The novel was published in Germany in 2005, receiving the Friedrich Gerstäcker Prize and the Evangelical Literature Prize. In 2006, the Czech edition followed (Mladá fronta Publishing House), and a reissue was released in September 2020 (Práh Publishing House).

 

Mojmir (voice over)

I made a list of problems I’ve got:

1. I’m on my own, and I’ve got no clue where to find some people.

2. People are important, sure, but I’ve gotta be careful ‘cause anyone I meet could be infected.

3. A dead body shouldn’t just be lying around for more than three days without a fridge—so I need to get Grandma Kalabi to Desná and bury her by then.

4. I need to find a car, but I’m not sure I can learn how to drive in just three days.  5. If I manage to drive, I’d better make a map to figure out the route and avoid spots where they might catch me and lock me up in a containment station. Containment station = game over—I can’t let that happen.

6. I need to get my hands on a coffin.

 

The story of an ordinary, barely-adult young man speculates on what could happen if a dangerous pandemic spirals out of control. It’s not about Covid, but about EBS (Erosion of Basic Substances), a virus that causes humanity to literally "disappear." Those who survive have not yet won.

The majority of the plot takes place "far from the noisy crowd" – in the mountains. The raw atmosphere of open mountain valleys and deserted villages is crucial. The mentioned intimacy of the story doesn’t mean a lack of content, and, most importantly – and this must be emphasized – it doesn’t mean a lack of visual richness. On the contrary, the material offers strong, often charged situations that call for a specific visual atmosphere.

Dance of Castaways targets young adults. Mojmír has just finished his apprenticeship, he is 18, and accustomed to city life. Due to the expanding EBS virus, his future plans collapsed just as quickly as those of the young dancer Jesika.
Mojmír must pick up a rifle to survive. Covid 2020/21 confused many of their real peers and showed how vulnerable we are, how quickly we can lose our lives in cotton wool. On the other hand, it sparked the imagination and led us to intense considerations: What if...? How would I behave if...? What practical skills do I have? Would I cope with the collapse of civilization as it has pampered us until today?

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MAIN CHARACTERS:

Mojmír (18) Romani, grew up in an orphanage, has just completed his training as a cook. The pandemic catches him at his step-grandmother’s, who is in the final stage of cancer.

Babi Kalabi (85) strong-willed resident of a mountain hut, Mojmír's step-grandmother.

Jesika (18) an undefinable original from a socially disadvantaged family, a young dancer on her way to a career.

Vašek (10) orphaned Vietnamese boy who hides his childhood vulnerability behind a cheeky facade.

Martin Martin (45) jack-of-all-trades with an engineering mind and golden hands, a devout Evangelist, car enthusiast.