Vladimirs Kaijaks

Vladimirs Kaijaks (1930-2013) was a multifaceted writer who began his literary work as a poet, but later devoted himself completely to prose – stories, novellas, novels – and wrote about a variety of topics. The body of his work includes crime novels (“Vistu elks” (Hen Idol; 1967), “Brigitas brīnums” (Brigita’s Miracle; 1970)) and also an expansive tale about a family, which weaves its way through Latvian history (this four-part novel series “Likteņa līdumnieki” (Shapers of Destiny) was the basis for an extremely popular television series in Latvia). However, in terms of literary merit, the most interesting part of his work consists of stories and novellas connected with the horror and fantasy genres, which are the reason that Kaijaks could be called the “Latvian Stephen King” – though at times his work also shows similarities with the metaphorical and frightening world of Franz Kafka. Kaijaks is one of only very few Latvian authors who has written literature of this type and so far no one has yet outdone him.

Vēstule [The Letter] (with Māra Svīre). Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2017. 
Koka māja, Kapu māja [Log House, Grave House]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2010. 
Meitene no nekurienes [A Girl from Nowhere]. Riga: Lauku Avīze, 2009. 
Likteņa līdumnieki IV. Mantinieki [Heirs]. Riga: Lauku Avīze, 2002. 
Likteņa līdumnieki III. Nārbuļu dēli [Narbuls Sons]. Riga: Lauku Avīze, 2000. 
Likteņa līdumnieki II. Zem Marsa debesīm [Under the Mars Sky]. Riga: Lauku Avīze, 1999.
Likteņa līdumnieki I. Enijas bize [Ennie's Braid]. Riga: Lauku Avīze, 1998.
Visu rožu roze [The Rose of the All Roses]. Riga: Liesma, 1987.
Signe. Riga: Liesma, 1983. 
Soļi [Steps]. Riga: Liesma, 1977.
Bailes [Fear]. Riga: Tilta apgāds, 1976.
Krimi, Abenteuer, Phantastik. DDR: Kultur und Fortschritt, 1970.
Direktora klints [Director's Cliff]. Riga: Liesma, 1970. 
Brigitas brīnums [Mirackle of Brigita]. Riga: Liesma, 1970.
Smagās sirdis [Heavy Hearts]. Riga: Liesma, 1969.
Vistu elks [Chicken Idol]. Riga: Liesma, 1967.
Stāsti par laimi [Stories about Happiness]. Riga: Liesma, 1966.
Putenī [In the Blizzard]. Riga: Latvijas Valsts izdevniecība, 1964. 
Putni laižas pret vēju [Birds Land Against the Wind]. Riga: Latvijas Valsts izdevniecība, 1963.

About The Letter // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2017 [LV]

Elīna Malāne, Vēstule uz nekurieni, review of The Letter // University of Latvia, UbiSunt.lv, 2017 [LV]

Miks Želvis, review of The Spider (film by Vasīlijs Mass based on Kaijaks' story The Spider) // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2017 [LV]

Review of The Rose of the All Roses // Online magazine Satori, 2008 [LV]

Guntis Berelis, review of Ennie's Braid // Guntis Berelis blog, 1999 [LV]

1990, the Eduards Veidenbaums Award for story Cilda