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The Noon Universe #4
醿儨醿斸儦醿樶儛 醿︶儧醿斸儬醿椺儩醿戓儛
醿犪儯醿♂儤 醿涐儸醿斸儬醿氠償醿戓儤醿�, 醿儧醿斸儜醿樶儭 - 醿戓儩醿犪儤醿� 醿撫儛 醿愥儬醿欋儛醿撫儤 醿♂儮醿犪儯醿掅儛醿儥醿斸儜醿樶儭 醿犪儩醿涐儛醿溼儤 "醿儨醿斸儦醿樶儛 醿︶儧醿斸儬醿椺儩醿戓儛" - 醿♂儛醿涐償醿儨醿樶償醿犪儩 醿め儛醿溼儮醿愥儭醿⑨儤醿欋儤醿� 醿熱儛醿溼儬醿樶儭 醿溼儛醿儛醿犪儧醿濁償醿戓儤醿�. 醿樶儭 XX 醿♂儛醿ａ儥醿ａ儨醿樶儭 60-醿樶儛醿� 醿儦醿斸儜醿ㄡ儤 醿撫儛醿樶儸醿斸儬醿� 醿撫儛 醿愥儦醿戓儛醿� 醿涐儛醿ㄡ儤醿溼儞醿斸儦醿� 醿涐儥醿愥儶醿犪儤 醿償醿溼儢醿ａ儬醿愥儶 醿掅儛醿涐儩醿樶儛醿犪儛. 醿涐儤醿ａ儺醿斸儞醿愥儠醿愥儞 醿愥儧醿樶儭醿�, 醿斸儭醿愥儛 醿犪儩醿涐儛醿溼儤, 醿犪儩醿涐償醿氠儴醿樶儶 醿撫儲醿斸儭醿愥儶 醿欋儤, 醿欋儩醿涐儯醿溼儤醿♂儮醿ａ儬醿� 醿涐儧醿愥儬醿椺儠醿斸儦醿濁儜醿樶儭 醿撫儛醿溼儝醿犪償醿曖儤醿撫儛醿� 醿愥儧醿撫償醿溼儤 醿儦醿樶儭 醿ㄡ償醿涐儞醿斸儝, 醿樶儩醿氠儛醿� 醿撫儛醿樶儨醿愥儺醿愥儠醿� 醿♂儛醿戓儹醿濁儣醿� 醿犪償醿熱儤醿涐儤醿� "醿ａ儸醿涐儤醿溼儞醿ａ儬醿濁儜醿愥儭醿� 醿撫儛 醿♂儤醿撫儛醿涐優醿氠償醿�", 醿犪儛醿♂儛醿� 醿愥儦醿斸儝醿濁儬醿樶儯醿氠儛醿�, 醿♂儛醿濁儶醿愥儬醿� 醿濁儭醿⑨儛醿⑨儩醿戓儤醿� 醿愥儲醿償醿犪償醿� 醿愥儠醿⑨儩醿犪償醿戓儤.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
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About the author
Arkady Strugatsky
491听books1,814听followersThe brothers Arkady Strugatsky [Russian: 袗褉泻邪写懈泄 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈泄] and Boris Strugatsky [Russian: 袘芯褉懈褋 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈泄] were Soviet-Russian science fiction authors who collaborated through most of their careers.
Arkady Strugatsky was born 25 August 1925 in Batumi; the family later moved to Leningrad. In January 1942, Arkady and his father were evacuated from the Siege of Leningrad, but Arkady was the only survivor in his train car; his father died upon reaching Vologda. Arkady was drafted into the Soviet army in 1943. He trained first at the artillery school in Aktyubinsk and later at the Military Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow, from which he graduated in 1949 as an interpreter of English and Japanese. He worked as a teacher and interpreter for the military until 1955. In 1955, he began working as an editor and writer.
In 1958, he began collaborating with his brother Boris, a collaboration that lasted until Arkady's death on 12 October 1991. Arkady Strugatsky became a member of the Union of Soviet Writers in 1964. In addition to his own writing, he translated Japanese language short stories and novels, as well as some English works with his brother.
Source: Wikipedia
Arkady Strugatsky was born 25 August 1925 in Batumi; the family later moved to Leningrad. In January 1942, Arkady and his father were evacuated from the Siege of Leningrad, but Arkady was the only survivor in his train car; his father died upon reaching Vologda. Arkady was drafted into the Soviet army in 1943. He trained first at the artillery school in Aktyubinsk and later at the Military Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow, from which he graduated in 1949 as an interpreter of English and Japanese. He worked as a teacher and interpreter for the military until 1955. In 1955, he began working as an editor and writer.
In 1958, he began collaborating with his brother Boris, a collaboration that lasted until Arkady's death on 12 October 1991. Arkady Strugatsky became a member of the Union of Soviet Writers in 1964. In addition to his own writing, he translated Japanese language short stories and novels, as well as some English works with his brother.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,133 reviews
May 13, 2025
Different planet, different epoch, different consciousness, different psychology 鈥� how will observers or spies or watchmen from the future Earth succeed in their mission of controlling the alien history even if it resembles so much our own medieval period of dark ages.
This fine excerpt excellently conveys the picturesque atmosphere of the novel. And of course this exotic place is a secret base of the advanced earthlings.
Can historical processes be changed from the outside? Do the outsiders have the moral rights to change them?
These aren鈥檛 rhetorical questions 鈥� these questions are actual here and now, in our own home world.
To intrude is the main purpose of all the intruders.
In the depths of the forest, a mile away from the road, beneath an enormous tree that had dried up of old age, stood a lopsided hut made out of enormous logs, surrounded by a blackened picket fence. It had been here since the beginning of time, its door was always shut, and there were crooked idols carved from whole tree trunks around its rotting porch. This hut was the most dangerous place in the Hiccup Forest. It was said that this was the very place to which the ancient Pekh would come every twelve years to deliver his offspring, after which he would immediately crawl beneath the hut and expire, so the hut鈥檚 entire cellar was filled with black poison. And when the poison seeped out鈥攖hat鈥檚 when the end would come. It was said that on stormy nights, the idols dug themselves out of the ground, came out onto the road, and signaled to passersby. And it was also said that sometimes the windows shone with unnatural light, sounds resounded through the forest, and a column of smoke reached up from the chimney to the sky.
