Wielka, większa i największa (Great, Greater, and Greatest) is a Polish science fiction young adult novel by Jerzy Broszkiewicz, published in 1960 by Nasza Księgarnia.
The novel is divided into three parts. The protagonists experience three titular adventures – rescuing a kidnapped child, saving survivors from a plane crash, and finally, meeting aliens and diplomatically defending humanity from them. In all their adventures, their guide is a talking car, an Opel Kapitän.
The novel was acclaimed by critics, who praised the combination of science fiction with promotion of ethical and moral values. Literary scholars have recognized it as a significant work in the development of Polish modern young-adult literature. In 1963 it was adapted as a film. From 1970 onward, the novel was 5th-grade compulsory reading.
Plot The protagonists, a pair of exceptionally intelligent teenagers, Ika (a diminutive of Irka, named after the author's daughter) and Groszek (the author's alter ego, derived from his nickname Broszek), embark on three adventures where they demonstrate ingenuity, bravery, and compassion. In all their adventures, they are guided by a talking Opel Kapitän car.
In the first adventure, Ika and Groszek hear a radio announcement about the disappearance of a young boy, Jacek Kilar. They are unexpectedly asked to help find him by machines that have previously served humans passively. Their main helper is an old car deteriorating in the yard. Opel Kapitän is an extraordinary car: it drives itself, talks, and assists the children. The boy has been kidnapped by dangerous criminals. The young detectives, with the help of their mechanical friends, rescue the boy and lead to the capture of the kidnappers.
In the second adventure, it soon becomes apparent that the pair's assistance is needed once again. Kapitän takes them to the airport, where they board a plane heading towards Africa. Old Yakovlev, like Opel, can communicate with the children, and they must find the missing crew of a Douglas 125 aircraft that crashed over the Sahara. The missing crew is at risk of death if help does not arrive soon. Fortunately, Ika and Groszek, with the help of intelligent machines, locate the survivors.
During the third adventure, the young friends are appointed representatives of the entire planet Earth. Taken by an intergalactic ship to the planet Della in the Vega system, they must prove to its inhabitants that not all Earthlings have militaristic tendencies, that humans are not a warlike society threatening the cosmic community, and that observed nuclear explosions do not disqualify Earth's civilization from being capable of contact with other civilizations.
History The book's author, Jerzy Broszkiewicz, began writing in 1948; his works over time turned from biographies to science fiction, and were increasingly aimed at younger audience. Wielka, większa i największa was his first science fiction work, and arguably his most impactful work ever. According to Teresa Brzeska-Smerek, the novel initiated a new trend in Broszkiewicz's work ("science fiction-adventure with strongly emphasized ethical-moral values").
The novel was published in 1960 in the Nasza Księgarnia series (The Club of Seven Adventures) with illustrations by . The book had numerous reprints (about fifteen by 1988 and several times since, including in years 1990, 1994, 1997, 2004, 2006 and 2011).
Translations The book was translated into, among other languages:
Bulgarian Czech as Velké, větší, největší (1963 and 1964) Estonian as Suur, suuram, köige suuram (1966) German Russian as Одно другого интересней - Odno drugogo interesnej (lit. One is more interesting than the other; 1964, 1987, 2019) Romanian Serbo-Croatian as Velika, veća i najveća (1964 and 1977) Slovak as Vel’kä vaćśia a najvaćśia (1962 and 1974) Ukrainian as Велика, більша й найбільша -Velyka, bil'sa j najbil’sa (1966) Hungarian
Sequel The characters from this book also appear in another Broszkiewicz novel, (A Long Rainy Week).
Adaptations It also received theatrical adaptations (under the title Planeta Nadziei [Planet of Hope] in 1962 and under the original title in 1966), radio adaptations (under the title Pierwsza wielka przygoda [The First Great Adventure] in 1966 and 1975), a television adaptation (in 1963), and (also in 1963).
Awards and recognition In addition to the numerous reprints, adaptations, and translations, the novel was also a compulsory reading for 5th grade in the Polish People's Republic (from 1970). In 1979, it was included on the Special Hans Christian Andersen Honor List 1979, a list created by the International Board on Books for Young People. Even in the mid-2010s, it remained a recommended reading in Polish schools (for 6th grade).
Reception and analysis
Reviews In 1960, reviewed this novel in Nowe Książki. Her review was highly positive, praising the poetic mood of the novel, though she criticized the excessive "humanization" (anthropomorphization) of the car, Captain, as a minor flaw. She especially praised the third part of the book, the "greatest adventure", calling it "one of the most charming science fiction tales we've read recently". In the same year, a critic using the pseudonym "bem" reviewed the novel for . According to the reviewer, due to its science fiction elements (such as replacing talking animals with talking machines), it could capture children's interest more effectively than traditional fairy tales. He praised the novel as "charming" and "light", as well as the illustrations, which he described as "lovely" and (again) "light". He also praised the book's poetics, aimed at children, and its educational value. That same year, Halina Bazarewska reviewed the novel for . She also gave the book a positive review, observing that it has "enormous educational value".
