From the IPAF Shortlist to the Final Six
“I was hoping I would see some more surprises, books that would somehow stick out, astonish me somehow. I know such books exist, but they do not always seem to be the ones that get to be submitted to IPAF.”
Sampsa Peltonen
Translator Sampsa Peltonen on Why Hassan Blasim’s ‘God99’ Is Like Parkour
“The arselongness of the text made me think about how the traceurs keep plunging forwards all the time, almost like just past their tipping point, foolhardily hopping over things, dashing and ploughing into walls. Parkour is also often practised in urban places that smell of piss and fast-food and where you need to watch out you don’t step on broken glass or used condoms.”