Not long ago, Irma Kukish, a sober simpleton from the farmstead of Plenitude (in common parlance, Stinkfield) foolishly wandered by the hut at night and peered into the windows. He came home completely incoherent, and after he recovered a little, said that the hut was full of bright light and that a man with his feet on the bench sat behind a crude table and guzzled from a barrel held in one hand. The man鈥檚 face hung all the way down to his waist and was spotted all over. It was obvious that this was the Holy M铆ca himself, before his conversion to the faith, a polygamist, drunkard, and blasphemer. To look at him was to be afraid. A sickly sweet smell wafted out the window, and shadows moved across the trees. People gathered from all over to hear the idiot鈥檚 story. And it all ended when the storm troopers came, bent his elbows to his shoulder blades, and hustled him off to the city of Arkanar. But people still talked about the hut, and it was now called nothing but the Drunken Lair.
This fine excerpt excellently conveys the picturesque atmosphere of the novel. And of course this exotic place is a secret base of the advanced earthlings.
鈥淭he essence of man,鈥� Budach said, chewing slowly, 鈥渓ies in his astonishing ability to get used to anything. There鈥檚 nothing in nature that man could not learn to live with. Neither horse nor dog nor mouse has this property. Probably God, as he was creating man, guessed the torments he was condemning him to and gave him an enormous reserve of strength and patience. It is difficult to say whether this is good or bad. If man didn鈥檛 have such patience and endurance, all good people would have long since perished, and only the wicked and soulless would be left in this world. On the other hand, the habit of enduring and adapting turns people into dumb beasts, who differ from the animals in nothing except anatomy, and who only exceed them in helplessness. And each new day gives rise to a new horror of evil and violence.鈥�
Can historical processes be changed from the outside? Do the outsiders have the moral rights to change them?
These aren鈥檛 rhetorical questions 鈥� these questions are actual here and now, in our own home world.
To intrude is the main purpose of all the intruders.
July 4, 2022
鈥淐an you read? Off to the gallows! Write verses? Off to the gallows! Know your multiplication tables? Off to the gallows, you know too much!鈥�Obviously, the question is twofold here. First, how long can you stand to be an impartial observer in the face of atrocities? Second, how long before the mask you wear becomes your real face? And I suppose a logical third: what use is being a 鈥済od鈥� when your powers cannot be used?
鈥淭he worst thing is to lose your humanity, Anton. To sully your soul, to become hardened. We鈥檙e gods here, Anton, and we need to be wiser than the gods from the legends the locals have created in their image and likeness as best they could. And yet we walk along the edge of a swamp. One wrong step鈥攁nd down you go in the dirt, and you won鈥檛 be able to wash it off your whole life.鈥�
In our utopian Earth future, observers are sent to an alien human feudal culture to observe and record history with the strict mandate of compulsory noninterference. They are sure they got this figured out 鈥� they know the stages the culture should go on its way to utopia, and prior interference attempts have been pointless. But Anton - Don Rumata in his alien disguise 鈥� can only helplessly watch feudalism sliding into fascism (and a touch Stalin/Beria feel 鈥� according to Boris Strugatsky, the antagonist Don Reba used to be Don Rebia - not so subtle anagram of ) for so long, seeing the theory for how things should develop not quite hold up while people are dying and are tortured and everything sliding into militant ignorance and oppression. Is impartiality in this case nothing but a callous indifference borne out of privilege?
鈥淗ow I鈥檇 like to let out some of the hatred that鈥檚 accumulated over the past twenty-four hours, but it looks like I鈥檒l have no luck. Let us remain humane, forgive everyone, and be calm like the gods. Let them slaughter and desecrate, we鈥檒l be calm like the gods. The gods need not hurry, they have eternity ahead.鈥�
Anton/Rumata sees this place for the backwards ignorant dirty place that it is, but also can鈥檛 help but notice its slide into a place that not only embraces base uneducated vulgar and superstitious mediocrity but also is actively targeting and stomping out any tiny sparks of progress and enlightenment, embracing first the rule of the lowest common denominator and eventually blind and intolerant theocracy. His friends are being tortured and disappeared, and he finds it harder and harder to hold on to his imperial observer mantle. And at the same time he鈥檚 recognizing with sheer horror how much easier it becomes for him to act like what鈥檚 expected of an aristocrat in Arkanar - cruel, brash, entitled, thoughtless and utterly debauched. The mask is becoming a face, and it鈥檚 terrifying and yet tempting.
And wouldn鈥檛 the *most human* reaction in this nightmare be to abandon the pretense of objectivity, to snap, to rampage, to feel helpless anger not just at those who commit the atrocities but also at those who blindly take it, who keep their heads down, find ways to eek out the meager existence and refuse to see that things can change?
鈥淭he cold-blooded brutality of those who slaughter, and the cold-blooded meekness of those who are slaughtered. The cold-bloodedness, that鈥檚 the worst thing. Ten people stand around, transfixed with horror, and meekly wait, while another one comes by, picks his victim, and cold-bloodedly slaughters him. These people鈥檚 souls are full of rot, and each hour of meek waiting contaminates them even more.鈥�
鈥淥n the other hand, the habit of enduring and adapting turns people into dumb beasts, who differ from the animals in nothing except anatomy, and who only exceed them in helplessness. And each new day gives rise to a new horror of evil and violence.鈥�
It鈥檚 a tough book, full of things that are unpleasant, disquieting and very uncomfortable. The observations Anton/Rumata makes are harsh and yet very true. You can鈥檛 help but feel frustration and helpless anger seeing people in the state of sheeplike submission, not only ignorant but wholeheartedly embracing that ignorance and complacency. You can鈥檛 help but feel at least some disappointment in humanity, and question seeing people as 鈥減eople鈥�, 鈥渢he masses鈥�, rather than individuals.
