Havana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Profile ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Accessed April 9, 2015. is a
Cuban-American
Cuban Americans ( or ) are Americans who immigrated from or are descended from immigrants from Cuba. As of 2023, Cuban Americans were the fourth largest Hispanic and Latino Americans, Hispanic and Latino American group in the United States aft ...
writer of French and Asturian descent. She has lived in the United States since 1991.
She is considered one of the three most important female fantasy and science fiction writers in the Spanish language, along with Angélica Gorodischer (Argentina) and Elia Barceló (Spain), forming the so-called “feminine trinity of science fiction in Ibero-America.”
In Cuba, she published several science fiction and fantasy books, becoming the most renowned and best-selling author in those genres in Cuban literature.Toledano, Juan C. "Daína Chaviano", in Darrell B. Lockhart (ed.), ''Latin American Science Fiction Writers: An A-to-Z Guide'', Greenwood Press, 2004, pp. 54–55.
Biography
She was born in Havana, the eldest of four children of an
economist
An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social sciences, social science discipline of economics.
The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this ...
father, and a mother with two Ph.D.: one in Philosophy and Letters, and the other in
Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...
.Fernández, Manuel and Trimberger, Michael. "Ecos de un pasado que se niega a morir". ''Caribe: Revista de Cultura y Literatura/Caribbean: Journal of Culture and Literature'', Vol. 12, No. 1, Summer 2009, pp. 71–80. Marquette University & University of North Florida. Moreno, Sarah. "Daína Chaviano: sus pasiones y fantasías". ''El Nuevo Herald. Suplemento de Artes y Letras'', 29 April 2007.
When she had barely begun her university studies, she won the first science fiction competition ever organized in Cuba with her short story collection ''Los mundos que amo'' (''The Worlds I Love''), in 1979. After the book was published (1980), the main story was adapted and published as a
photonovel
Photo comics are a form of Sequential art, sequential storytelling using photographs rather than illustrations for the images, along with the usual comics conventions of narrative text and word balloons containing dialogue. They are sometimes ...
in 1982, selling 200,000 copies in 3 months, an unprecedented fact that started her popularity as an author. The plot – almost the same in the short story and its photonovel version – has been considered "an editorial phenomenon" that "questioned the hierarchical structures that the governing institutions of the revolutionary culture imposed in the literary field as early as 1960".Porbén, Pedro Pablo. "Fotonovela, ciencia ficción y revolución en ''Los mundos que amo''." ''Revista Iberoamericana'', Vol. LXXVIII, Nos. 238–239, January–June 2012, pp. 225–243. This sales record "broke with an editorial logic that considered science fiction as a minor genre."
After earning a bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Havana, she established the first science fiction literary workshop in her country, which she named “Oscar Hurtado” in honor of the father of that genre on the Caribbean island.
Herrera-Mulligan, Michelle. "When Sci-Fi Meets Sexy". ''Críticas Magazine'', January/February 2004, pp. 24–26.
In 1991, she left Cuba, establishing residency in the United States, where she worked as a translator, columnist, and editor. In 1998, she achieved international recognition when she was awarded the Azorín Prize for Best Novel in Spain for ''El hombre, la hembra y el hambre''. This work forms part of her series «The Occult Side of Havana», together with ''Casa de juegos'', ''Gata encerrada'', and ''La isla de los amores infinitos'' ('' The Island of Eternal Love'', Riverhead Books, 2008). The series has been described as “the most coherent novelistic project of its generation, indispensable for understanding the social psychology and spiritual vicissitudes of the Cuban people.”''Literatura cubana en el exilio'' . Retrieved 10 July 2008. '' The Island of Eternal Love'' has been published in 26 languages, making it the most widely translated Cuban novel of all time. In 2007, the novel was awarded the gold medal at the Florida Book Awards, in the category Best Book in Spanish Language.
In 2004, she was the guest of honor at the 25th International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts (ICFA) in the United States. It was the first time that honor had ever been conferred on a Spanish-language writer. In November 2014, she was the guest of honor during the University Book Fair in
Tabasco
Tabasco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tabasco, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Tabasco, 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa.
