Jan Matzal Troska
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Jan Matzal (August 3, 1881, Valašské Klobouky – September 3, 1961), known under pen names J. M. Troska and Jan Merfort, was a Czech writer.
After studies Jan Matzal worked in Škoda Works and other industrial companies. During World War I he was sent to the front because of attempt to cover up a sabotage by factory workers. After war Matzal lived in Yugoslavia (1921-1926), then returned to Czechoslovakia. As a lifelong sufferer from Ménière’s disease he obtained a disability pension in the age of 49. During years 1932–1949, he spent his time by writing.
[edit] Writer
He published his first novel, Boží soud (1935, about village life), under pen name Jan Merfort. Later (1936 – 1943) he used pen name J. M. Troska (Troska means a ruin in Czech, to point out his physical suffering) and published mostly sci-fi novels. In these novels Matzal freely ignored rules of physics, used very simple and naive language, employed dramatic situations and many novel ideas of his time (powerful robots, huge underground cities, nuclear weapons, automatically guided missiles, interplanetary travels, cosmic empires, aliens and telepathy). His books were very popular among by children and teenagers: they are similar to fairy tales where characters are crystal clear and the good always wins.
The books were illustrated by Zdeněk Burian (covers) and Jiří Wowk. Some of his books were reprinted in 1960–70 (illustrated by Miloš Novák) and 1990–2000 (illustrated by Teodor Rotrekl).
