Andri Snaer Magnason

(b.1973) is one of Iceland’s most celebrated writers. He has won the Icelandic Literary Prize for fiction, children’s fiction and non-fiction. In addition, Magnason has written poetry, plays, short stories and essays. His work has been published or performed in over thirty countries and has received numerous international awards, amongst them the Janusz Korczak Honorary Award, the French Grand Prix de l’Imaginire and the Kairos prize awarded by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation to outstanding individuals. In 2009 Magnason co-directed the documentary Dreamland, which was based on his book Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation. Magnason ran for president of Iceland in 2016 and came third out of nine candidates. Magnason lives in Reykjavik with his wife and four children.

“Orwell, Vonnegut, and Douglas Adams are felt on every page, though Magnason is never derivative. His satire and insightful social commentary sweeten the pot and the sheer wackiness of Magnason’s oversized imagination is invigorating.”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)

Awards

2014 - The Reykjavík Scholastic Children's Literature Award: Tímakistan (The Time Box)
2013 - The Booksellers´ Award, for best young adult fiction: Tímakistan (The Time Box)
2013 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Tímakistan (The Time Vault). In the category of children´s and young adult fiction.
2006 - The Icelandic Literature Prize (for non fiction works): Draumalandið: sjálfshjálparbók handa hræddri þjóð (Dreamland: A Self-Help Guide for a Frightended Nation)
2006 - The Icelandic Bookseller Awards: Draumalandið (Dreamland). As the best non-fiction book of the year
2003 - DV Cultural Prize for literature: Lovestar 2002 - The Bookseller Award: Lovestar. As the best novel of the year
2002 - The West-Nordic Children´s Book Prize: Sagan af bláa hnettinum (The Story of the Blue Planet)
2000 - Janusz Korczak Award: Sagan af bláa hnettinum (The Story of the Blue Planet)
1999 - The Icelandic Literature Prize (for fiction): Sagan af bláa hnettinum (The Story of the Blue Planet)

Nominations

2016 - Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire, best fiction in translation: LoveStar 2014 - The West-Nordic Children´s Literature Prize: Tímakistan (The Time Vault)
2013 - The Philip K. Dick Award: LoveStar 2003 - The Icelandic Literature Prize: Lovestar

Title Awards

On Time and Water (2019) — National Translation Award (NTA) 2022, Nominated
On Time and Water (2019) — The Italian Tiziano Terzani International Literary Award 2021, Won
On Time and Water (2019) — Nordic Council Literature Prize 2020, Nominated
On Time and Water (2019) — Hagthenkir Non-Fiction Prize 2019, Nominated
On Time and Water (2019) — Tiziano Terzani International Literary Award 2021, Won
The Casket of Time (2013) — Green Earth Book Honor Award 2020, Won
The Casket of Time (2013) — Best Translated Fantasy 2018, Nominated
The Casket of Time (2013) — The Icelandic Literary Prize, for Children and Young People's Books, Won
The Casket of Time (2013) — The West-Nordic Literature Prize 2013, Won
The Casket of Time (2013) — The Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize, Nominated
The Casket of Time (2013) — Reykjavik Children's Literature Prize 2014, Won
The Casket of Time (2013) — Icelandic Booksellers' Prize, Won
Dreamland: Self-Help for a Frightened Nation (2006) — The Icelandic Literary Prize, Won
Dreamland: Self-Help for a Frightened Nation (2006) — The Icelandic Bookseller's Prize, Won
Dreamland: Self-Help for a Frightened Nation (2006) — The Kairos Prize, Won
LoveStar (2002) — Philip K. Dick Award (Special citation) 2013, Won
LoveStar (2002) — The Icelandic Booksellers' Prize 2002, Won
LoveStar (2002) — DV Cultural Prize for Literature, Won
LoveStar (2002) — The Icelandic Literary Prize 2002, Nominated
LoveStar (2002) — Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire 2016, Won
LoveStar (2002) — Philip K. Dick Award 2013, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The Icelandic Literary Prize 1999, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The Janusz Korczak Honorary Awards 2000, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The IBBY International Honour List 2001, Nominated
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The West-Nordic Children's Literature Prize 2002, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literary Prize, Nominated
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The IBBY Iceland's Children Literature Prize, Nominated
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The National Theatre Prize for New Plays, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — Reykjavik Children's Literary Prize, Nominated
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — DORA awards 2005, Nominated
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — Green Earth Book Honor Award 2013, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — UKLA (UK Literacy Association) Book Award 2014, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — My Favourite Children's Books Award 2019, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — The Orbil Prize 2023, Nominated
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — Green Earth Book Award 2013, Won
The Story of the Blue Planet (1999) — UKLA Book Award 2014, Won