Martin Simonson Explained

Martin Simonson is a Swedish scholar, novelist, and translator, specialized in fantasy literature and science fiction. He teaches at the University of the Basque Country in Spain, and is mainly known for being the Spanish translator of some of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Simonson, who was born in Göteborg, Sweden, in 1973, holds a Ph.D. in English literature (March 2006).^[1] Before moving to Spain, he studied psychology, anthropology and creative writing at the University of Göteborg and Fridhems Folkhögskola. He is the author of various novels, among others The Wind of the Wild Lands, the first part of the saga The Faceless Keeper, which takes place in a parallel world and explores themes of identity, personal relationships, the power of nature and spirituality. He has written and edited a number of books on fantasy, science fiction, Western American literature and Gothic horror, and he has translated novels, plays, and graphic novels from English, Swedish and Norwegian into Spanish. Simonson has also published various books and articles on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien^[2] and on the representation of nature in fantasy literature, most recently From East to West: The Portrayal of Nature in British Fantasy and its Projection in Ursula K. Le Guin's Western American "Earthsea", published in 2021.

Academic books

• From East to West: The Portrayal of Nature in British Fantasy and its Projection in Ursula K. Le Guin's Western American "Earthsea". With Jon Alkorta. Peter Lang, 2021.
• J.R.R. Tolkien y la Tierra Media: Once ensayos sobre el mayor mito literario del siglo XX. (Edition, selection, translation and introduction). With José R. Montejano. Jonathan Alwars, 2021.
• El Oeste recuperado: La literatura del pasado y la construcción de personajes en «El Señor de los Anillos». Peter Lang, 2019.
• El Western fantástico de Stephen King (with Raúl Montero), Peter Lang, 2017
• Representations of Nature in Middle-earth (Editor), Walking Tree Publishers, 2015
• El héroe del oeste en las Crónicas de Narnia (with Raúl Montero), Peter Lang, 2014
• A Contested West: New Readings of Place in Western American Literature (Editor, with David Rio and Amaia Ibarraran), Portal Education, 2013
• The Neglected West: Contemporary Approaches to Western American Literature (Editor, with Amaia Ibarraran and David Rio), Portal Education, 2012
• Beyond the Myth: New Perspectives on Western Texts (Editor, with David Rio and Amaia Ibarraran), Portal Education, 2011,
• The Lord of the Rings and the Western Narrative Tradition, Walking Tree Publishers, 2008,
• J.R.R. Tolkien. Mitopoeia y mitología (Edition, selection and introduction). Essays on J.R.R. Tolkien by Eduardo Segura Fernández. PortalEditions, 2008,

Anthologies and critical editions

• Two British Satires: Gulliver's Travels and The Rivals (Critical edition), Roots of Europe, 2021
• Gothic Horror: The Castle of Otranto and The Monk (Introduction), Portal Publishing, 2016
• Cuentos del Romanticismo alemán (Editor), Portal Publishing, 2015
• English Poetry 1783-1916: Essential Short Lyrics of the Romantic, Victorian and Edwardian Eras (Editor, introduction, with Raul Montero), Portal Publishing, 2014
• Los Cuentos de Grimm (Editor, critical introduction and notes with Miguel Ayerbe), PortalEditions, 2010

Novels

• Rayos de un sol quebrado, Sapere Aude, 2021
• Rörelser i skogen (with Per Johansson and Thomas Örn Karlsson, Skymning Förlag, 2018)
• Golgrim's Keys (with Raúl Montero, translation into English by Joe Jenner, PortalEditions, 2008)
• Shadows in the Woods (translation into English by Robert Birch, PortalEditions, 2010)
• Anatomy of Air (with Raúl Montero, translation into English by Robert Birch, PortalEditions, 2011)

Translations

• La naturaleza de la Tierra Media, original title The Nature of Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien, Minotauro, 2022
• Hambre, original title Epidemin by Åsa Ericsdotter, Ediciones B, 2021
• Los mundos de J. R. R. Tolkien: Los lugares que inspiraron al escritor, original title The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien by John Garth, Minotauro, 2021
• Tolkien. Creador de la Tierra Media, original title Tolkien. Maker of Middle-earth by Catherine McIlwaine, Minotauro, 2020
• Cartas de Papá Noel, original title The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien, Minotauro, 2019
• La Caída de Gondolin, original title The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien, Minotauro, 2019
• El niño en la nieve, original title Gutten som elsket rådyr by Samuel Bjørk, Suma, 2019
• Beren y Lúthien, original title Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien, Minotauro, 2018
• Las confesiones de Himmler, original title SS-ledaren Himmlers innersta hemligheter by Arno Kersten, Pasado y Presente, 2017
• El búho, original title Uglen by Samuel Bjørk, Suma de Letras, 2016
• La historia de Kullervo, original title The Story of Kullervo by J.R.R. Tolkien, Minotauro, 2016
• El Señor de los Anillos: Guía de lectura (with Simon Saito, Nur Ferrante and José Elías Álamo Gómez), original title "The Lord of the Rings: Reader's Guide" by Wayne Hammond and Christina Scull, Minotauro, 2015
• Beowulf: Traducción y comentario, incluye Sellic Spell (with Nur Ferrante y Óscar Muñoz), original title Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, with Sellic Spell by J.R.R. Tolkien, Minotauro, 2015
• Tolkien y la Gran Guerra (with Eduardo Segura), original title "" by John Garth, Minotauro, 2014,
• Viajo sola, original title Det henger en engel allene i skogen by Samuel Bjørk, Suma de Letras, 2014,
• Bésame primero, original title "Kiss Me First", by Lottie Mogach, Suma de Letras, 2014,
• Ocultos, original title "Stallo" by Stefan Spjut, Planeta Internacional, 2013,
• La batalla que conmocionó Europa: Poltava y el nacimiento del Imperio ruso, original title Poltava, by Peter Englund (Roca Editorial, 2012)
• Invasión!, original title Invasion! by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Ediciones Irreverentes, 2012
• Montecore - Un tigre único, original title Montecore - En unik tiger by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Miscelánea, Roca Editorial, 2011
• Una vida de lujo, original title Livet deluxe by Jens Lapidus, Suma de Letras, Grupo Santillana, 2011
• Boardwalk Empire, original title Boardwalk Empire by Nelson Johnson, Suma de Letras, Grupo Santillana, 2011
• The Pacific, original title The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose, (Suma de Letras, Grupo Santillana, 2011
• Nunca la jodas, original title Aldrig Fucka Upp by Jens Lapidus, Suma de Letras, Grupo Santillana, 2010
• Guerra de bandas 145, original title Gängkrig 145 by Jens Lapidus, Suma de Letras, Grupo Santillana, 2010

External links

• Interview (in Spanish), Círculo de Lovecraft
• Interview in Spanish, Ocio Zero
• Website of Walking Tree Publishers, includes reviews
• Review of J.R.R. Tolkien. Mitopoeia y mitología in Torre del Virrey (in Spanish)

Notes and References

1. News: Tolkien visita el campus . Beatriz . Corral . 17 March 2016 . 7 September 2018 . Vitoria . es . . Vocento.
2. Web site: The Lord of the Rings and the Western Narrative Tradition . https://web.archive.org/web/20130706072345/http://www.tolkien-online.com/lotr-narrative-tradition.html . 6 July 2013 . 7 September 2018 . Tolkien Online.