Coming summer 2025
A novel of 1990s Russian historical fiction by debut author Arthur Velker-Pankov.
“Forget it all. Erase.”
—
The year is 1993. In a deteriorating industrial town, an out-of-job Soviet Navy veteran takes up work as a warden in a juvenile prison colony. In the face of acute hardships, he strives to make a positive change in the lives of his young wards. But his will is tempted by the corruption around him that is fuelled by inexplicable hatred and the negligence of his fellow staff. As conditions in the arctic town worsen, Vasily Mikhailovich begins to see the opportunities afforded to those who sacrifice their morals to pursue a life of ruthless individualism, and feels the imperative to save his family at a terrible cost.
Author bio
Arthur Velker-Pankov is a writer and journalist from Omsk. He emigrated with his parents to Europe in 2001. Experiences of growing up in post-Soviet Russia have provided the backdrop for his first fictional novel.
Velker-Pankov completed a journalism degree in 2018 and worked in a number of Irish national news titles. His work has appeared in The Irish Times, Irish Daily Mirror and The Irish Sun, among others. During the lockdown, he lived in Belmullet, Mayo, and made multiple trips to Russia to conduct interviews and gather material for his novel.
You can explore his work here and sign up to the newsletter to receive updates on the book’s release.