“Stan’s awakening” (Przebudzenie Stacha)

A novel by Robert Panasiewicz

SYNOPIS

Introduction

Cultural phenomena of recent decades—such as the popularity of materialist ideologies and the confidence placed in abstract scientific theories—have eroded the philosophical substance of literature. The mainstream of Western prose, including Polish, is moving toward delivering uncomplicated sensory and intellectual experiences. But isn’t the role of literature, in keeping with current trends, reduced to satisfying the needs of a mass readership seeking light and inexpensive entertainment? Literary currents that accompany the rise of liberal capitalism and are geared toward easy consumption seem to answer that question affirmatively. The novel “Stan’s Awakening” presents a contrasting perspective. Beyond its philosophical depth and subversiveness in interpreting reality through a scientific lens, the work also boasts artistic qualities capable of satisfying more discerning tastes.

 Plot Overview

The narrative of the novel unfolds in Poland in May and June of 1990. The protagonist, Stach, like his compatriots, grapples with the reality of political and economic transformations. His university degree, earned three years earlier, proves of little use, and he resorts to piecemeal jobs. A chance encounter on a train returning from Hungary—part of a smuggling expedition—leads him to Kraków. Having visited the city years before on a school trip, he remembers it as a unique place steeped in history, legends, and mysteries.

Events tumble like falling dominoes into a chain of incidents and new acquaintances, which in turn draw him into explorations at the crossroads of science, philosophy, and fantasy. A public popular-science lecture becomes the starting point of Stach's initiation into the dilemmas of contemporary science. It also serves as the opportunity to run into Liza again, a woman he once met while walking in the Tatra Mountains. She becomes the anchor that keeps him in Kraków.

Main Characters

Stach’s fascination with Liza—who lacks the superficial attributes of conventional female charm—is explained by a special allure created from her delicate frame, intelligence, and erudition. To him, she evokes fairy-tale figures such as an Arcadian nymph or the Little Prince. Beyond their spiritual affinity, a relationship with a native of Kraków offers this provincial young man both novelty and a sense of elevation.

Liza is a student of Polish philology who pursues science, especially biology, as a hobby. She is also drawn to history and does not disdain legends in her quest for deeper understanding. She shares an interest in folklore and myths with Hieronim, Stach’s roommate in the temporary lodging they rent. Hieronim is fascinated by all forms of occultism and the paranormal, weaving these into an eclectic and often inconsistent personal worldview—one that more often amuses than irritates Stach. If Stach would liken Liza to a wingless elf, he might describe Hieronim as an overgrown gnome.

The catalyst for Liza’s scientific interests is her friend Edward, a theoretical physics student who experienced a transformation akin to the biblical conversion on the road to Damascus. She met him when he was auditing Polish studies at her faculty. A few months earlier he abandoned even that path and moved to the Bieszczady Mountains to wrestle with his personal demons as a seasonal forestry laborer. Concerned for his welfare, Liza plans to visit him—an undertaking made possible by her acquaintance with Stach. Although Edward never appears directly in the novel, he plays a significant off-stage role, and readers are likely to catch allusions to the poet Edward Stachura in his portrayal.

Gienek—a friend from Lublin, whom Liza affectionately calls Eugeniusz—tracks Stach down in Kraków and pulls him into his own troubles involving car smuggling. A Mercedes stolen in Germany, which Gienek agrees to drive across the border, is sought by both the police and criminals. Stach and his grandfather Henryk, who lives in a small village by the Bug River—and whom Stach describes as an oddball even among eastern frontier eccentrics—suspect that it may not be the car but some hidden cargo inside it that is the real object of pursuit. They speculate that political tensions stemming from transformations in Europe and the Soviet Union might be involved. Before the mystery is resolved in the novel’s final chapters, the smuggled Mercedes provides its share of adventure and suspense.

Stach’s acquaintance with a mysterious old man named Jan Marycz is another significant relationship forged during his stay in Kraków. At first glance, Marycz appears to be a street vagabond; in reality, he is a mathematician whose earlier sympathy for the communist regime cost him his academic career. A regular in the Main Market Square—feeding pigeons while clad in a long coat and sporting windswept gray hair—Marycz’s life story, particularly the details of his origins, becomes the source of one of the profoundest shocks Stach experiences during the two months portrayed in the novel.

Final Chapter and Paranormal Resolution

The last chapter introduces Rudolf Linde, who, nineteen years after the events recounted in the narrative, travels by plane to his homeland. His memories, conversations, and reflections echo the incidents described in “Stan’s Awakening” and offer explanations for the paranormal occurrences that took place during the story. This concluding chapter may also provide readers with consolation after the unsettling revelations about the current state of science and hopeful respite amid their own speculations on the nature of reality.

Recurring Motifs and Philosophical Themes

One recurring motif suggests that magic and unfathomable mysteries may not lie far afield. As the protagonist believes, every person in their own way longs for and suspects the existence of such wonders at the heart of everyday life. This is reflected in the world’s enduring attachment to traditional religions, its fascination with occultism, and various forms of escapism into fantasy. Traces of these magical mysteries can also be found in earnest attempts to answer philosophy’s fundamental questions: Where did the world come from, and what is humanity’s role within it?

According to Stach and Liza, modern science—far from attempting such philosophical inquiries—is like a derailed train whose momentum of esoteric abstractions speeds across a plowed field, destined to grind to a halt. Clearly articulated dilemmas and contentious issues in contemporary physics, mathematics, and biology—when based on authoritative sources—may persuade readers to agree with this assessment. The novel’s lucid explanations of these topics serve to underscore that the critique of modern science and the hope for a metaphorical awakening of the thinking individual were among the primary inspirations for creating “Stan’s Awakening.” 

Kraków’s Significance and Cultural Context

Another important impetus for the author was to emphasize the literary significance of Kraków, a city vital to both Polish and broader cultural contexts. Equally influential was the desire to craft a credible portrait of Poland at one of its most pivotal historical moments. Scattered throughout this narrative backdrop are references to the country’s history and prehistory, with the author complementing literary fiction by grounding it in verifiable, authoritative facts—much as he does when engaging with scientific issues.

Literary Inspirations

Readers attuned to creative echoes will undoubtedly recognize allusions to other literary works that the author, Robert Panasiewicz, drew upon, consciously or otherwise. Chief among these inspirations is Thomas Mann’s “The Magic Mountain.” Less overt but equally deliberate parallels can be found with Jostein Gaarder’s “Sophie's World.”

Writing Process and Publication

Efforts to create “Stan’s Awakening” began in 2005. The novel reached its final form after extensive research into scientific and historical materials, the preparation of popular-science essays, and the composition of literary sketches. Although it cannot be classified as light fiction, the work adheres to the traditional novel format. Addressed primarily to a more demanding readership, it also contains elements designed to satisfy fans of popular literature. The novel spans approximately 104,000 words and comprises twenty chapters. It was published in 2017 by the now-defunct Rozpisani publishing house under the patronage of PWN.

About the Author

The author, Robert Panasiewicz, was born and raised in Poland before emigrating to Australia in 1991. Trained as a geologist, he currently works in financial affairs for the Government of Western Australia. He lives in Perth with his wife and daughter. A literature enthusiast since childhood, he began writing during his university years in Kraków. His debut novel, “Saul,” was published in 2004 by the Polish-Australian Cultural Society.

© Robert Panasiewicz 2024

Cover image: George Grie’s painting “The Stormbringer or Existential Awakening”