Atlantica - 01.09.2004, Qupperneq 51

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A T L A N T I C A 49
Compiled by Edward Weinman.
A FLY WITH FANGS
He writes novels, plays and scripts. Hallgrímur Helgason — best known for his novel 101 Reykjavik— is Iceland’s most
prominent contemporary author. With the release of Grim, a collection of comic strips and graphic art, the award-
winning writer takes us into the warped and amusing world of his alter ego.
Edward Weinman: One can’t help but notice
the similarities between the look of Grim
and yourself. How did this character come
about?
Hallgrímur Helgason: In Icelandic we say
we "get a fly in the head" when we get a
sudden impulse or an idea. This is exactly
what happened, back in 1995, in Paris. I got
a grim fly in my head, a fly with fangs. But
yes, he looks very much like me. He's my inner man, which can be
quite tiresome, when he's moving around inside me with those
damned teeth.
EW: What’s it like writing in the shadow of Nobel prize-winning
author Halldór Laxness?
HH: What shadow? I'm on the other side of Laxness, the sunny one.
EW: What do you find intriguing about Icelanders?
HH:Every other Icelander is a genius in his own way. The level of
humor, storytelling and verbal wit is pretty high. Everyday people
speak as if great writers had written their words. The other day I
overheard this dialogue between an old couple in Hrísey (Rice
Island), north Iceland, who were admiring the magnificent mountain
Kaldbakur (Cold Mountain).
"Believing moves mountains," the lady said.
The man contemplated for a while until he snapped back:
"Yes. But I beg you: Let my Kaldbakur be."
HH: In your work, you have the knack of turning the mirror on
Icelanders so that they see themselves, warts and all. What’s it like
being a social critic in such a small country?
HH:: It's great fun. People are very supportive and it can also take
you to places you never thought you would see. But sometimes it
weighs on you, having to be on the watch-out all the time.
HH: Movies or novels, which do you prefer?
HH: Novels of course. They don't grow tacky with time. Technically
speaking, a book from 1923 is just as "cool" and easy to read as one
from this year. I seriously doubt that kids in the year 2134 will ever
want to watch some old-fashioned digital junk from 2004. The tech-
nology will have changed. I've lost faith in movies. 28 Days Later was
the last ray of hope. When things like The Lord of the Rings series get
raving reviews and awards the whole industry must be sick. It was
all effect and no soul.
[ IDEAS OF INTEREST IN ICELAND ]
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