Masha, or the Fourth Reich

Masha, or the Fourth Reich is a dystopian novel by Lithuanian/Ukrainian author Jaroslav Melnik. Published in 2013 in Lithuanian (as ‘Maša, arba Postfašizmas’) by the largest publishing house company group in the Baltic states Alma littera, it was shortlisted for the Book of the Year Awards. 18 reviews have been published about this novel. Critics call this thriller ‘a shocking book that can be a bestseller in Western countries’. ‘In this book the author fulfilled Hitler's dream’.^[1] In 2016 the novel was published in Ukraine.

Plot introduction

Hitler dreamed of a Reich. If the National Socialists had realized their dream, what would the "post-fascist" society look a thousand years later? After all, already in the 20th century the inmates of Auschwitz had lost their human status and were debased to the level of animals, their body parts used to fulfill the consumer needs of the 'higher race'. The result? In a thousand years the inferior race has transformed into human-like animals called stors.

At the start of this story, the main character is a journalist of an official newspaper; later he gradually joins with a group who can no longer abide the horrifying legacy of the past. Little by little his conscience awakes. The plot revolves around the main character and what happens when he falls in love with a she-stor Masha.

Reception

“Masha, or the Fourth Reich” – a novel which overwhelms and makes one become more sensitive. Openly written and at the same time sharp this story will leave thousands of thoughts in one’s head and will raise the consciousness in every reader" (Planet News, review). ^[2]

External links

• A brief look inside the book

References