The International Literary Prize "History of the Future" announces a partnership with the AST publishing house.

      MOSCOW, October 23, 2025 – The international literary prize in the field of science fiction "History of the Future", established by the ATOM Foundation, announces a strategic partnership with Russia's largest publishing house – AST. The joint work within the prize will be aimed both at supporting authors and at developing the genre of children's science fiction literature.

      The "Best Short Story for Children and Young Adults" category is intended to become a catalyst for the creation of high-quality, contemporary science fiction for children. Its goal is not only to find and recognize the best works, but also to stimulate the development of this important genre, which fosters in the younger generation an interest in science, technology, space and critical thinking.

      "For us, as the founders of the prize, it is extremely important to look to the future, and who, if not children, are its main creators," notes Andrey Gelasimov, writer and screenwriter, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, chair of the jury of the "History of the Future" prize. "Science fiction is not just entertainment. It is a unique tool that develops imagination and the courage to dream of something great. Together with AST we want to lay the foundation for a new generation of thinkers, inventors and explorers. We believe that it is in children's minds that the boldest stories of the future are born."

      As a key partner of the prize, AST will undertake to publish and promote the works of the laureates and finalists, ensuring them the widest possible readership.

      "It is a great honor for AST to become a partner of the 'History of the Future' prize. We share its values and see a huge need for high-quality international and domestic science fiction for children," comments Sergey Tishkov, director of the "Children's Planet" department at AST. "Modern children need their own heroes, their own challenges and their own spacecraft. By supporting this category, we are investing in the future of literature and in the minds of our children. We are confident that it is precisely science fiction, with its ability to anticipate technologies and model possible scenarios, that best prepares a child for life in a rapidly changing world. Our shared task is to give them the best books for this journey."

      It should be recalled that the official presentation of the prize took place in December 2024 in Moscow at the non/fictioN26 intellectual literature fair. From February to July 2025 submissions were accepted, and to date, out of more than 2,400 entries, 27 of the best stories have made the shortlist. The geography of the finalists underscores the scale of the prize and the widespread interest in the science fiction genre. Writers from Russia, countries in Africa, Asia, South America, China and Europe submitted their works.

      ABOUT THE "HISTORY OF THE FUTURE" PRIZE:

      The "History of the Future" Prize, established by the ATOM Foundation for the Promotion of Scientific, Educational and Communication Initiatives under the auspices of the state corporation ROSATOM, is an important platform for finding fresh ideas and voices in the science fiction genre, with an emphasis on stories filled with technological optimism. It is intended to inspire authors to create worlds where science and progress become drivers of positive change, and where bold ideas resonate with readers' hearts. The prize promotes the popularization of science fiction that reveals the possibilities of the future not as a threat, but as a chance for the harmonious development of humanity and technology.

      The total prize fund is over 5 million rubles. The prize is awarded in three categories: "Best Short Story", "Best Short Story for Children and Young Adults" and "Best Short Story in a Foreign Language."

      More information is available on the prize website fhistory.ru.

      ABOUT AST PUBLISHING:

      AST publishing was founded in 1990 and celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2025.

      Among its authors are Yevgeny Vodolazkin, Sergey Lukyanenko, Zakhar Prilepin, Edvard Radzinsky, Yuri Polyakov, Sergey Tarmashev and others. AST holds exclusive rights to publish works by outstanding children's authors Vladimir Suteev and Eduard Uspensky, as well as works by leading authors in the field of educational and developmental literature: Olga Uzorova, Olesya Zhukova and Irina Chesnova.

      Authors published by AST are laureates of awards such as Bolshaya Kniga, Yasnaya Polyana, Slovo, Licey, Zdravomyslie and many others.

      According to the Russian Book Chamber, in 2024 AST published more than 10,000 titles with a total print run of almost 42 million copies.