It i ...
(
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
), where she received the Malinalli National Award for the Promotion of Arts, Human Rights, and Cultural Diversity, which until then had only received figures of Mexican culture and society. It was the first time this award was given to an international figure.
Her short story collection, ''Extraños Testimonios'', was published in 2017. In an interview, Chaviano classified the genre of this work as "Caribbean Gothic", as it brings together "elements of horror, absurdity, eroticism, and a certain dose of humor à la Cortázar, amidst tropical and sunny environments, specifically in the Caribbean."
In 2019, her historical thriller ''Los Hijos de la Diosa Huracán'' was published by Grijalbo, the Spanish imprint of Penguin Random House. The novel, which required more than a decade of research work, recreates and rescues the Taínos' world, following the trail and paying homage to the legacy of the main Caribbean indigenous culture. Hence the importance of Taino
mythology
Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...
in the novel, especially the symbolism of their three main goddesses: Atabey, Guabancex, and Iguanaboína.
In 2020, the novel was awarded the gold medal at the Florida Book Awards 2019 contest, in the category Best Book in Spanish Language, making Chaviano the only writer to twice receive the award in that category.
Her ''País de Dragones'', which was published in Colombia in 2021, won the Los Mejores de Banco del Libro, an award given to the best books for children and young people published in Spanish anywhere in the world.
Chaviano has been a guest lecturer and visiting author at several universities and colleges, like Denison University (2007),
Florida International University
Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university with its main campus in Westchester, Florida, United States. Founded in 1965 by the Florida Legislature, the school opened to students in 1972. FIU is the third-largest univ ...
Her literary influences derive fundamentally from the Celtic world, diverse mythologies, and the principal epics of ancient peoples. Among these sources one can find the Arthurian cycle; Greek, Roman, Egyptian, pre-Columbian, and Afro-Cuban myths; and humankind's first epics, dating back to prehistory, such as the ''
Epic of Gilgamesh
The ''Epic of Gilgamesh'' () is an epic poetry, epic from ancient Mesopotamia. The literary history of Gilgamesh begins with five Sumerian language, Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh (formerly read as Sumerian "Bilgames"), king of Uruk, some of ...
'', the ''
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
'', the ''
Popol Vuh
''Popol Vuh'' (also ''Popul Vuh'' or ''Pop Vuj'') is a text recounting the mythology and history of the Kʼicheʼ people of Guatemala, one of the Maya peoples who also inhabit the Mexican states of Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, ...
'', the ''
Odyssey
The ''Odyssey'' (; ) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' is divi ...
'', and other similar works.Mayor Marsán, Maricel. ”Daína Chaviano: Entre la ciencia ficción y lo sobrenatural”. ''Revista Baquiana'', año VI, Nº 33/34, enero/abril 2005, pp. 193–199.
The author has said she has no affinity with Cuban literature. She has stated that except authors such as Manuel Mujica Laínez and Mario Vargas Llosa,Triff, Soren. ”La maldición de escribir en Miami”. ''Catálogo de Letras'', Miami. Número 13, 1998, pp. 6–7. Her only point of contact with Latin America is pre-Columbian mythology. Her passion for Anglo-Saxon literature was so strong that, when she entered the university, she decided to major in English literature so that she could read many of these authors in their original language.
Daína Chaviano's works have been described as “bold experiments that break down the boundaries between genres.”
Works in English
:* 2019: "Dolores" (short story, trans. by Marilyn G. Miller), in ''Island in the Light / Isla en la luz'' (bilingüal anthology of literary works inspired by contemporary Cuban art), ed. by L. Padura, W. Guerra & C. Garaicoa, Miami: tra.Publishing.
:* 2017: "Accursed Lineage" (short story, trans. by Matthew David Goodwin), in ''Latin@ Rising: An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy'', ed. by Matthew David Goodwin, Texas: Wings Press.
:* 2008: '' The Island of Eternal Love'' (trans. Andrea Labinger). New York: Riverhead Books-Penguin Group.Laura Dail Literary Agency News .
