Cumhur Orancı

Rüştü Cumhur Orancı (October 28, 1960 – November 21, 2025) was a Turkish writer and literary translator. Known for his contributions to magical realism and urban fantasy in Turkish literature, Orancı worked as a radio operator on merchant vessels for many years before establishing himself as a novelist.

Biography Orancı was born in Istanbul in 1960. He left Turkey prior to the coup d'état of September 12, 1980 and spent time in Europe, where he worked as a journalist. Later, he became a radio operator on merchant vessels, a profession that allowed him to travel the world extensively. These maritime experiences deeply influenced his literary work.

Orancı died in Istanbul on November 21, 2025.

Literary career Orancı published his first novel, Butterfly’in İntihar Seferi (The Suicide Voyage of the Butterfly), in 1991. Written in a magical realist style, the book is a fictionalized account based on his years working at sea.

His second novel, Domingo Garcia'dan Geriye Kalan Öykü (The Story Left Behind by Domingo Garcia), was published in 1995. This was followed in 1996 by Saydam (Translucent), which is considered the first example of the urban fantasy genre in Turkish literature.

After a long hiatus from publishing fiction, Orancı returned with Acı Düşler Bulvarı (Boulevard of Bitter Dreams) in July 2012. The novel was released as part of the "Underground Series" by Ayrıntı Publications.

In addition to his novels, Orancı was a prolific translator, translating works by authors such as David Almond, Glenn Meade, Elmore Leonard, and Kate Braverman into Turkish.