Ep. 3 - Talking Decades of SF&F Translations with Emanuel Lottem

Today’s guest is Emanuel Lottem, one of the premier translators of the genre in Israel. Over the decades he’s translated some of the best classic books and everyone who’s grown up reading fantasy and science fiction have read his translations.

He’s also on of the driving forces behind the creation of the Israeli Society of Science Fiction and Fantasy and served as its chairman for a few years.

Recently he and Sheldon Teitelbaum edited an anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories by Israeli authors translated into English called ‘Zion’s Fiction’.

In this interview we cover the translator’s problems in translating from one language to another.

As in Frank Herbert’s Dune, Ann Lackey, and more.

Emanuel Lottem became part of a big controversy with Tolkenists when he re-translated Tolkien a couple of decades ago, and he talks about that frankly and openly.

He talks about his early years of falling in love with science fiction, about the dream of creating ArmageddonCon in Megiddo, the place of Armageddon.

One of my favorite parts is when he talks about his thinking behind translating books and I can’t help but think how different it is from the approach of some other translators. Obviously not all.

This conversation spans decades. I hope you enjoy it!

Geekdom Empowers is a podcast that highlights the lesser-known sides of geekery, a greater diversity of SF&F artists and creators, including geeks, artists, and creators from all around the world.

Geekdom Empowers is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

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