鈥淗e heard the storm trooper stomping indecisively behind him and suddenly caught himself thinking that insulting words and careless gestures now came naturally to him, that he was no longer playing the role of a highborn boor but had largely become one. He imagined himself like this on Earth and felt disgusted and ashamed. Why? What has happened to me? Where did it go, my nurtured-since-childhood respect and trust in my own kind, in man鈥攖he amazing creature called man? Nothing can help me now, he thought in horror. Because I sincerely hate and despise them. Not pity them, no鈥攐nly hate and despise. I can justify the stupidity and brutality of the kid I just passed all I want鈥� the social conditions, the appalling upbringing, anything at all鈥攂ut I now clearly see that he鈥檚 my enemy, the enemy of all that I love, the enemy of my friends, the enemy of what I hold most sacred. And I don鈥檛 hate him theoretically, as a 鈥渢ypical specimen,鈥� but him as himself, him as an individual. I hate his slobbering mug, the stink of his unwashed body, his blind faith, his animosity toward everything other than sex and booze.鈥�
It鈥檚 a very short book that packs a lot in its pages 鈥� very economically and yet effectively. Philosophical yet engaging, and with questions to which it does not hand nicely formulated simplistically moralistic answers, but instead forces you to think and consider your own reactions and impulses, and perhaps, just like Anton, get a bit horrified at what responses come to you naturally.
Very good.
4.5 stars.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Buddy read with Kevin.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Also posted on .
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Recommended by: Kevin Lopez
June 23, 2020
DAW Collectors #126
Cover Artist: Kelly Freas
Authors: Arkadi Strugatski & Boris Strugatski
Name: 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈泄, 袗褉泻邪写懈泄 袧邪褌邪薪芯胁懈褔?Strugatsky, Arkady Natanovich, Birthplace: Batumi, Georgia, USSR, (28 August 1925 - 12 October 1991)
Name: 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈泄, 袘芯褉懈褋 袧邪褌邪薪芯胁懈褔?, Birthplace: Leningrad, Russia, USSR, ( 14 April 1933 -
19 November 2012)
"Hard to Be a God" tells the story of Don Rumata, who is sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to influence, but never to directly interfere. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a dueler and a brawler, Don Rumata is never defeated but can never kill. With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don Reba, the First Minister to the king. But given his orders, what role can he play? "Hard to Be a God" has inspired a computer role-playing game and two movies, including Aleksei German's long-awaited swan song. he book. was translated by Wendayne Ackerman, working from a German translation.
Arkanar is a backward little kingdom on a world much like Earth, a feudal despotism of a familiar kind. Don Rumata claims to be an aristocrat from Estor, a region in a distant empire far grander than Arkanar. In fact he is from Earth, now a socialist paradise or as close as anything involving humans can be to paradise, and he has stolen the identity of a dead aristocrat. His job is to mingle with the upper classes of this kingdom, recording everything around him for his superiors back on Earth. Interference is absolutely banned; worlds must be allowed to develop at their own pace.
Cover Artist: Kelly Freas
Authors: Arkadi Strugatski & Boris Strugatski
Name: 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈泄, 袗褉泻邪写懈泄 袧邪褌邪薪芯胁懈褔?Strugatsky, Arkady Natanovich, Birthplace: Batumi, Georgia, USSR, (28 August 1925 - 12 October 1991)
Name: 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈泄, 袘芯褉懈褋 袧邪褌邪薪芯胁懈褔?, Birthplace: Leningrad, Russia, USSR, ( 14 April 1933 -
19 November 2012)
"Hard to Be a God" tells the story of Don Rumata, who is sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to influence, but never to directly interfere. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a dueler and a brawler, Don Rumata is never defeated but can never kill. With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don Reba, the First Minister to the king. But given his orders, what role can he play? "Hard to Be a God" has inspired a computer role-playing game and two movies, including Aleksei German's long-awaited swan song. he book. was translated by Wendayne Ackerman, working from a German translation.
Arkanar is a backward little kingdom on a world much like Earth, a feudal despotism of a familiar kind. Don Rumata claims to be an aristocrat from Estor, a region in a distant empire far grander than Arkanar. In fact he is from Earth, now a socialist paradise or as close as anything involving humans can be to paradise, and he has stolen the identity of a dead aristocrat. His job is to mingle with the upper classes of this kingdom, recording everything around him for his superiors back on Earth. Interference is absolutely banned; worlds must be allowed to develop at their own pace.
March 16, 2016
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Don Rumata has been sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to save what he can. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a dueler, and a brawler, he is never defeated, but yet he can never kill. With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don Reba, the first minister to the king. But given his orders, what role can he play? This long overdue translation will reintroduce one of the most profound Soviet-era novels to an eager audience.
My Review: It's hard to review a world-famous classic. I have to think the translation is faithful because it captures a voice that lesser translators more often than not miss entirely. The standard adventure plot is fun. In common with a lot of SF written in that era, we don't get a lot of well-drawn characters; in this case only one, Don Rumata himself.
What makes this a classic, then? It would raise few eyebrows today, if it was a new publication. That it is 52 years old makes all the difference; that it is an excellent example of its niche solidifies the place History has given it.
But anyone not already caught in the tentacles of the SF Cthulhu monster might want to pass by without slowing down too much.
The Publisher Says: Don Rumata has been sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to save what he can. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a dueler, and a brawler, he is never defeated, but yet he can never kill. With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don Reba, the first minister to the king. But given his orders, what role can he play? This long overdue translation will reintroduce one of the most profound Soviet-era novels to an eager audience.
My Review: It's hard to review a world-famous classic. I have to think the translation is faithful because it captures a voice that lesser translators more often than not miss entirely. The standard adventure plot is fun. In common with a lot of SF written in that era, we don't get a lot of well-drawn characters; in this case only one, Don Rumata himself.
What makes this a classic, then? It would raise few eyebrows today, if it was a new publication. That it is 52 years old makes all the difference; that it is an excellent example of its niche solidifies the place History has given it.
But anyone not already caught in the tentacles of the SF Cthulhu monster might want to pass by without slowing down too much.
