A beguiling story of espionage and its relationship with the entertainment industry. Penned in Slovakian, translated to English. This is an extremely interesting glimpse into intrigue and its far-reaching initiatives, such as Elvis. "The Stars We Wrecked," takes readers on a journey through the would-be lens of an undercover operative performing clandestine work intended to guide Elvis Presley's selection of music and resultant performances to the betterment of the Nation. A fictional testament to the dark-side of fame where politics and personalities warp time and space relative to the talent craved by millions. Using Elvis Presley as an example, Peter - a field agent on a mission to foster sociologically aesthetic musicians - approaches the King to gain his trust. The goal: elevate the minds of listeners. This is a conceptual narrative where the sociological paradigm of entertainment and fame and its resultant fan-pop enter the political and clandestine operations machine. Who will win? Translated by: Anna Jurisova Illustrative Cover by: Petra Nemethova.
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About the Author: I was born in 1979 (August 22) in Ilava, Slovakia. I spent first decade of my childhood primarily in Dubnica nad Váhom and Nová Dubnica, Slovakia. I attended the school from 1986 and 1994 in Dubnica. My brother was born in 1987. In 1989, I become a member of the young pioneer organization of the Czechoslovakia (every child had to be a member and it was the last year when communist state gave the diploma before the Velvet Revolution). I tried to write my first novel in summer of 1992 (influenced by historical novel Čachtická pani, The Cachtic´s lady by Jozo Niznánsky). Only my teacher read it and she noticed my talent with the written word and encouraged me to pursue my literary ambitions. Then I studied at Gymnasium Ľudovíta Stúra in Trenčín from 1994 to 1998 (the Gymnasium in the Slovak education system is a type of secondary school with a strong emphasis on academic learning, comparable with the British grammar school system or with prep schools in the United States). When I was 15 I saw my first piece of writing appear in print - a poetry published in the school newspaper. At the age of 16 I become an editor in the school newspaper.
I studied English language two months in Toronto in the summer of 1996 (finished with certificate Intermediate Level II.)
In 1996 and 1998, I received twice the Mayor of the City Trenčín´s prize for poetry in Joseph Branecký´s literary contest. Following 1996´s success, publisher Ludoprint published my first book of poetry Črepy 20. storočia (Shards of 20th century, 224 pages, ISBN 8096772104) in 1997. Around 100 pages poem Cesta pokračuje (The Journey continues) from this book received the prize in European Union´s contest, Europa at the school" in 1997. The short story Apuesta won the prize in the best Slovak junior literary contest Literárny Kezmarok in 1998.
I graduated from Comenius University with a Master of Science in environmental science in Bratislava in 2005. I worked briefly for homeless center in winter 2006 in Bratislava. From 2005 to 2011, I was a PhD student at the Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Science, the postgraduate study program in environmental geochemistry. Theme of my dissertation was "Study of Thallium forms and distribution of Thallium in environmental samples by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry". I successfully defended my dissertation, first by giving a talk, then by answering questions posed to me by my committee in March 2011.
In november 2015, publisher Marencin PT published my prose "Rozdrásané duse" (Lacerated Souls, 288 pages, ISBN 9788081145421) in Slovakia.
I published my on-line poems, stories and novels on the website www.milankalis.sk in Slovak language from 2009.
About the Author: Author Milan Kalis love for Elvis Presley, a central character in his novel The Stars We Wrecked, began with a love of music set in motion as a child. At the age of 5, Kalis was introduced to the Beatles and their A Hard Day's Night album. His love of music began amid the backdrop of a floundering Communist Czechoslovakia, modern day Dubnica nad Váhom and Nová Dubnica, Slovakia. Milan Kalis was born in 1979 (August 22) in Ilava, former Czechoslovakia, Slovakia now. In 1996 and 1998, Kalis received twice the Mayor of the City Trencin's prize for poetry in Jozef Branecky's literary contest. Following 1996´s success, publisher Ludoprint published his first book of poetry "Shards of 20th century," in 1997. The short story "Apuesta" won the prize in Slovak literary contest Literarny Kezmarok in 1998. Kalis graduated from Comenius University in Bratislava with a Master of Science in environmental science in 2005. In March 2011, he successfully defended his dissertation in the postgraduate study program in environmental geochemistry at the Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Science.
