Documentary film codirected with Þorfinnur Guðnason. Ground Control Productions 2009.Dreamland
/ref> * '' The Hero’s Journey to the Third Pole'' (original title: Þriðji póllinn), Documentary film codirected with Anní Ólafsdóttir. 2020. * ''Apausalypse'' (original title: Tídægra), Documentary film co-directed with Anní Ólafsdóttir. Elsku Rut Productions 2021.

Awards

* The Icelandic Literary Award 1999 - The Story of The Blue Planet * The West Nordic Children's Book Award 2002 - The Story of the Blue Planet * The DV Culture Award for best fiction 2002 - LoveStar * The Icelandic Bröste Award for Optimism 2002 * The

Icelandic Literary Award The Icelandic Literary Prize ( Icelandic: ''Íslensku bókmenntaverðlaunin''), or Icelandic Literary Award, is an award which is given to three books each year by the Icelandic Publishers Association. The prize was founded on the association's cen ...

2006 - Dreamland * The Icelandic Film Academy Award for Best Documentary Film 2009 - Dreamland * The Kairos Prize - 2009 * Green Earth Book Award Honorary Mention 2013 - The Story of the Blue Planet * The

2013 - The Casket of Time. * The West Nordic Children's Book Award 2014 - The Casket of Time * UKLA Award for best Children's book of 2014 - The Story of the Blue Planet * Green Earth Book Award Honorary Mention 2014 - The Casket of Time * The Philip K. Dick Honorary Mention 2014 - LoveStar * The Grand prix de l'imaginaire 2016, Best foreign Sci-Fi in France - LoveStar
Premio Tiziano Terzani
2021 Italy, - On Time and Water. * Water for Life Award 2022 - Aquadotto Pugliese Italy.

References

External links

*
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magnason, Andri Snaer Andri Snaer Magnason Andri Snaer Magnason Andri Snaer Magnason Non-fiction environmental writers Andri Snaer Magnason 1973 births Living people Andri Snaer Magnason Andri Snaer Magnason Andri Snaer Magnason Andri Snaer Magnason Andri Snaer Magnason Andri Snaer Magnason