My Own Expedition to Svalbard
Ján writes…
Dear Mrs. Paver:
In December 2023 I bought the Slovak translation of your book, Dark Matter, which intrigued me.
In August 1988 we carried out a small expedition to Svalbard lasting about 20 days. We were five rock climbers from Nitra, Slovakia, and two scientists – parasitologists – from the Comenius University in Bratislava.
We took a train to Moscow and then another train to Murmansk. There we boarded a Russian cargo ship and after two days we got to Barentsburg, where we took two helicopters to the Atomfjella mountains in Svalbard.
We set up a base camp by the sea near an abandoned log-cabin that used to belong to a fur hunter. The Russians gave us two rifles against the bears and a walkie-talkie. Further up we set up another camp on an iceberg, where we did some rock-climbing. While climbing on a small hill we found a stone pyramid, in which there was a tin can containing a paper record of an expedition. The expedition had been done by Cambridge University on the 18th of August 1932. I have a photograph of this document, which I would love to send to you.
Going back we also took a helicopter to Murmansk, this time during big waves at sea.
I have been on many backpacking adventures in my life, including to Finland and Norway (North Cape), a boat trip to Helsinki, and a 20 days long expedition to Peru up to 5000 meters above sea level. Nowadays I bike, about 800-1000 km a year.
With kind regards and best wishes,
Ján Ahlers
Born in 1943
Translated into English by my granddaughter, Tamara
Dear Jan, I was fascinated to read about your 1988 expedition to Svalbard (as well as your other trips) – and what a coincidence that, as in Dark Matter, you set up base camp near an abandoned cabin. Two rifles and a walkie-talkie in the middle of nowhere sounds intrepid indeed; and I envy you for having had that experience. In my research for the book, I don’t remember coming across that record left in a tin can by the 1932 expedition, and when I read your message I briefly thought, Hmm, maybe I could have used that in the story. But it’s a bit late now! I’d love to see the photo, and I’ll get my agent to contact you about that. I hope you enjoyed the book – and thank you (and Tamara) for getting in touch. With very best wishes, Michelle
Upcoming Live Events With Michelle
Incredible… Inspiring… In Person!
Hay Festival Book Club – Dark Matter
Michelle in conversation with Danny Robins - this is a FREE online event!
Timeless titles to offer you a break from the day to day. Can't decide what to read next? Follow your curiosity and join Hay Festival on a journey to imagine the world anew through great literature. Unconstrained by genre or form these are our monthly picks of great books worth reading (or re-reading) right now.
Register to watch free online
Tuesday 14 October, 7–8pm BST
Wimbledon Book Festival
Michelle will discuss her incredible career, from finding inspiration for Wolf Brother on Wimbledon Common to her latest novel Rainforest, which weaves Mayan culture with themes of obsession, gender and rebirth.
The Witching Hour with Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Waterstones Canterbury
Join Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Sheperd-Robinson as they discuss their stories in a brand new collection of ghostly tales called The Witching Hour.
Yeovil Literary Festival
An experience like no other. From a writer like no other...
Successfully published as an adult author, the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (“Wolf Brother”) were her first books for younger readers, followed by her brilliant 5-part series set in the bronze age, Gods and Warriors. On the adult side, her first ghost story, Dark Matter, was a UK bestseller and won massive praise from reviewers and readers alike, as did her second ghost story, Thin Air.
Toppings Bookshop, Ely
It’s nearly Halloween! Where better to get in the Gothic mood than with Michelle’s spine-chilling world of the supernatural? Come along if you’re in the Ely area (book your place first) and enjoy a thrilling evening of shadows!
Venue: St Peter's Church
Broad Street,
Ely
Cambridgeshire CB7 4BB
Doors Open 6.40pm Start Time 7pm
Shadows and Spirits: Writing the Unseen
Step into the shadows with three masters of modern Gothic and supernatural fiction - Michelle, Syd Moore and CJ Cooke - as they explore why dark stories continue to captivate us. From haunted coastlines to Arctic wastelands, and from age-old folklore to the secrets of the human psyche, these acclaimed authors weave tales that blur the boundaries between the real and the uncanny. In this compelling conversation, they’ll discuss the enduring appeal of the Gothic, the influence of myth and landscape, and why stories of ghosts, spirits, and things unseen still resonate in today’s world. Expect insights, chills, and a celebration of fiction that thrives in the shadows. Tickets are limited so get them while you can!
Goldsboro Books
23-27 Cecil Court
London WC2N 4EZ
Time: 6.30pm (doors from 6pm)
Women in Horror Weekend
Come and celebrate Women in Horror Weekend with Waterstones Nottingham! Including author talks from the some of the best women writers in horror, a classic film screening and spooky goody bags and workshops from Lush Nottingham! Michelle will be in conversation with Julia Armfield on Saturday from 5;15pm onwards... See you there!
Waterstones Nottingham
1/5 Bridlesmith Gate
Nottingham NG1 2GR
Te. 0115 9470069
WINTER HAUNTS 2025
Online event! Ghost story, gothic and supernatural fiction day 10:30am - 6:30pm GMT... Michelle with Lucy Rose, Jess Kidd, Emilia Hart, CJ Cooke, Hollie Starling, Emma Glass. Connect with fellow fans of the strange, the eerie, and the otherworldly!
Oxford Literary Festival 2026
The Oxford Literary Festival takes place in venues across central Oxford, such as Blackwell's bookshop, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Weston Library, and Oxford colleges such as Christ Church and Worcester College. The festival includes international authors, journalists, intellectuals, historians, and poets.