Jaroslav Olša Jr.


Jaroslav Olša Jr. is a Czech diplomat and writer. His posts include those of Ambassador to Zimbabwe, South Korea and the Philippines. and Consul General in Los Angeles. He has written books on the history, art and literature of Asia and Africa.
He is a science fiction editor, translator and bibliographer. He is also the author of books and articles on history, culture and literature of Asia and Africa and historical relations of the non-European countries with the Czech Lands. He has published articles about science fiction and edited over a dozen anthologies of Czech and international science fiction. He has written for a wide-range of publications such as the Czech edition of National Geographic, Nový Orient, Světová literatura, Mezinárodní politika, Mezinárodní vztahy. He has contributed to various other Czech and foreign-language encyclopedias. He was also a curator of art exhibitions, member of the jury of 2011 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and initiated numerous cultural exchanges and activities.
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Science fiction

A science fiction fan since childhood, Olša became active in science fiction fandom in Czechoslovakia in 1983, translating from Polish and English, and writing articles and reports about science fiction. During the 1980s, he attended science fiction conventions in Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom, including Worldcon in Brighton in 1987. After being introduced by Czech writer Josef Nesvadba, Olša joined WORLD SF, and participated in meetings in Fanano in 1986, and Chengdu in 1991. In 1986 he established the Czechoslovak fanzine Ikarie XB, named after the Czech science fiction film Ikarie XB-1. The fanzine was published annually for four years until 1989, and after the Velvet Revolution became the first Czechoslovak/Czech monthly science fiction magazine, Ikarie, with Olša as assistant editor.
Together with Alexandre Hlinka, Olša also established a science fiction publishing house, AFSF, which published over 70 titles until the late 1990s, including selections of stories by Harry Harrison and Frederik Pohl, novels by Robert Silverberg, Robert A. Heinlein, Norman Spinrad, Rudy Rucker, and Kim Stanley Robinson, and anthologies of Anglo-American and international science fiction.
Olša was co-editor, with Ondřej Neff, of the Czech-language Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Literature and a chapbook on little-known Czech-American science fiction writer Miles J. Breuer. He has also edited about a dozen science fiction anthologies, including the first anthologies of Czech science fiction in English, [Southern Southern Ndebele language|Ndebele language|Ndebele], Korean and Japanese. He has contributed to Czech, Polish, Russian, French, German, British and US science fiction publications, compiled bibliographies of Czech and Slovak fanzines, and written entries for the 1993 edition of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

