Yan Bibiyan (Bulgarian: Ян Бибиян) is the first Bulgarian fantasy novel for children by the Bulgarian writer Elin Pelin and the name of its protagonist. The novel is described as " the most celebrated children’s fantasy novel".[1] Today there is almost nobody in Bulgaria that hasn't read it as a kid and it is part of the recommended literature for the fourth grade curriculum. [2]
The novel consists of two parts: „Ян Бибиян. Невероятни приключения на едно хлапе“ ("Yan Bibiyan. The Amazing Adventures of a Boy, 1933) и „Ян Бибиян на Луната" (Yan Bibiyan on the Moon, 1934).
In the first part Yan Bibiyan befriends a mischievous devilkin Fyut. Later Yan gets trapped in a kingdom of a Great Vizard Mirilaylay (Мирилайлай). The genre of this part may be described as a fairy tale or fantasy.
In the second part Yan Bibiyan gets to the Moon, and it is a classical science fiction, where Fyut appears only episodically.
In the preface to the second part the author gave the following summary of the first part:
based on the novel was written. Libretto: Алла Герова, music: . It premiered in the Ruse National Opera on May 14, 1969.[3]
In 1985 based on the novel was produced.[4]
In 2022 the Bulgarian National Film Center funded the film to be directed by Javor Gardev based in the novel.[5]