Daniel Wisser is this year’s winner – the performance award goes to Katja Gasser – Rotraut Schöberl receives the honorary award from the Vienna book industry
Vienna (OTS) – The Vienna Book Prize, awarded by the Book and Media Industry Section of the WK Vienna, was awarded for the eleventh time on April 23rd. This year it went to the author Daniel Wisser. Katja Gasser received the performance award, and the honorary award from the Vienna book industry went to Rotraut Schöberl.
“The Vienna Book Prize reflects the biodiversity in the Vienna book landscape very well,” says Kristina Macherhammer, chairwoman of the book and media industry section at the WK Vienna: “The three Vienna Book Prizes put the creative work and the respective actors in the spotlight.”
Vienna Book Prize – Daniel Wisser
Daniel Wisser made his debut in 2003 with the verse novel “Dopplergasse eight”. The most recent of his ten novels entitled “012” (zero one two) – a picaresque novel – was published in September last year. His novel “Queen of the Mountains” has been translated into several languages. His works are characterized by a sharp socially critical perspective, which he combines with humor and dramaturgical tricks.
He convinced the jury with his light-hearted and sophisticated narrative style: “With original ideas, narrative sophistication and great linguistic wit, he illuminates topics such as opportunism and conformism, the comedy of everyday life and the uniqueness of human relationships.” The Vienna Book Prize, endowed with 5,000 euros, went to him Daniel Wisser.
Performance Prize – Katja Gasser
The cultural journalist and literary critic Katja Gasser, who was also born in Klagenfurt, has headed the literature department at ORF since 2008 – with a short break – and reports on international contemporary literature. In 2023 she was artistic director of the Austrian guest country appearance at the Leipzig Book Fair. In general, she is known for her critical approach to literature.
The Performance Prize, endowed with 1,000 euros, went to Gasser because of her fearless, self-deprecating and creative program for Austria’s appearance as guest country in Leipzig. The motto “meaoiswiamia” caused many to stumble, think, repeat and then deal with it – that was the jury’s reasoning
Honorary Award of the Vienna Book Industry – Rotraut Schöberl
Rotraut Schöberl is a renowned bookseller, author and literary educator. In 1994 she founded the Leporello bookstore together with Erwin Riedesser, which developed into a cult bookstore and which they ran until 2021. She appeared on breakfast television every week since 2006 until yesterday and gave book tips. In her latest project she is part of the author duo Flores & Santana, who publish crime novels about the Canary Islands.
She impressed the jury with her diverse work: “She has proven that there is a life beyond the arbitrariness, conformity and anonymity of corporations and chain stores. Her passion and commitment to literature is an inspiration to us all.”
About the Vienna Economy Book Prize
The Vienna Book Prize has existed for twenty years and is awarded to authors who have made outstanding contributions to the subject of Vienna, live in Vienna or are Viennese. Until 2020, the award ceremony took place every two years. Since 2023, the Vienna Book Prize has been awarded annually and in the three categories Vienna Book Prize, Performance Prize and Honorary Prize of the Vienna Book Industry. The Performance Prize honors people with new and innovative ideas related to the book industry. Long-term contributions to the Viennese book industry are recognized with the honorary award.
The winners of recent years are: Dietmar Grieser, Manfred Deix, Trude Marzik, Christine Nöstlinger, Gerhard Tötschinger, Friederike Mayröcker, Robert Seethaler, Doris Knecht and Stefan Slupetky. Last year the prize went to Marlene Streeruwitz (Vienna Book Prize 2023), Nicolas Mahler (Performance Prize) and Martina Schmidt (Honorary Prize of the Vienna Book Industry).
Book and Media Industry Section of the WK Vienna
At the end of 2023, the specialist group had 1,122 active members; Of these, 403 were bookstores, used bookstores and online bookstores and 676 were book, art and music publishers. The specialist group is actively committed to promoting book culture and strengthening the industry’s economic conditions. The current challenge is, among other things, to do justice to the digital age and to protect the interests of members in a rapidly changing market environment and to support companies in digital transformation.
Questions & Contact:
Vienna Chamber of Commerce – Press & Newsroom
Mag. Marion Ziegelwanger
01 51450 1335
marion.ziegelwanger@wkw.at
wko.at/wien/news