Doom 94
# Doom 94

Doom 94 (Latvian: Jelgava 94) is a semi-biographical novel by Latvian writer Jānis Joņevs about the generation living in Jelgava, Latvia in the 1990s that searches for their own identity and are fans of alternative culture. This is his debut novel. Since 2016, this book has been translated into 11 languages and a movie was released in September 2019.

## Plot

The novel begins on April 5, 1994, the death of Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana. Cobain's death influences youngsters living in Jelgava, Latvia to begin listening to heavy metal music. This is also the time that Latvia has recently regained its independence from the Soviet Union, causing economic and social upheaval. The book's main character Janis turns to the alternative lifestyle offered by an emergent heavy metal scene.

## Translations

Since 2016 the original book ‘’Jelgava 94’’ has already been translated into 11 languages – French, Slovenian, Norwegian, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, English, Bulgarian, Spanish, German and Finnish.

Translations of the ''Doom 94'' book :

| Language | Title | Publisher | Translator | Year of release |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| French | "Metal" | GAIA Editions | Nicolas Auzanneau | 2016 |
| Slovenian | "Metalci ‘94" | Miš | Jedrt Lapuh Maležič | 2016 |
| Norwegian | "Fordømte 94" | Bokbyen Forlag | Snorre Karkonen-Svensson | 2016 |
| Estonian | "Jelgava 94" | Randvelt | Mikk Grins | 2017 |
| Lithuanian | "Jelgava 94" | Kitos knygos | Jurgis Algimantas Banevičius | 2018 |
| Hungarian | "Metál" | Vince Kiadó | Tölgyesi Beatrix | 2018 |
| English | "Doom 94" | Wrecking Ball Press | Kaija Straumanis | 2018 |
| Bulgarian | "Йелгава 94" | Izida | Albena Metodieva | 2018 |
| Spanish | "Jelgava" | Abismos casa editorial | Ana Karenina O. Contreras | 2020 |
| German | "Jelgava 94" | parasitenpresse | Bettina Bergmann | 2022 |
| Finnish | "Doom 94" | Siltala | Annika Suna | 2022 |

## Awards

### 2014

* European Union Prize for Literature
* Annual Latvian Literature Award in category "Best Debut’’
* Latvian National Television award "Kilograms kultūras"
* Latvian National Library Children and Young Adults Jury award, 15+ category
* Bookshop's "Jānis Roze" most sold book of 2014

### 2015

* AKKA/LAA "Author award of 2015"

## Film

Work on a film adaptation of the book called "Jelgava 94" began in 2017. The film was released in September 2019. Movie scenes were filmed in many locations throughout Riga and Jelgava, and at a former school in Priekuļi Municipality. The main actor was Bruno Bitenieks who was a student at Riga Teika Secondary School. The film received funding from the National Film Center and is supported by Jelgava Municipality. The film was produced by Jura Podnieka studija.

| Scriptwriter | Matīss Gricmanis |
| - | - |
| Cinematographer | Aigars Sērmukšs |
| Production designer | Aivars Žukovskis |
| Producer | Antra Cilinska |