Literary works

Non-fiction

  • Dreaming of Autonomous Vehicles: Miles J. Breuer: Czech-American Writer and the Birth of Science Fiction. Joshua Tree: Space Cowboy Books - Prague: Nová vlna 2025. 175 pp.
  • V odlesku Hollywoodu. Čeští a českoslovenští konzulové v Los Angeles.. Praha: Nová vlna 2024. 176 pp.
  • Czech Painters of California. Los Angeles: Společnost pro vědy a umění Los Angeles 2023. 71 pp.
  • Konzulární úřady České republiky v zahraničí . Praha: Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí 2022. 105 pp. - with Ivana Hlavsová.
  • Miloslav J. Breuer. Česko-americký spisovatel u zrodu moderní science fiction,, . - with Zdeněk Lyčka.
  • The Amazing Breuer. Early Czech-American Science Fiction Author Miloslav J. Breuer . Praha: Nová vlna – Los Angeles: Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles 2020. 28 pp.,, . – chapbook available online
  • To the Upper Zambezi. Some 19th Century Notes of Czech Traveller Emil Holub. Praha: Nová vlna 2020. - co-editor Rob S. Burrett. 150 Years of Hidden Ties Between Koreans and Czechs – 체코와의 숨겨진 오랜 인연, 150년의 교류사. Praha: Nová vlna 2020. 160 pp. – hardbound coffee table book produced on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Czech-Korean diplomatic relations. Han Hŭng-su – otec československé koreanistiky. Korejský historik ve střední Evropě třicátých a čtyřicátých let 20. století. Praha: Nová vlna 2013. 446 pp. – co-editor Miriam Löwensteinová.The Korean Peninsula after the Armistice as Seen by Czechoslovak Delegates to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission 1953–1956. – 정전 후 남과 북. 체코슬로바키아 중립국감독위원단이 본. Seoul: Seoul Museum of History 2013. 291 pp. – co-editors Jongmin Sa and Seongju Hong. Czech-Korean Film Encounters. History of interaction between the two cinematographies from the 1930s to today. – 양국간의 영화 상호작용 역사 1930년대부터 현재까지. Seoul: Korean Film Archive 2013. 47 pp. no ISBN1901 photographs of Seoul by Enrique Stanko Vráz and other early Czech travellers' views of Korea – 1901년 체코인 브라즈의 서울 방문. 체코 여행기들의 서울 이야기. Seoul: Seoul Museum of History 2011. 237 pp. 978-80-7441-001-7 – co-editor Kang Hong-bin. Modern Art of Zimbabwe. – 짐바브웨 현대미술전. Seoul: Korea Foundation Cultural Center 2010. 104 pp. Dějiny Zimbabwe, Zambie a Malawi. Praha: Nakladatelství Lidové noviny 2008. 656 pp,. – co-author Otakar Hulec.Čtyři generace zimbabwských sochařů. Praha: Botanická zahrada hl. m. Prahy 2007. 81 pp..Afrika očima českých fotografů. Praha: České centrum Praha – Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí ČR 2007. 23 pp. No ISBN. – exhibition catalogue Stephen Kappata – Zambia – Africa. Jablonec nad Nisou: Karel Pupík 2006. 24 pp. No ISBN. – exhibition catalogue Moderní zimbabwské sochařství. Praha: Orientální ústav Akademie věd České republiky 2003. 86 pp. – co-editors Otakar Hulec and Celia Winter-Irving.Encyklopedie literatury science fiction. Praha – Jinočany: AFSF – H&H 1995. 555 pp. – co-editor Ondřej Neff.Bibliografie českých a slovenských fanzinů za rok 1988. Praha: Ústřední kulturní dům železničářů – SFK R. U. R. 1990. 61 pp. – mimeographed, no ISBNBibliografie českých a slovenských fanzinů do roku 1987 . Praha: Ústřední kulturní dům železničářů – SFK R. U. R. 1988. 56+73 leaves – mimeographed, no ISBN

