Jürg Brändli

The demise of airline Swissair in 2001 was a huge blow to Switzerland's economy and to the country's morale. It was a sad day for Swiss history when the airline's fleet was grounded on 2 October 2001. "Grounding" is set during the last days of the doomed airline, and tells the story of manager Mario A. Corti's unhappy fate, the last, unlucky CEO at the traditional airline company, as well as of all those nameless people who lost almost everything in the maelstrom of Swissair's downfall: their job, home and their belief in Switzerland.

What do the Pope, a suitcase full of baking powder, four naive friends and the organ mafia have to do with each other? They are all part of a macabre and grotesque story with a lot of heart and a good dose of black humor. Sandpit friends Rico, Sigi, Dave and Glotze dream of cashing in big time. However, they hadn't planned on falling into the clutches of a drug baron and shady organ dealer. Their only chance is to play along with their adversaries - at least until they realize which heart really matters...

Jens Lienhart is an ambitious business student at St.Gallen University, researching his thesis at Refine Trading, an international oil trading company. Then Beatrice, a Greenpeace environmental activist confronts Jens with some crucial facts which are only confirmed by his own research: Refine Trading charters cheap tankers only fit for the scrap heap, some of which have caused huge oil spill accidents. As he's discovering the firms long list of cover-ups things become dangerous ...and personal. Will Jens submit to Greenpeaces pressure to go public? This is a delicate issue as Jens' father is not only on the company board, but also about to be elected for parliament.