Metonimie PRL-u w fantastyce lat 80. Przypadek Paradyzji (1984) Janusza Zajdla

Abstract

Social science fiction occupies a privileged place in the history of Polish sci-fi literature. This was due to its political message. In general, it is universally believed that the ideological discourse of this prose is clear and almost openly anti-communist. “The Guru” of this trend Janusz A. Zajdel in the symbolic year 1984 – published his Paradyzja, an autarkic dystopia. In a sense, it was the culmination of Zajdel’s sociological observation and anticipation. And yet, is this really true that the People’s Republic is the only key to understanding that book? Such understanding of the novel, so unambiguous and with such a clear target, seems to ignore the ideological background of this cruel dystopia. What we call a metonymic portrayal of the People’s Republic in this prose goes far beyond the anti-communist and anti-totalitarian stereotype. The writer’s social scepticism indicates his conservatism and anti-liberalism. Communism turns out to be merely one of the possible metonyms of economic fetishes of power and possession. The other, of course, is capitalism.