Anthologies

Miloslav J. Breuer: Osudný paprsek a další povídky raného česko-amerického spisovatele . Prague: Nová vlna 2025. - co-editors František Hlous, Zdeněk Rampas, and Michaela Rampasová.
  • チェコSF短編小説集2. カレル・チャペック賞の作家たち . Tokyo: Heibonsha 2023. 505 pp. - co-editor Zdeněk Rampas, second anthology of Czech science fiction in JapaneseROBOT100. Povídky. Praha: Argo 2020. 395 pp. – co-editor Richard Klíčník. – anthology of original short stories celebrating centenary of "R. U. R." by Karel Čapek, creator of the world "robot"Kuřata v hadí kleci. Moderní filipínské povídky. Praha: Argo 2020. 376 pp. – co-editor Silvie Mitlenerová. – selection of the best contemporary short stories by Philippine writers
  • Somtow Sucharitkul: Den v Mallworldu. Praha: Nová vlna 2019. 114 pp. – co-editor Zdeněk Rampas. – selection of short stories by Thai-American writerHaká. European Speculative Fiction in Filipino. Mandaluyong: Anvil Publishing 2019. 321 pp. – co-editor Julie Nováková. – anthology of European science fiction in FilipinoPatid. Mga Kontemporaneong Kuwento ng mga Czech at Slovak na Manunulat. Naga City: Ateneo de Naga University Press 2018. 116 pp. – co-editors Edgar de Bruin, Julia Sherwood and Kristian Sendon Cordero. – anthology of contemporary Czech and Slovak short stories in FilipinoMalikmata. Mga Kuwentong Kababalaghang mula Czech Republic. Naga City: Ateneo de Naga University Press 2018. 114 pp. – co-editor Kristian Sendon Cordero. – anthology of Czech fantastic short stories, legends and fairy tales in Filipino
  • チェコSF短編小説集. Tokyo: Heibonsha 2018. 402 pp. – co-editor Kiyomi Hirano. – first anthology of Czech science fiction in JapanesePagtuod. Mga Sigulanong Europeo sa Minasbate kag Tigaonon. Naga City: Ateneo de Naga University Press 2018. 142 pp. – co-editors Enrique S. Villasis and Clinton D. Abilong. – anthology of European classics from eleven countries in Minasbate and TicaononPagkamuot. Mga Binirikol na Usipon Gikan sa Europa. Naga City: Ateneo de Naga University Press 2018. 97 pp. – co-editors Kristian Sendon Cordero and Jusán Villaflor Misolás. – anthology of European classics from thirteen countries in BikolPaglaum. Mga Susumaton nga Europeo ha Waray. Naga City: Ateneo de Naga University Press 2018. 150 pp. – co-editors Jerry B. Grácio and Michael Carlo Villas. – anthology of European classics from twelve countries in WarayAgos: Modern European Writers in Filipino. Mandaluyong: Anvil Publishing 2018. 231 pp. – anthology of modern European writers from twelve countries in FilipinoAng Laláking Nakalilipad at Ibá pang mga Kuwentong Czech. Manila: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino – Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining 2017. 252 pp. – co-editor Ivana Bozděchová, Filipino editors Roberto T. Añonuevo and Roland T. Glory. – anthology of Czech literature from the late 19th until the early 21st centuries in FilipinoAng Manggagaway. At iba pang kathang-agham at pantasya mula sa gitnang Europa at Pilipinas. Mandaluyong: Visprint 2017. 320 pp. – co-editors Dean Francis Alfar and József Bencze. – anthology of science fiction and fantasy short stories from Visegrad 4 countries in Filipino
  • Karel Čapek: Lambang ika, kita gabos. Naga City: Ateneo de Naga University Press 2017. 206 pp. – co-editors Kristian Sendon Cordero and Paz Verdades M. Santos – selection of short stories by Karel Čapek in BikolLayag: European Classics in Filipino. Mandaluyong: Anvil Publishing 2017. – anthology of European classics from eleven countries in Filipino
  • 트로야의 빌라 . Seoul: Happy Reading Books 2012. 240 pp. – anthology of Czech classics in KoreanPramlok: Cena Karla Čapka za rok 1983. Praha: Netopejr 2012. – co-editors Přemysl Houžvička and Zdeněk Rampas – anthology of Czech science fiction
  • 체코 단편소설 걸작선. Seoul: Happy Reading Books 2011. – co-editor Ivana Bozděchová – anthology of Czech classics in Korean
  • 제대로된 시체답게 행동해. Seoul: Happy Reading Books 2011. 519 pp. – co-editor Park Sang-joon – first anthology of Czech science fiction in KoreanPramlok: Cena Karla Čapka za rok 1982. Praha: Netopejr 2011. 239 pp.. – co-editors Přemysl Houžvička and Zdeněk Rampas.- anthology of Czech science fictionNevanji Bayaya nedzimwe nyaya. Nganonyorwa kubva kuCzech. Harare: Zimbabwe Publishing House 2004. 56 pp.. – selection of Czech fairy-tales in ShonaPřivolávač deště. Moderní zimbabwské povídky. Praha: DharmaGaia 2003. 127 pp.. – co-editor Mbongeni Malaba – first anthology of Zimbabwean short stories in CzechZiyajuluka. Indatshana zabasakhulayo eziphuma kwele Tsheki. Harare: Zimbabwe Publishing House 2001. 66 pp. – anthology of Czech science fiction in NdebeleExperiment se sci-fi. Šumperk: SFK Makropulos 1998. 22 pp. No ISBN – anthology of Asian short-short science fictionTunel pod světem. The Best of Frederik Pohl Praha: AFSF 1996. – science fictionZpátky na zemi. The Best of Harry Harrison (writer). Praha: AFSF 1996. 252 pp. – science fictionVampire and other Science Stories from Czech Lands. New Delhi: Star Publication 1994. 160 pp. No ISBN – anthology of Czech science fiction in EnglishHvězdy jako bozi. Praha: AFSF 1993. 296 pp. – anthology of Anglo-American science fictionPřestřelka na úsvitě. Praha: AFSF 1993. 74 pp. – science fiction anthologySvěty science fiction. Praha: AFSF 1993. 290 pp. – anthology of science fiction from all over the world
  • Stanley G. Weinbaum: Odyssea na Marsu. Praha: AFSF 1992. 227 pp. – selection of science fiction short stories Srdce technopopu. Praha: AFSF 1992. 121 pp. – anthology of science fiction

Awards and decorations