Jaak Tomberg
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Jaak Tomberg | |
|---|---|
 Tomberg at the Tallinn Literature Festival HeadRead (2014) | |
| Born | 30 June 1980 Tartu, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Awards | SFRA Innovative Research Award (2014); University of Tartu Medal (2023); Estonian Cultural Endowment Literature Prize (essayistics, 2023 works; awarded 2024) |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Tartu |
| Thesis | Kirjanduse lepitav otstarve (“The conciliatory purpose of literature”) (2009) |
| Doctoral advisor | Jüri Talvet; Jüri Lipping |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Literary theory; science fiction studies |
| Institutions | University of Tartu; Estonian Literary Museum |
Jaak Tomberg (born 30 June 1980) is an Estonian literary scholar and literary critic whose work focuses on literary theory and science fiction studies. He has been affiliated with the University of Tartu, and previously worked at the Estonian Literary Museum.[1]
In 2014, Tomberg received the Science Fiction Research Association’s annual award for best critical essay-length work (then called the SFRA Pioneer Award, now the SFRA Innovative Research Award) for his article on realism and science-fictional estrangement in William Gibson’s Bigend trilogy.[2][3]
Tomberg graduated in Estonian literature from the University of Tartu (2002) and earned a PhD in 2009 with the dissertation Kirjanduse lepitav otstarve, supervised by Jüri Talvet and Jüri Lipping.[1][4]
According to the University of Tartu, he worked at the Estonian Literary Museum as a research fellow (2005–2013) and has been affiliated with the University of Tartu since 2014, including as a researcher in literary theory and (later) an associate professor of Estonian literature.[1][5]
Research
Tomberg’s research and criticism has addressed the relationships between realism and science-fictional estrangement, and broader questions in contemporary literary theory.[6]
His award-winning article, “On the ‘Double Vision’ of Realism and SF Estrangement in William Gibson’s Bigend Trilogy,” appeared in Science Fiction Studies in 2013.[7][8]
Awards and honours
- SFRA Innovative Research Award (2014; then “Pioneer Award”).[2][3]
- Tartu Kultuurikandja (“culture commentator”) for the 2017 cultural year (awarded 2018).[9]
- University of Tartu Medal (Tartu Ülikooli aumärk) (2023).[10]
- Estonian Cultural Endowment Literature Prize (essayistics; for 2023 works, awarded 2024) for Kuidas täita soovi: realism, teadusulme ja utoopiline kujutlusvõime.[11][12][13]