:* 2003: "The Annunciation" (short story, trans. by Juan Carlos Toledano), in Andrea L. Bell & Yolanda Molina-Gavilán (eds), ''Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain'', Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press.
Works in Spanish
Outside Cuba:
:* 2019: ''Los hijos de la Diosa Huracán'' (novel). Grijalbo, Spain.
:* 2018: ''Fábulas de una abuela extraterrestre'' (novel). Huso, Spain.
:* 2017: ''El abrevadero de los dinosaurios'' (short stories). Huso, Spain.
:* 2017: ''Extraños testimonios'' (short stories). Huso, Spain.
:* 2007: ''Historias de hadas para adultos'' (novellas). Minotauro, Spain.
:* 2006: '' La isla de los amores infinitos'' (novel). Grijalbo, Spain.
:* 2005: ''El abrevadero de los dinosaurios'' (short stories). Nueva Imagen, Mexico.
:* 2004: ''Los mundos que amo'' (short novel). Alfaguara, Colombia.
:* 2003: ''Fábulas de una abuela extraterrestre'' (novel). Oceano, Mexico.
:* 2001: ''País de dragones'' (short stories). Espasa Juvenil, Spain.
:* 2001: ''Gata encerrada'' (novel). Planeta, Spain.
:* 1999: ''Casa de juegos'' (novel). Planeta, Spain.
:* 1998: ''El hombre, la hembra y el hambre'' (novel). Planeta, Spain.
:* 1994: ''Confesiones eróticas y otros hechizos'' (poetry). Betania, Spain.
In Cuba:
:* 1990: ''El abrevadero de los dinosaurios'' (short stories).
:* 1989: ''La anunciación'' (film script).
:* 1988: ''Fábulas de una abuela extraterrestre'' (novel).
:* 1986: ''Historias de hadas para adultos'' (novellas).
:* 1983: ''Amoroso planeta'' (short stories).
:* 1980: ''Los mundos que amo'' (short stories).
Awards and Recognitions
:* 2022: Winner at Los Mejores de Banco del Libro (Venezuela), for ''País de dragones''.
:* 2020: First Place in two categories (Best Popular Fiction and Best Novel Adventure or Drama in Spanish) in the International Latino Book Awards, for ''Los hijos de la Diosa Huracán''.
:* 2020: Gold Medal Winner in the Florida Book Awards 2019, for Best Spanish Language Book (USA), for ''Los hijos de la Diosa Huracán''.
:* 2017: Guest of Honor at the 12th North American Science Fiction Convention (San Juan, Puerto Rico).
:* 2014: Malinalli National Award 2014 for the Promotion of Arts, Human Rights, and Cultural Diversity (Mexico).
:* 2014: Guest of Honor at the Tabasco University Book Fair (Mexico).
:* 2010: International Dublin Literary Award IMPAC Longlist for '' The Island of Eternal Love''.
:* 2008: Finalist of the Prix Relay du Roman d'Évasion (France), for ''L'île des amours éternelles'' ('' The Island of Eternal Love'').
:* 2007: Gold Medal Winner in the Florida Book Awards 2006, for Best Spanish Language Book (USA), for ''La Isla de los amores infinitos'' ('' The Island of Eternal Love'').
:* 2004: Guest of Honor at the 25th Conference held by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, Fort Lauderdale (USA).
:* 2003: Goliardos Fantasy International Award (Mexico), for ''Fábulas de una abuela extraterrestre''.
:* 1998: Azorín Prize for Best Novel (Spain), for ''El hombre, la hembra y el hambre''.
:* 1990: Anna Seghers Award, Academy of Arts in Berlin (Germany), for ''Fábulas de una abuela extraterrestre''.
:* 1989: "La Edad de Oro" (The Golden Age) National Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature (Cuba), for ''País de dragones''.
:* 1988: "13 de marzo", Best Literary Film Script (Cuba), for ''La anunciación''.
:* 1979: David National Prize for Best SF Book (Cuba), for ''Los mundos que amo''.