January 18, 2019
馃憙 A Smelly Medieval Times Are Smelly Buddy Read with Evgeny and Elena 馃憙
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
So. Take some undercover operatives/historians from a future Shangri-La-type, advanced civilization. Send them to observe and study a planet that resembles Earth in the Super Fun Middle Ages (厂贵惭础鈩�). Strictly forbid them to interfere with the delightfully boorish puny locals鈥� puny affairs, regardless of how desperate/bad/fished up/morally reprehensible/choose allthat apply the situation is. What do you get? A bunch of guys with godlike-powers on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
More or less, yes. By the way, Kirkie, I hear that the whole 鈥渢hou shalt not interfere, NO, though shalt NOT鈥� business is reminiscent of your Prime Directive Thingie (PDT鈩�). Maybe you should consider applying for a consulting job with the above-mentioned reluctant god wannabes. Looks like they could use some advice and stuff.
Our main character (real name Anton, covert name Rumata) is slightly on the brink of such a breakdown. A little. Well, the poor guy is no longer on the brink, really. He has been on this lovely feudal paradise for five years, and is positively swimming in neurasthenia. And fast developing wonderfully bipolar tendencies, too. It鈥檚 no wonder, to be honest. I mean, had I been in his place, I would have unleashed the crustaceans on those filthy, uncivilized alien lowlives (aka the 鈥渟cientific specimens鈥�) a mere five minutes after setting foot on that silly, backward planet. But Rumata has a heart, and I don鈥檛, so he didn鈥檛, but I would have. Oh yes, most definitely. Believe me, these medieval alien lab rats (or is it alien medieval lab rats? I forget) really deserve to die a deathly deadly death. Why, you ask? Well mostly because:
1) Their complete lack of personal hygiene is absolutely unacceptable and thoroughly revolting. (鈥�My kingdom for a soap bar!鈥� is reported to have said Rumata when taking his last distressfully bubble-free bath.)
2) Underwear conundrums *shudders*
3) Unwashed nymphs who reek of body odor mixed with heavy perfume (yummy).
4) Assorted, um, you know, exotic smells and stuff.
You could say that, yes.
Rumata, although concerned about these stinky predicaments, seems to be a great deal more troubled by local habits and customs I myself find quite charming and delightfully quaint: OTT violence, sex and booze, for example. Always a winning combination in my nefarious world, it is apparently not looked upon very kindly in Rumata鈥檚 Utopia-like homeland. (Some people are really weird.) Then there鈥檚 the whole, hey-why-don鈥檛-we-turn-our-underdeveloped-medieval-paradise-into-a-feudal-facism-dreamland thingie, which I personally think is pure genius. Rumata, what with his disgusting ethics and repulsive decency, finds this a little distasteful, obviously. (The guy can be such a virtuous bore sometimes *eyeroll*) And doesn鈥檛 react too well when thelocal barbarian nutcases lovely natives start persecuting scientists and scholars, and basically eradicating anyone with an IQ score higher than 2. (I employed both methods myself during the Shrimpy Inquisition of 1256, and they worked wonders, just so you know. Well they worked wonders for me, obviously. Not for puny humans.)
Anyway,all this despicable shit goes down these positive changes are brought about, and they don鈥檛 really sit well with poor Rumata. How can an appallingly well-intended, principled guy like him watch these pathetic little not-so-green men feeble alien creatures be ruthlessly oppressed and callously slaughtered and not act, as he was ordered to, I ask you? Well he can鈥檛, obviously. Hence the near-nervous breakdown, slight bipolarity and minor mental instability.
Hey, Rumata! How鈥檚 it going? Found any soap yet?
And then what happens, you ask? Rumata kinda sorta loses spoiler spoiler spoiler, and kinda sorta becomes spoiler spoiler spoiler. And then what else? Why spoiler spoiler spoiler, DUH.
鉃� Nefarious Last Words (NLW鈩�): this is original. This is thought-provoking. This is funny. This is dramatic. This is fast-paced. And this is entertaining as fish. Need I say more? Didn鈥檛 think so.
P.S. Read the Olena Bormashenko translation of this book you must, for utterly crappy all the others are. You are most welcome.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
So. Take some undercover operatives/historians from a future Shangri-La-type, advanced civilization. Send them to observe and study a planet that resembles Earth in the Super Fun Middle Ages (厂贵惭础鈩�). Strictly forbid them to interfere with the delightfully boorish puny locals鈥� puny affairs, regardless of how desperate/bad/fished up/morally reprehensible/choose all
More or less, yes. By the way, Kirkie, I hear that the whole 鈥渢hou shalt not interfere, NO, though shalt NOT鈥� business is reminiscent of your Prime Directive Thingie (PDT鈩�). Maybe you should consider applying for a consulting job with the above-mentioned reluctant god wannabes. Looks like they could use some advice and stuff.
Our main character (real name Anton, covert name Rumata) is slightly on the brink of such a breakdown. A little. Well, the poor guy is no longer on the brink, really. He has been on this lovely feudal paradise for five years, and is positively swimming in neurasthenia. And fast developing wonderfully bipolar tendencies, too. It鈥檚 no wonder, to be honest. I mean, had I been in his place, I would have unleashed the crustaceans on those filthy, uncivilized alien lowlives (aka the 鈥渟cientific specimens鈥�) a mere five minutes after setting foot on that silly, backward planet. But Rumata has a heart, and I don鈥檛, so he didn鈥檛, but I would have. Oh yes, most definitely. Believe me, these medieval alien lab rats (or is it alien medieval lab rats? I forget) really deserve to die a deathly deadly death. Why, you ask? Well mostly because:
1) Their complete lack of personal hygiene is absolutely unacceptable and thoroughly revolting. (鈥�My kingdom for a soap bar!鈥� is reported to have said Rumata when taking his last distressfully bubble-free bath.)
2) Underwear conundrums *shudders*
3) Unwashed nymphs who reek of body odor mixed with heavy perfume (yummy).
4) Assorted, um, you know, exotic smells and stuff.
You could say that, yes.
