Maria Semyonova


Maria Vasilyevna Semyonova is a Russian writer of fantasy and historical fiction and a poet. Most of her books are based on Slavic mythology, as well as on Russian and Norse pagan traditions. She's best known for Wolfhound fantasy series, that was adapted into 2007 film Wolfhound of The Grey Hound Clan and the 2006 video game Requital. Semyonova is also known for her numerous translations of western fantasy books into the Russian language.
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Biography

Semyonova graduated from Leningrad State University of Aerospace Instrument Making and worked as a computer specialist in the 1980s in a research institute.
From her childhood, Maria was interested in Medieval Rus, its traditions and mythology, as well as Viking Age. Her early books, written in Soviet era, were historical fiction about Vikings, medieval Russians and Finns, usually set in Scandinavia or Novgorod. She wrote about such historical persons as Ragnar Lodbrok, Aella of Northumbria, Rurik, Oleg and Vadim, among others. However, most of these books were not published until 1996, as Perestroika-era publishers were not interested in historical fiction.
After the fall of Soviet Union, Semyonova abandoned her computer work and became literary translator from English, working for Severo-Zapad. She translated several books by Robert E. Howard, Robin Hobb, L. Sprague de Camp, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, among others. This is where she discovered Western fantasy and became fond of it. However, she was disappointed with a wave of Russian fantasy writers becoming copy-cats of their Western colleagues. Semenova decided to write a fantasy novel based exclusively on Russian tradition and mythology. "If you wanted fantasy, you get it. But why do you prefer the chewed-out Tolkien-esque sandwich, while our richest native tradition stays forgotten?" - she would recall.
In 1995, Wolfhound was released. The book, published by Severo-Zapad, was an immediate success, it spanned a series of sequels, a multi-author project, a film and a TV series. Often compared to Robert E. Howard Conan series, Wolfhound was intended as Conan's counterpart: a protector of the weak rather than adventurer. The books also included a large amount of poetry by Semenova, each chapter was accompanied by a verse. Several other Semenova books, including Dark Grey Wolf series, are set in the same universe with Wolfhound. Success of her fantasy novels allowed Semenova to publish her earlier historical books as well.
Maria Semyonova also wrote several lesser-known political detective books, together with Felix Razumovsky and various other co-authors. She also wrote a popular history encyclopedia "We, Slavs!" about the culture and traditions of Russian paganism.
Semyonova is an amateur aikido fighter.

Works

Novels

Ведун, Vedun. Novella - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaОрлиная круча, Orlinaâ kruča). Novella - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaPelko and Wolves - Historical fiction, set in Medieval Rus
  • The Wolfhound series: - Fantasy fiction
  • # Wolfhound
  • # Wolfhound: The Right for a Fight
  • # Wolfhound: Stone of Rage
  • # Wolfhound: Sign of the Way
  • # Wolfhound: Emerald Mountains The Nine Worlds - Fantasy fictionTwo Tempests - Fantasy fictionValkyrie: The One I Always Wait For - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaA Duel with Dragon - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaSwans' Road - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age Scandinavia and in Medieval Rus
  • Skunk series: - Detectives
  • # The Same Men and Skunk
  • # The Same Men and Skunk 2
  • # Order Sword of the Dead - Historical fiction, set in Medieval RusПреступление без срока давности, Prestuplenie bez sroka davnosti - DetectivesВкус крови, Vkus krovi - DetectivesМагия успеха, Magiâ uspeha - DetectivesДядя Леша, Dâdâ Leša - DetectivesОкольцованные злом, Okolʹcovannye zlom - Detectives
  • Kudeyar series : - Detectives
  • # Kudeyar: The Crimson Flower
  • # Kudeyar: The Tower of Babel Привычка жить, Privyčka žitʹ - sci-fi
  • Dark Grey Wolf series : - Fantasy fiction
  • # Where Forest Doesn't Grow
  • # Dark Grey Wolf
  • # Dark Grey Wolf: Birch Bark Book
  • Mistake-2012 series : - Detectives
  • # Game For No Sake
  • # Joker
  • # New Game
  • # ''Rough Miser''

Short story collections

Swans Fly Away - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaWith Vikings for Svalbard - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaA Lame Smith - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaНовые легенды, Novye legendy - Fantasy fiction

Short stories

Uncollected short stories.Два короля, Dva korolâ - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age ScandinaviaСольвейг и мы все, Solʹvejg i my vse - Historical fiction, set in Viking Age Scandinavia

Poems

Кубик из красной пластмассы, Kubik iz krasnoj plastmassy. Collection

Nonfiction

We, Slavs! - a popular history encyclopedia

Adaptations

Wolfhound of The Grey Hound Clan Young Wolfhound

Awards