PESEK, Ludek

(1919-)

   Czech writer and artist. LP's first novels (about social inequalities; not sf) were published in Czechoslovakia in the late 1940s, but for decades he has lived abroad, his books being first published in German translation; they have been widely translated into other languages.His astronomical paintings are well known, and have been featured in National Geographic; he has illustrated some of his own books. The first of several sf juveniles is Die Mondexpedition (1966 Germany; trans as Log of a Moon Expedition 1969). His best is Die Erde ist nah (1970 Germany; trans Anthea Bell as The Earth is Near 1973). It deals, with unusual sophistication for CHILDREN'S SF, with the psychological stresses experienced by the first expedition to MARS, and won the 1971 Jugendbuchpreis (Children's Book Prize) in Germany. Another sf book isFalle fur Perseus (1976 Germany; trans Anthea Bell as Trap for Perseus 1980), set in a 23rd-century totalitarian DYSTOPIA.

   JO/PN

   Other works: Preis der Beute ("Price of Plunder") (1973 Germany); Eine Insel fur Zwei (1974 Germany; trans as An Island for Two 1975).

   See also: CZECH AND SLOVAK SF; SOCIOLOGY; SPACE FLIGHT.