In 1962, found the structure of the novel intriguing and praised it as "an example of good literary craftsmanship". He particularly valued the book's "intellectual and moral ambitions" and its successful engagement with "moral and ideological" issues relevant to contemporary society. Jakubowski concluded that while the pedagogical and artistic dimensions of the novel could be further debated, it was "undoubtedly a very interesting and ambitious attempt at a modern book for young readers... combining elements of realism, science fiction, and philosophical-moral issues". In 1965, Wanda Krzemińska described the novel as an original, amusing, and educational blend of realism and science fiction. In 1969, Kuliczkowska revisited the book, describing it as a poetic and engaging mix of realism and science fiction that addressed moral and philosophical problems. In 1979, positively reviewed the "greatest adventure", writing that the author "presented [it] poetically and thought-provokingly". In 1983, noted that the book was praised for its intellectual and moral ambitions, and as a convincing introduction of children to contemporary issues.
Main themes
Promotion of positive values Numerous reviewers and critics commented on educational value of the novel, with regards to its promotion of positive values. , for example, classified the book as part of educational science fiction. According to Bazarewska, the book promotes values of goodness and courage and criticizes conflict. Jakubowski identified the book's central theme as the "individual responsibility of humans for the fate of others and the world". Słupska identified book themes such as youth's responsibility for the fate of the world, and the importance of ethical values such as kindness, nobility, and courage. also highlighted the novel's educational value, emphasizing the moral virtues (courage, loyalty, sacrifice, nobility, bravery) represented by the child protagonists. In 1979 Frycie noted that the novel deals with "the concerns of our times and an exaltation of moral values: wisdom, kindness, and courage". In 1983, he revisited the book, describing it as "didactic and philosophical... formally innovative and containing various narrative techniques, diverse genres, and literary conventions". In 1991, Barbara Dyduch wrote about the book for Polonistyka. She identified the core values of the book as "kindness, selflessness, and courage", with the main theme being "doing good selflessly and anonymously". She saw the book as representing more valuable material ("charming, gentle, cheerful") compared to the "aggression" of newer works. , writing in 2002, identifies the central themes of the book as: moral and existential anxiety of contemporary times, human solidarity, and moral responsibility (including the protection of the world from destruction).
Optimistic visions of the youth Kuliczkowska identified the main theme of the book as the "nobility of a child, which allows one to believe in the happy future of the world". Niewiadowski saw the book as a critique of the adult world, where children behaved better than adults, who responded aggressively to the unknown out of fear.
Maciej Wróblewski, writing in 2012, pointed out that while in many of Broszkiewicz's works adults are positive role models for children, this novel reverses that pattern. Here, the adult world "is tainted by evil (injustice, violence, lies)", and the burden of saving humanity falls on the shoulders of innocent youth.
Optimistic visions of the future The novel is also optimistic about the future development of technological society; Halina Bazarewska noted that addresses important issues such as the "success of technical sciences and the associated humanistic vision of future civilized societies". She also viewed the society of the Vegans as illustrating "the boldest dreams of an earthly paradise", where work was reduced solely to intellectual operations, as automation and robotics had eliminated the need for physical labor.
The optimistic visions of the future are nonetheless moderated by warnings dangers of the wrong use of technology and irresponsible policy makers. J. Słupska writing for in 1963 noted the novel message about benefits of peaceful nuclear energy, contrasted with the dangers of using atomic weapons. Niewiadomski and , writing in 1990, interpreted the book as a warning to adults about "the harmful direction of ethical and ideological evolution". Writing after the end of the Cold War, Halina Skrobiszewska noted that the book contains a subtle critique of totalitarian regimes. In 2024, Piotr Konieczny of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction similarly noted that the novel can also be read as a critique of the Cold War and nuclear weapons.
Science fiction themes Several scholars discussed the book in the context of its motif of animated, sentient machines. Bazarewska noted that Broszkiewicz's animated machines successfully filled the role of traditional fairy tale props (like magical fairies or flying carpets). Likewise, referred to the novel as a combination of an "urban fairy tale" and science fiction, where the role of "extraordinary helpers" from fairy tales was taken over by animated technical devices.
Coming from the field of science fiction studies, Niewiadomski and Smuszkiewicz also highlighted the frequent science fiction themes of "the genius invention" and contact with extraterrestrials, which forms a major part of the last adventure. According to Frycie, Broszkiewicz innovatively simplified some science fiction elements, making the genre accessible to younger readers. This novel, he said, initiated Polish science fiction works "with a poetic tinge".
In 2025 Gary Westfahl observed that the broad plot of the third part of the novel bears a striking resemblance to Robert A. Heinlein's 1958 novel Have Space Suit – Will Travel, observing that both stories are "about aliens based in the Vega star system who are convinced by two young humans to give the human race another chance to demonstrate its emerging maturity".
Milestone in Polish youth fiction