German version of the Kalevala story

[Sven-Oliver Troschke]

A happy new year to all of you!

Since there was only one comment on the German edition
of Don Rosa’s Kalevala story on this list I thought I might
throw in my two cents:

First of all I want to say that I like the story very much.
I like the story as such, but it is a special pleasure to read
it with all the background information in mind which I
could collect from this mailing list.

The German publisher decided to produce the story in a
single issue (Micky Maus weekly 1/2000) in contrast to
Scandinavia where it came out in three consecutive issues.
And there were no advertisements within the story, which
we otherwise usually see. So we could read the complete
story in one go, which is a good thing. Furthermore the
background of the pages (the part which usually is plain
white) is coloured in red with yellow flashes of lightning.
One may like that or not, it sure added something special
to that special story.

(BTW in this issue of Micky Maus they started to credit the
translator of the stories as well (up to now only the author
and the artist were credited).)

And this story’s translator Peter Daibenzeiher did a very
good job: He employed the rune-o-metric style of the
Kalevala and was very sensible for the corresponding old-
fashioned language and the atmosphere thereby created.
Occasionally he dropped in some modern elements in that
ancient language, which was according to Don Rosa’s plans,
as I remember from one of his earlier postings. And, yes,
these parts of the dialog have been printed in a special font
as it was intended by Don. Additionally, all the Finnish
names have been used and were not transformed into funny
names.

Unfortunately, I feel that one major error occured in the
translation process. It concerns the Yukon-dialog which has
been discussed earlier on this list. From the German translation
you really get the impression that Vainy offers Scrooge
to take him back to (a heavenly version of) the Klondike
and to Goldie. In the following I will try to give a re-trans-
lation of that part, where Scrooge holds tight to the Sampo
while Vainy’s ship is going up into the sky:

V: Beyond the northern light lies your aim! But consider
     carefully if you are really ready to leave all transient
     things. Because existence ends here!

V: If this should be your will, I will give you a present,
     for you have helped me, freed me from the chains and
     created the Sampo.

V: The secret of your deepest dreams, even the well of
     your strength, I see it and can feel it, that icy far off
     place, grown stiff by frost, but for your joy, its image
     often warms your chest.
S: The ... Yukon?

V: To that place I will abduct you, friend, which you have
     become to me, eternal wealth awaits you, and a heart,
     which already hopes since long, long awaits your coming
     back. Now tell me, are you ready?

S:  No.

I am afraid that this translation is quite contrary to Don’s
intention of what is going on. And I must admit that I was
more than puzzled when I first read this part of the story,
which would not have happened with Don’s original text.

If my feeling is right, maybe it is possible to correct this part
before the story is re-printed in the beautiful Don Rosa album
series which we have here in Germany.

And maybe we will be able to see the extra page of the Fin-
nish edition (or even the 6 extra pages of the coming Aku
Ankka reprint) in our album series as well. Meanwhile, can
somebody please tell us non-Finns how Scrooge gets back
his hat in the end of the story. This bit seems to be part of
that extra page in the Finnish book edition, and we will not be
able to see it in the near future.

But again I want to emphasise that the story as such as well
as this publication is very enjoyable. A brilliant opener for
the year 2000.

All the best
Sven