UKRAINIAN FANTASTIC PARADIGM: TRANSFORMATION OF WORLDVIEW CODES AND STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING POSTCOLONIAL DEFORMATIONS OF THE BOOK MARKET

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of the contemporary Ukrainian fantastic paradigm as a significant component of national sociocultural discourse from 2000 to 2025. The study posits that the mythological worldview basis of a fantastic work functions as the primary determinant of its national affiliation. A distinction is drawn between the technological imperial myth, which operates within an imperial paradigm and is often manifested in postmodern or comic forms, and the natural national myth, which constitutes the foundation of an anti-imperial identity. Through a comprehensive analysis of the Ukrainian book market, the research identifies a systemic pattern of postcolonial marginalization and publishing discrimination. Statistical data encompassing nearly 200 publishing houses demonstrates that only 14% have shown sustained interest in the development of original Ukrainian speculative fiction, while a significant portion of the market remained dependent on Russian translations and inherited worldview codes until 2022. The study also examines the trajectories of more than 600 authors, classified into distinct chronological waves: prior to 2004, 2005–2009, 2010–2013, and the post-2014 period. Particular attention is devoted to the transformation of authorial strategies following key historical ruptures–the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, and the full-scale Russian invasion of 2022. The findings reveal a decisive shift from postmodern stylistic mimicry toward a national worldview matrix characterized by psychological complexity, ethical depth, and the active actualization of mythopoetic structures. The article concludes that the contemporary Ukrainian fantastic paradigm has emerged as a powerful instrument of cultural decolonization, capable of overcoming ideological determinism and establishing a distinct literary space that reflects the resilience and identity of Ukrainian society.