Rumata, although concerned about these stinky predicaments, seems to be a great deal more troubled by local habits and customs I myself find quite charming and delightfully quaint: OTT violence, sex and booze, for example. Always a winning combination in my nefarious world, it is apparently not looked upon very kindly in Rumata鈥檚 Utopia-like homeland. (Some people are really weird.) Then there鈥檚 the whole, hey-why-don鈥檛-we-turn-our-underdeveloped-medieval-paradise-into-a-feudal-facism-dreamland thingie, which I personally think is pure genius. Rumata, what with his disgusting ethics and repulsive decency, finds this a little distasteful, obviously. (The guy can be such a virtuous bore sometimes *eyeroll*) And doesn鈥檛 react too well when the
Anyway,
Hey, Rumata! How鈥檚 it going? Found any soap yet?
And then what happens, you ask? Rumata kinda sorta loses spoiler spoiler spoiler, and kinda sorta becomes spoiler spoiler spoiler. And then what else? Why spoiler spoiler spoiler, DUH.
鉃� Nefarious Last Words (NLW鈩�): this is original. This is thought-provoking. This is funny. This is dramatic. This is fast-paced. And this is entertaining as fish. Need I say more? Didn鈥檛 think so.
P.S. Read the Olena Bormashenko translation of this book you must, for utterly crappy all the others are. You are most welcome.
January 15, 2023
鬲賵蹖 趩賳丿 賲丕賴 丕禺蹖乇 蹖讴爻乇蹖 讴鬲丕亘 禺蹖賱蹖 禺賵賳丿賴 卮丿賳貨 賲丕貙 讴丕乇賴丕蹖 噩賵乇噩 丕賵乇賱貙 丿賳蹖丕蹖 賯卮賳诏 賳賵 賵 丿乇 讴賱貙 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 蹖讴 噩丕蹖蹖 亘賴賲賵賳 乇亘胤 倬蹖丿丕 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 賴賲蹖卮賴 丕爻鬲賯亘丕賱 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 丕夭 丕蹖賳讴賴 亘賯蹖賴 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丕蹖賳 賲丿賱蹖 亘禺賵賳賳貙 丕賲丕 亘賴 賲丨囟 丕蹖賳讴賴 禺賵丿卮賵賳 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賯乇丕乇 亘丿賳貙 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭 毓賵囟 賲蹖鈥屫促�. 卮乇丕蹖胤 丿賳蹖丕 賵 丨讴賵賲鬲鈥屬囏� 鬲賵蹖 賯乇賳 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 蹖讴賲 禺蹖賱蹖 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲賳貙 丨鬲蹖 鬲賵蹖 丿賴 爻丕賱 丕禺蹖乇 賴賲 鬲賮丕賵鬲 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丿乇爻鬲 卮丿賴. 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 丌孬丕乇 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 趩蹖夭蹖 噩夭 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賳诏丕賴 亘卮賴貙 丿賯蹖賯丕 賴賲賵賳 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 賵丕賯毓蹖鬲賲賵賳 乇賵 亘丕賴丕卮 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 丨丿 鬲乇讴蹖亘 讴賳蹖賲貙 鬲賵賴賲鈥屬囏й� 禺胤乇賳丕讴蹖 丿乇爻鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促�. 賲賳 賴乇 乇賵夭 丌丿賲鈥屬囏й屰� 乇賵 賲蹖鈥屫ㄛ屬嗁� 讴賴 賲孬賱 丿賳 讴蹖卮賵鬲 禺賵丿卮賵賳 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 乇賵丕蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 诏賲 讴乇丿賳. 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賵賯鬲鈥屬囏� 亘丕毓孬 賳诏乇丕賳蹖賲 賲蹖卮賴.
丕賲丕 "禺丿丕 亘賵丿賳 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲" 讴丕賲賱丕 亘丨孬卮 賮乇賯 丿丕乇賴貙 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘毓丿 丕夭 爻禺賳乇丕賳蹖 禺乇賵卮趩賮 鬲賵蹖 賳賲丕蹖卮诏丕賴 丌賵丕賳诏丕乇丿賴丕 (1962) 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴. 賲賳 讴丕乇蹖 賳丿丕乇賲 讴賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴鬲丕亘 趩蹖賴貙 趩賴 氐丨亘鬲鈥屬囏й� 胤賵賱丕賳蹖蹖 丿丕乇賴 讴賴 丕賴賲蹖鬲 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丿丕乇賳 丿賵賳爻鬲賳卮賵賳 賵...
趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 丕賴賲蹖鬲 丿丕乇賴 "鬲丕乇蹖禺" 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 丕氐賱賴貙 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫促� 鬲睾蹖蹖乇卮 丿丕丿. 鬲丕乇蹖禺 鬲賵蹖 "禺丿丕 亘賵丿賳 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲" 賵丕賯毓丕 卮亘蹖賴 亘賴 蹖讴 賲賵噩賵丿 夭賳丿賴鈥屫池� 讴賴 賴賲蹖卮賴 爻丕蹖賴鈥屫� 乇賵蹖 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏� 丕賮鬲丕丿賴. 丕氐賱丕 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 賳丿丕乇賴 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 讴丿賵賲 爻蹖丕乇賴 亘丕卮賴貙 丕氐賱丕 亘卮乇蹖鬲 賴乇 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 卮乇賵毓 讴賳賴 賵 噩賱賵 亘乇賴貙 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賲噩亘賵乇卮 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 蹖讴爻乇蹖 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖 鬲讴乇丕乇蹖 乇賵 亘诏匕乇賵賳賴 鬲丕 亘賴 卮讴賵賴 賵 噩賱丕賱 亘乇爻賴. 丕賲丕 亘禺卮 亘丿 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賴賲賵賳 卮讴賵賴 賵 噩賱丕賱 賴賲 賲賲讴賳賴 讴賴 丕夭 亘蹖賳 亘乇賴.
亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 丕爻鬲乇賵诏丕鬲爻诏蹖 丕氐賱丕 賯氐丿 賳丿丕卮鬲賳 賲禺丕胤亘 乇賵 賲噩亘賵乇 讴賳賳 丕夭 賵丕乇丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘卮賴 賵 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 丿乇诏蹖乇 讴賳賴貙 丨鬲蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 噩丕賴丕 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖丕丿 丿丕乇賳 亘蹖賳 賲禺丕胤亘 賵 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賮丕氐賱賴 賲蹖鈥屬嗀ж操�. 丕賵賳丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌з� 丕夭 丿蹖丿 爻賵賲 卮禺氐貙 蹖讴 禺丿丕貙 丕夭 亘丕賱丕 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭 乇賵 亘亘蹖賳賴 賵 丕夭 禺賵丿卮 亘倬乇爻賴 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 趩蹖讴丕乇 讴賳賴責 丿禺丕賱鬲 讴賳賴 鬲丕 卮乇丕乇鬲 乇賵 丕夭 亘蹖賳 亘亘乇賴 趩賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁囏� 蹖丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 賴乇 丿禺丕賱鬲蹖 乇賵 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丿卮 賲賲賳賵毓 賵 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 亘丿賵賳賴貙 趩賵賳 賳鬲蹖噩賴鈥屫� 賲卮禺氐 賳蹖爻鬲.
禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖 鬲賵蹖 丌蹖賳丿賴 賲蹖鈥屭柏辟嗀� 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥屬囏� 賲賮丕賴蹖賲蹖 讴賴 丿丕卮鬲賳 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 蹖讴 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 "卮丕蹖丿" 亘賴卮 亘乇爻蹖賲 賯乇丕乇 丿丕丿賳. 讴丕乇 爻禺鬲蹖賴 賵賱蹖 賲賳 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕乇賲 亘賴 賳爻亘鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 賲孬賱 禺丿丕 亘賵丿賳 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲貙 趩賳丿丕賳 賴賲 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 賳蹖爻鬲賳. 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 丕爻鬲乇賵诏丕鬲爻诏蹖 亘賱丿 亘賵丿賳 讴賴 禺賵亘 亘亘蹖賳賳貙 禺蹖賱蹖 丿賯蹖賯鈥屫� 丕夭 鬲賲丕賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賳馗丕賲鈥屬囏й� 丕賯鬲丿丕乇诏乇丕 乇賵 鬲賵氐蹖賮 讴乇丿賳 丕蹖賳 賯囟蹖賴 乇賵 丿蹖丿賳 賵 鬲丕乇蹖禺卮 乇賵 亘乇乇爻蹖 讴乇丿賳. 賲賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘诏賲 趩賴 賯丿乇 鬲丨爻蹖賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 賵 亘賴卮賵賳 丕丨鬲乇丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟� 亘丕亘鬲 丕蹖賳 鬲賵丕賳丕蹖蹖.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 禺蹖賱蹖 爻賵丕賱鈥屬囏й� 賲禺鬲賱賮蹖 鬲賵蹖 匕賴賳賲 诏匕丕卮鬲貙 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賴乇 讴鬲丕亘蹖 (卮丕蹖丿 丿乇賵睾 亘诏賲貙 爻賵賱丕乇蹖爻 賴賲 爻胤丨卮 亘賵丿 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 賯囟蹖賴) 賲賳 乇賵 鬲乇爻賵賳丿 賵 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 鬲丕 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 匕賴賳賽 爻丕賱賲 賵 夭賳丿賴鈥� 丿丕乇賲貙 賯乇丕乇賴 蹖丕丿卮 亘蹖賵賮鬲賲. 丕诏賴 賯氐丿 禺賵賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 丿丕乇蹖賳貙 亘丕蹖丿 亘诏賲 賳爻禺賴鈥屰� 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 賵 賮丕乇爻蹖 讴鬲丕亘 噩賱賵賲 亘賵丿 賵 禺蹖賱蹖鈥� 噩丕賴丕 賲鬲賳 乇賵 丕夭 乇賵蹖 賴乇 丿賵鬲丕 丿蹖丿賲. 賲卮讴賱 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賲鬲乇噩賲 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 丕氐賱丕 丕蹖丿賴鈥屫й� 賳丿丕乇賴 乇賲丕賳 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 趩蹖賴 蹖丕 趩賴 丨乇賮蹖 賲蹖鈥屫操嗁囏� 亘丕賴丕卮 亘賴 卮讴賱蹖 乇賮鬲丕乇 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 亘丕 賴乇 乇賲丕賳賽 讴賱丕爻蹖讴 爻丕蹖鈥屬佖й� 丿蹖诏賴鈥屫й� 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 丨爻 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 鬲乇噩賲賴鈥屬囏� 讴賱賲賴鈥屫ㄙ団€屭┵勝呝� 丕夭 乇賵蹖 賲鬲賳 乇賵爻蹖 亘賵丿賳貙 禺蹖賱蹖 噩丕賴丕 賲毓賳蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫ж�. 丕賲丕 丕夭 丕賵賳 爻賲鬲貙 賳爻禺賴鈥屰� 賮丕乇爻蹖 鬲乇噩賲賴鈥屰� 禺賵亘蹖 賳丿丕乇賴 趩賵賳 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 賲鬲乇噩賲 鬲爻賱胤 趩賳丿丕賳蹖 亘賴 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖 蹖丕 賮丕乇爻蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲賴貙 丕賲丕 讴丕賲賱丕 賲鬲賵噩賴 亘賵丿賴 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 賲鬲賳 丿賳亘丕賱 趩蹖 亘丕卮賴 賵 趩蹖讴丕乇 讴賳賴. 亘毓囟蹖 丕夭 噩丕賴丕 賴賲蹖賳 丌卮賳丕 賳亘賵丿賳 亘賴 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖 蹖讴賲 讴丕乇 乇賵 禺乇丕亘 賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 丕賲丕 鬲賵蹖 亘禺卮 賯丕亘賱 賮賴賲 亘賵丿賳 賵 乇爻賵賳丿賳 賲賳馗賵乇 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴貙 賮丕乇爻蹖 亘賴鬲乇賴.
