Max Frei


Max Frei is the pen name of Svetlana Yuryevna Martynchik, a fantasy writer from Odessa, Ukraine. She writes in Russian and mostly publishes in Russia while holding Ukrainian citizenship. She permanently resides in Vilnius, Lithuania. Martynchik has collaborated many years on her books with her spouse, artist .
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Biography

Martynchik has Belarusian and German roots. She studied philology at Odessa State University, but dropped out without graduating. From 1986 she collaborated with artist Igor Steopin, whom she later married. The couple moved to Moscow, Russia, in 1993, to work at Marat Gelman's gallery. There, Svetlana started writing fantasy books.
The pen name, Max Frei, was invented by Martynchik and Steopin for their works on comic fantasy series Labyrinths of Echo. The plot follows the eponymous narrator, sir Max, as he leaves our "real" world for the phantasmagoric fantasy city of Echo. There, he becomes a member of a special service that controls the use of magic. The books are written by Martynchik, while Steopin developed the Echo universe and illustrated the books. Along with her Echo books, Frei also participated in several literary projects. She compiled Fram, a series of short story anthologies by Amphora publishing house. From 2006 to 2011, the series of books Russian Foreign Folktales was published as part of the Fram project.
The couple moved from Moscow to Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2004, out of their dislike of megalopolises. There, Max Frei wrote four parts of magic realist Tales of the Old Vilnius.

Cycle of books "Labyrinths of Echo"

  • Чужак
  • Волонтёры Вечности
  • Простые волшебные вещи
  • Тёмная сторона
  • Наваждения
  • Власть несбывшегося
  • Болтливый мертвец
  • Лабиринт Мёнина

Cycle of books "My Ragnarok"

  • Гнёзда химер. Хроники Овёттганы. )
  • Гнёзда химер. Хроники Хугайды )
  • Мой Рагнарёк

Cycle of books "Chronicles of Echo"

  • Чуб Земли. История, рассказанная сэром Максом из Ехо
  • Туланский детектив. История, рассказанная леди Меламори Блимм
  • Властелин Морморы. История, рассказанная сэром Джуффином Халли
  • Неуловимый Хабба Хэн. История, рассказанная сэром Максом из Ехо
  • Ворона на мосту. История, рассказанная сэром Шурфом Лонли-Локли
  • Горе господина Гро. История, рассказанная сэром Кофой Йохом
  • Обжора - хохотун. История, рассказанная сэром Мелифаро
  • Дар Шаванахолы. История, рассказанная сэром Максом из Ехо
  • Тубурская игра. История, рассказанная сэром Нумминорихом Кутой

Cycle of books "Dreams of Echo"

  • Мастер ветров и закатов
  • Слишком много кошмаров
  • Вся правда о нас
  • Я иду искать
  • Сундук мертвеца
  • Отдай моё сердце
  • Мёртвый ноль

Other

  • Encyclopaedia of Myths, 2004)
  • A Complaints Book, 2003)
  • A book for those who are like Me, 2002)
  • An Ideal Novel, 1999)
  • A Book of Lonelinesses, 2004) — with Linor Goralik.
  • Tales and Stories, 2004)
  • Yellow Metal Key, 2009)
  • A Big Carriage, 2009)
  • The Very Same Book, 2010)
  • First line, 2012)
  • Second Line, 2012)
  • Tales of the Old Vilnius, 2012)