Online Encyclopedia
Boris and Arkady Strugatsky
The two brothers Arkady (Арка́дий, August 28, 1925 – October 12, 1991) and Boris (Бори́с, born April 14, 1933) Strugatsky (Струга́цкий; alternate spelling: Strugatski) are Russian science fiction authors who collaborated on their fiction.
| Contents |
Life and work
The Strugatsky brothers (Бра́тья Струга́цкие), as they are usually called, became the best-known Soviet science fiction writers with a well developed fan base. Their early work was influenced by Ivan Yefremov. Their most famous novel Piknik na obochine has been translated into English as Roadside Picnic in 1977 and was filmed by Andrei Tarkovsky under the title Stalker.
Several other works have been translated into English, but did not receive even a fraction of the critical acclaim of Russian audiences. This can be attributed primarily due to failings that inevitably arise when an attempt is made to translate colloquial Russian into a language that does not very well support its grammatical structure; the second reason is that a basic understanding of the rigid mindset promoted by the Stalinist regime is an absolute prerequisite to being able to see the contrast and rejection of uniformity that is evident in every one of Strugatskys' works.
It should be noted, however, that the Strugatsky brothers were and still are popular in many countries, including Poland and Germany, where most of their works were available in both East and West Germany during the division.
The brothers were Guests of Honour at the 1987 World Science Fiction Convention, held in Brighton, England.
The Wanderers universe
Several of the books written by Strugaccy take part in the same universe, unofficialy known as the Wanderers universe (Russian: мир Странников, English transliteration: mir Strannikov).
One of the important story arcs of those books is how the advanced human civilisation covertly steers the development of those considered less advanced. Agents of humans are known as The Progressors . At the same time, some humans suspect that a very advanced spacefaring race called The Wanderers exists and is 'progressing' humanity itself.
The idea of Progressors is similar to the idea of Special Circumstances organisation in The Culture set of novel by Iain M. Banks.
The World of Noon
The World of Noon (Russian: Мир Полдня, English transliteration: Mir Poldnya) is another, perhaps better known, name for the fictional universe serving as a base for many of Strugatsky's texts. The name is due to the title of one of their texts, Полдень, XXII век (English transliteration: Polden', XXII vek; literal translation: Noon, XXII century), which relates several stories from the universe in question, while providing the background "feel" for its style of life. Among the main characteristics of the World of Noon are a very high level of social, scientific, and technological development, high creativity of the general population, and very significant increase in the level of societal maturity compared to either the modern world, or any of those known to exist. For instance, this world knows no monetary stimulation (indeed, money does not exist), yet every person is engaged in a profession that interests him or her.
Not all of Strugatsky's stories occur in the World of Noon; few (most notably Понедельник начинается в субботу (Ponedel'nik nachinaetsya v subbotu / Monday Begins on Saturday) and its continuation, Сказка о Тройке (Skazka o Troyke / The Tale about the Three)) take place in the Soviet times, presumably those (or close to those) during which they were written, and some occur in unspecified realms.
Tributes
Several writers have to a varying degree paid their tribute to the works of Strugatsky brothers.
Sergey Lukyanenko in his dylogy The Stars Are Cold Toys has the main character visit a world that is in many aspects strikingly similar to Earth from The Wanderers universe.
At least one set of short stories written by famous contemporary Russian sf authors was based along the ideas of 'write a continuation to your favourite Strugatsky books'.
See also
- 22nd century
- 23rd century
- Noon Universe
- List of heroic fictional scientists
- Maxim Kammerer
- Planets in science fiction
External links
- in Russian. Includes an ongoing interview with Boris Strugatsky
- in Russian. Includes the complete works in Russian and selected translations
- in English. Includes free library, bibliography of their books translated in English and other languages and awards sections