The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction describes them as 'the best Soviet SF writers' and works such as Hard to be a God, Definitely Maybe, The Snail on the Slope and Monday Begins on Saturday are powerful and poignant novels that continue to amaze and move readers. I was truly astonished-by both the poignancy and the deceptive(?) simplicity of this relatively short novel' Goodreads reviewer,īoris Strugatsky (Author) Arkady Strugatsky (1925-1991) and Boris Strugatsky (1931-2012) Arkady and Boris Strugatsky began to collaborate in the early 1950s after Arkady had studied English and Japanese and worked as a technical translator and editor, and Boris was a computer mathematician at Pulkova astronomical observatory. 'This is the sort of book that you read and then immediately feel the need to lend it to someone you know so that they can experience and enjoy it themselves. The story captured my heart and held my attention' Goodreads reviewer, Once I started reading it today, I couldn't stop. 'A beautifully depressive and wonderfully atmospheric science fiction novel about life on Earth after an alien 'Visitation' that leaves humans with more questions than answers. Like many great books, the meaning of the ending is left up to the reader' Goodreads reviewer, 'The tone of the book is akin to that of some noir works, dark, gritty, getting darker and grittier as the tale wears on. 'A fantastic and creative exploration of what first contact might be like' Goodreads reviewer, A must read for any sci-fi fan' Goodreads reviewer,

'It is a thought-provoking, hard-to-put down masterpiece, most probably the best introduction to Soviet science fiction. 'Such an intriguing setting for me, such an unusual take on alien interaction' Goodreads reviewer,

It still speaks to me' Goodreads reviewer,

'A story of a horrific yet fascinating place, a story of an ordinary and unlikable man just trying to get by, a philosophical interlude on humanity and its significance or lack thereof, of greed and wonder, and the fever dream of the soul scream. Readers can't stop thinking about Roadside Picnic: And it is for her that Red makes his last, tragic foray into the hazardous and hostile depths. Even the nature of his daughter has been determined by the Zone. His life is dominated by the Zone and the thriving black market in the alien products. Red Schuhart is a stalker, one of those strange misfits who are compelled by some unknown force to venture illegally into the Zone and, in spite of the extreme danger, collect the mysterious artefacts that the alien visitors left scattered around. Click here to purchase from Rakuten Kobo The Strugatsky brothers' poignant and introspective novel of first contact that inspired the classic film Stalker

Boris strugatsky