Der Schneeleopard

For both, it seems there is no longer any place - neither for the old snow leopard Dschaa-Bars nor for the independent journalist Arsen, who writes against oligarchs and fanatics.

Tschingis Aitmatow's new novel is a major achievement: Kyrgyz myths come alive and find new meaning in our time.

Time seems to have run out for both. The once unconquerable snow leopard Dschaa-Bars feels his strength waning and wants to retreat to an inaccessible valley in the Kyrgyz mountains to die. And Arsen Samantschin, the independent journalist, is overwhelmed by the wave of unleashed commerce in his homeland. The media cowers, oligarchs and fanatics push to the forefront, and his great love, the soprano Aidana, is triumphing as a pop star.

Fate brings Arsen and the snow leopard together in a breathtaking twist: Arab princes have announced a luxurious hunting party. Arsen is to accompany them as a tour manager and interpreter. But not everyone in the village is willing to accept that there are so few winners and so many losers in this deal.