Jan Matzal Troska


Jan Matzal, known under pen names J. M. Troska and Jan Merfort, was a Czech writer.
After his studies Jan Matzal worked in the 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 the war Matzal lived in Yugoslavia, then returned to Czechoslovakia. As a lifelong sufferer from Ménière’s disease he obtained a disability pension at the age of 49. During years 1932-1949, he spent his time by writing.

Writer

He published his first novel, Boží soud, under the pen name Jan Merfort. Later he used the pen name J. M. Troska and published mostly science fiction novels. In these novels Matzal freely ignored rules of physics, used very simple and naïve language, employed dramatic situations and many new ideas of his time. His books were very popular among 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 and Jiří Wowk. Some of his books were reprinted in 1960-70 and 1990-2000.

Works

A main-belt asteroid 17776 Troska discovered in 1998 by Czech astronomer Petr Pravec from the Ondřejov Observatory was named after the writer. The name was chosen at the meeting of sci-fi fans Avalcon in Chotěboř on May 5, 2001.