Victor Dixen
Victor Dixen is the author of many bestselling French novels, including four series for young adults: THE STRANGE CASE OF JACK SPARK, ANIMALE, PHOBOS and VAMPYRIA; and he is a two-time winner of the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire, the most prestigious science-fiction and fantasy award in France. Born to a French mother and Danish father, Victor grew up in the city of Versailles. As an adult, he has lived in Denver, Dublin, Singapore, and New York City. He now divides his time between Paris and Washington, DC with his family and his two inquisitive cats.
Instagram: @VictorDixen
TikTok and Twitter: @VictorDixen
Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?
I belong to a generation of writers who have been very influenced by visual media, movies as well as TV and even video games. Specifically, when writing Vampyria, I had two period films in mind: Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick, and Dangerous Liaisons by Stephen Frears. Both are exquisite recreations of the 18th Century, down to every costume detail. Stephen Frears's movie is based on the novel of the same name by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, a literary masterpiece, both cruel and delicate, that captures the spirit of the decadent aristocratic world just before the French Revolution. Translating this very French matter to the English language and to the screen seemed to be an impossible feat. But Stephen Frears, Glenn Close, John Malkovich and the rest of the cast managed perfectly. This was an inspiration for me during the process of translating The Court of Shadows to English.
Is there a work of art that you love. Why? Have you ever visited it in person?
I did part of my education in Versailles. This allowed me to become very familiar with the château and the town which, even today, lives in its shadow. I have lived in many places (Ireland, Singapore, several states in the US), but everywhere the word “Versailles” seems to hold the same fascination and power.
This is because Versailles is really a work of art. It is also the vision of a man: Louis XIV. At the beginning of his reign, there was nothing where the castle stands today – just a swamp. Versailles is a miniature dream reflection of the Copernican universe, as it was discovered at the very time when Louis was alive. This dream went through the centuries without gaining any wrinkles. There is something truly vampiric about Versailles!
Is there another profession you would like to try?
I would very much like to be an astronaut. As members of the human species, we have an exploration instinct deeply anchored in our hearts. Throughout history, this instinct pushed us to always look further: beyond this mountain, this river, this sea. During the time of Louis XIV, great travelers explored the Earth’s remotest corners. Nowadays, technology enables us to travel to other planets, to other worlds. I find it fascinating.
The perks of being a writer are that I can pretend to be an astronaut, and to live the very first trip to Mars before it happens for real! This is the topic of my science fiction series, Phobos.
Do you have another artistic outlet in addition to your writing? Do you sew? Paint? Draw? Knit? Dance?
I've always liked to draw. I think I have a visual imagination. Before dedicating my time to writing, as a teenager, I created several home-made comics. And I've always been an avid reader of comics, too (or “bandes-dessinées” as we say in French: especially Valerian and Corto Maltese). Nowadays, I still draw as a hobby, but I take equal pleasure in collaborating with very talented visual artists to create professional comics. I'm currently working on two comic series as a scriptwriter: the adaptation of my Phobos sci-fi series, and a spinoff set in the world of Vampyria, titled Vampyria Inquisition.
Do you speak a second language? Do you think differently in that language? Does it influence your writing?
French is my native language. I write all my novels in French, before they are translated to other languages. Being a fluent English speaker, I can then work with the French-to-English translator in order to find the best way to translate images, metaphors and other idiomatisms. It was a pleasure to recreate The Court of Shadows story for the American audience, with the translator Françoise Bui.
