Several of the submissions contained two separate parts of a book in the same cover. Generally speaking, this leads to a nice interplay between two sections that stand apart, and yet also explicitly relate to one another – seldom, however, did this interplay add any great value to the content. Little Suns on Earth is an exception.
The cover contains, on the left, a text section exploring the life of Austrian nuclear physicist Ronald Richter, and on the right a photo section (literally) opening up (unfolding) the Argentine island where Richter carried out his research. Together, these form a book that hovers between richly illustrated non-fiction and photography embedded in a narrative. Depending on personal interest, the reader can first dive into the surprising history either through the mysterious photos, or through the text – subsequently probably tacking between the two.
Apart from the interaction between the two parts of the book, the jury were impressed by its format, which feels good in combination with the book’s relatively slender thickness. The beautifully printed, deep blacks of the photo section mean that the photos come across very well. In spite of the spectacular nature of the folding cover, the three pull-outs are not over the top, but provide a good addition of depth to the other pages. This is an object that tells a story in a highly convincing way.