Manfred Kalmsten

Manfred Kalmsten (real name Sven Palm, born 5 II 1982) is a science fiction and fantasy writer.

Kalmsten began to write stories early. His first stories were published in the web fanzine Reaktor in 2012. In 2020, Kalmsten published his debut book Raske vihm (‘Heavy Rain’) which contained stories written in 2012–2019 and had partly appeared in web publications. The best-know earlier published story in the book is Raske vihm, which had won the Estonian science fiction and fantasy award Stalker. The book also includes the author’s print debut Põgeneda Rottidelinnast (‘Escape from the City of Rats’) and the story Lumemarjaveri (‘Snowberry Blood’), which achieved the eighth place in the SF&F story competition in 2019 (organised by the Estonian Science Fiction Association and Fantaasia publisher) and won the Stalker Award in the best short story category.

In 2021, the collection of stories Kaarnalaul (‘Raven Song’) was published in the Orpheuse Raamatukogu (Orpheus Library) series. It describes the demise of the powerful Aekadion empire and the protagonist’s personal ambitions that led to this tragedy. Täheraua saaga (‘Stariron Saga’), published in the Orpheuse Raamatukogu series in 2022, is a harsh fantasy story with a Nordic twinge about two brothers and their sister — the author’s homage to the Nordic sagas, myths and fairy tales.

Manfred Kalmsten’s stories reveal influences of Terry Pratchett’s and the Strugatsky brothers’ creation. For his prose, Kalmsten has received the Stalker award in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Manfred Kalmsten has been a member of the Estonian Writers’ Union from 2022.

L. P. (Translated by I. A.)

Books in Estonian

Short prose
Raske vihm. Tartu: Fantaasia, 2020. 318 lk.
Kaarnalaul. Tartu: Fantaasia, 2021. 154 lk.
Täheraua saaga. Tartu: Fantaasia, 2022. 122 lk.