The programme of Büchergilde Gutenberg at the Frankfurt Book Fair features two works by Czech authors, Karel Čapek’s R.U.R. and Michal Ajvaz’s The Other City. Čapek’s visionary drama from 1920 tells the story of a revolt by artificially created workers against humanity. The Büchergilde edition of the work features illustrations and accompanying text that place the work in a broader context. Michal Ajvaz is an expert on Čapek’s work. The Other City combines philosophical depth with surrealistic storytelling. Working robots, dissolving realities, people without power – is this still a dystopia, or might it be the near future?

Michal Ajvaz, Jürgen Kaube, Janna Klävers, Meike Zehlike