丕賲蹖丿賵丕乇賲 蹖讴 乇賵夭蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘蹖卮鬲乇 禺賵賳丿賴 亘卮賴貙 賳蹖丕夭賴 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 亘賴 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賵 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲蹖 讴賴 賲蹖賵賮鬲賴 丿蹖丿賽 賲賳丕爻亘蹖 倬蹖丿丕 讴賳賳.
丕賲丕 "禺丿丕 亘賵丿賳 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲" 讴丕賲賱丕 亘丨孬卮 賮乇賯 丿丕乇賴貙 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘毓丿 丕夭 爻禺賳乇丕賳蹖 禺乇賵卮趩賮 鬲賵蹖 賳賲丕蹖卮诏丕賴 丌賵丕賳诏丕乇丿賴丕 (1962) 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴. 賲賳 讴丕乇蹖 賳丿丕乇賲 讴賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴鬲丕亘 趩蹖賴貙 趩賴 氐丨亘鬲鈥屬囏й� 胤賵賱丕賳蹖蹖 丿丕乇賴 讴賴 丕賴賲蹖鬲 夭蹖丕丿蹖 丿丕乇賳 丿賵賳爻鬲賳卮賵賳 賵...
趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 丕賴賲蹖鬲 丿丕乇賴 "鬲丕乇蹖禺" 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 丕氐賱賴貙 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫促� 鬲睾蹖蹖乇卮 丿丕丿. 鬲丕乇蹖禺 鬲賵蹖 "禺丿丕 亘賵丿賳 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲" 賵丕賯毓丕 卮亘蹖賴 亘賴 蹖讴 賲賵噩賵丿 夭賳丿賴鈥屫池� 讴賴 賴賲蹖卮賴 爻丕蹖賴鈥屫� 乇賵蹖 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏� 丕賮鬲丕丿賴. 丕氐賱丕 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 賳丿丕乇賴 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 讴丿賵賲 爻蹖丕乇賴 亘丕卮賴貙 丕氐賱丕 亘卮乇蹖鬲 賴乇 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 卮乇賵毓 讴賳賴 賵 噩賱賵 亘乇賴貙 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賲噩亘賵乇卮 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 蹖讴爻乇蹖 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖 鬲讴乇丕乇蹖 乇賵 亘诏匕乇賵賳賴 鬲丕 亘賴 卮讴賵賴 賵 噩賱丕賱 亘乇爻賴. 丕賲丕 亘禺卮 亘丿 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賴賲賵賳 卮讴賵賴 賵 噩賱丕賱 賴賲 賲賲讴賳賴 讴賴 丕夭 亘蹖賳 亘乇賴.
亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 丕爻鬲乇賵诏丕鬲爻诏蹖 丕氐賱丕 賯氐丿 賳丿丕卮鬲賳 賲禺丕胤亘 乇賵 賲噩亘賵乇 讴賳賳 丕夭 賵丕乇丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘卮賴 賵 禺賵丿卮 乇賵 丿乇诏蹖乇 讴賳賴貙 丨鬲蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 噩丕賴丕 亘賴 賳馗乇 賲蹖丕丿 丿丕乇賳 亘蹖賳 賲禺丕胤亘 賵 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賮丕氐賱賴 賲蹖鈥屬嗀ж操�. 丕賵賳丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌з� 丕夭 丿蹖丿 爻賵賲 卮禺氐貙 蹖讴 禺丿丕貙 丕夭 亘丕賱丕 賴賲賴 趩蹖夭 乇賵 亘亘蹖賳賴 賵 丕夭 禺賵丿卮 亘倬乇爻賴 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 趩蹖讴丕乇 讴賳賴責 丿禺丕賱鬲 讴賳賴 鬲丕 卮乇丕乇鬲 乇賵 丕夭 亘蹖賳 亘亘乇賴 趩賵賳 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁囏� 蹖丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 賴乇 丿禺丕賱鬲蹖 乇賵 亘乇丕蹖 禺賵丿卮 賲賲賳賵毓 賵 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 亘丿賵賳賴貙 趩賵賳 賳鬲蹖噩賴鈥屫� 賲卮禺氐 賳蹖爻鬲.
禺蹖賱蹖 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖 鬲賵蹖 丌蹖賳丿賴 賲蹖鈥屭柏辟嗀� 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥屬囏� 賲賮丕賴蹖賲蹖 讴賴 丿丕卮鬲賳 乇賵 鬲賵蹖 蹖讴 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 "卮丕蹖丿" 亘賴卮 亘乇爻蹖賲 賯乇丕乇 丿丕丿賳. 讴丕乇 爻禺鬲蹖賴 賵賱蹖 賲賳 丕毓鬲賯丕丿 丿丕乇賲 亘賴 賳爻亘鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 賲孬賱 禺丿丕 亘賵丿賳 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲貙 趩賳丿丕賳 賴賲 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 賳蹖爻鬲賳. 亘乇丕丿乇丕賳 丕爻鬲乇賵诏丕鬲爻诏蹖 亘賱丿 亘賵丿賳 讴賴 禺賵亘 亘亘蹖賳賳貙 禺蹖賱蹖 丿賯蹖賯鈥屫� 丕夭 鬲賲丕賲 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賳馗丕賲鈥屬囏й� 丕賯鬲丿丕乇诏乇丕 乇賵 鬲賵氐蹖賮 讴乇丿賳 丕蹖賳 賯囟蹖賴 乇賵 丿蹖丿賳 賵 鬲丕乇蹖禺卮 乇賵 亘乇乇爻蹖 讴乇丿賳. 賲賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘诏賲 趩賴 賯丿乇 鬲丨爻蹖賳卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 賵 亘賴卮賵賳 丕丨鬲乇丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫柏ж辟� 亘丕亘鬲 丕蹖賳 鬲賵丕賳丕蹖蹖.
丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 禺蹖賱蹖 爻賵丕賱鈥屬囏й� 賲禺鬲賱賮蹖 鬲賵蹖 匕賴賳賲 诏匕丕卮鬲貙 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賴乇 讴鬲丕亘蹖 (卮丕蹖丿 丿乇賵睾 亘诏賲貙 爻賵賱丕乇蹖爻 賴賲 爻胤丨卮 亘賵丿 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 賯囟蹖賴) 賲賳 乇賵 鬲乇爻賵賳丿 賵 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 鬲丕 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 匕賴賳賽 爻丕賱賲 賵 夭賳丿賴鈥� 丿丕乇賲貙 賯乇丕乇賴 蹖丕丿卮 亘蹖賵賮鬲賲. 丕诏賴 賯氐丿 禺賵賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 丿丕乇蹖賳貙 亘丕蹖丿 亘诏賲 賳爻禺賴鈥屰� 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 賵 賮丕乇爻蹖 讴鬲丕亘 噩賱賵賲 亘賵丿 賵 禺蹖賱蹖鈥� 噩丕賴丕 賲鬲賳 乇賵 丕夭 乇賵蹖 賴乇 丿賵鬲丕 丿蹖丿賲. 賲卮讴賱 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賲鬲乇噩賲 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 丕氐賱丕 丕蹖丿賴鈥屫й� 賳丿丕乇賴 乇賲丕賳 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 趩蹖賴 蹖丕 趩賴 丨乇賮蹖 賲蹖鈥屫操嗁囏� 亘丕賴丕卮 亘賴 卮讴賱蹖 乇賮鬲丕乇 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 亘丕 賴乇 乇賲丕賳賽 讴賱丕爻蹖讴 爻丕蹖鈥屬佖й� 丿蹖诏賴鈥屫й� 乇賮鬲丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 丨爻 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 鬲乇噩賲賴鈥屬囏� 讴賱賲賴鈥屫ㄙ団€屭┵勝呝� 丕夭 乇賵蹖 賲鬲賳 乇賵爻蹖 亘賵丿賳貙 禺蹖賱蹖 噩丕賴丕 賲毓賳蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫ж�. 丕賲丕 丕夭 丕賵賳 爻賲鬲貙 賳爻禺賴鈥屰� 賮丕乇爻蹖 鬲乇噩賲賴鈥屰� 禺賵亘蹖 賳丿丕乇賴 趩賵賳 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 賲鬲乇噩賲 鬲爻賱胤 趩賳丿丕賳蹖 亘賴 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖 蹖丕 賮丕乇爻蹖 賳丿丕卮鬲賴貙 丕賲丕 讴丕賲賱丕 賲鬲賵噩賴 亘賵丿賴 讴賴 鬲賵蹖 賲鬲賳 丿賳亘丕賱 趩蹖 亘丕卮賴 賵 趩蹖讴丕乇 讴賳賴. 亘毓囟蹖 丕夭 噩丕賴丕 賴賲蹖賳 丌卮賳丕 賳亘賵丿賳 亘賴 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖 蹖讴賲 讴丕乇 乇賵 禺乇丕亘 賲蹖鈥屭┴必� 丕賲丕 鬲賵蹖 亘禺卮 賯丕亘賱 賮賴賲 亘賵丿賳 賵 乇爻賵賳丿賳 賲賳馗賵乇 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴貙 賮丕乇爻蹖 亘賴鬲乇賴.
丕賲蹖丿賵丕乇賲 蹖讴 乇賵夭蹖 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 亘蹖卮鬲乇 禺賵賳丿賴 亘卮賴貙 賳蹖丕夭賴 讴賴 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏й� 亘蹖卮鬲乇蹖 亘賴 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賵 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲蹖 讴賴 賲蹖賵賮鬲賴 丿蹖丿賽 賲賳丕爻亘蹖 倬蹖丿丕 讴賳賳.
May 26, 2023
This is one of the best books ever! It's such a unique & nuanced look at the past human and social condition, yet so relevant to the present time for both. It tells the story of a human society on another planet that is circa the middle ages in development. A group of earthlings are monitoring this society covertly and it is through the eyes of one of the earth born humans that resides amongst this society that we get a good look into the mirror of the past and into the magnifying glass of the present. What's best is that it has a fantastical feel, yet there is nothing unreal about it - other than the existence of another planet with a human society ;)
The main theme of this book and one aptly identified in the title Hard to Be a God is how the advanced human beings from earth should react to the harsh human conditions that exist within the more primitive race of humans on the planet. Should they intercept with the knowledge and technology they have in order to better their condition?
A friend pointed out to me that to truly appreciate the relevance of this story to actual human events, one only has to note the environment in which the authors lived which happened to be communist Russia. For example, parallels can be drawn between the main theme of the story and the Russian Revolution of 1917. At the time of this revolution, Russian people were inert slaves and did not participate in the revolution. The Revolution was performed by a very small group of communist revolutionists comprised of intelligentsia and ethnically oppressed minorities such as Jews, Latvians, and Poles which can lead one to surmise that the Russian Revolution of 1917 was indeed forced on the Russian people by "people from another planet鈥�! So now consider, was interference really the right thing to do? Forced advancement of the social system within Russia (and other places) didn't necessarily succeed, though the temptation of interfering was strong and seemed right. The authors do a good job in accurately portraying this truth.
I highly recommend this book for those who love fantasy, but maybe want to read something a little more scholastic. And I highly recommend it for those in academia who don't delve too much into fantasy, but would like something creative, yet compatible with their sensibilities. The authors throw in a bit of scientific vocabulary here in there; sound philosophical observations; and seem to have a genuine ease in storytelling. Highly recommended!
The main theme of this book and one aptly identified in the title Hard to Be a God is how the advanced human beings from earth should react to the harsh human conditions that exist within the more primitive race of humans on the planet. Should they intercept with the knowledge and technology they have in order to better their condition?
A friend pointed out to me that to truly appreciate the relevance of this story to actual human events, one only has to note the environment in which the authors lived which happened to be communist Russia. For example, parallels can be drawn between the main theme of the story and the Russian Revolution of 1917. At the time of this revolution, Russian people were inert slaves and did not participate in the revolution. The Revolution was performed by a very small group of communist revolutionists comprised of intelligentsia and ethnically oppressed minorities such as Jews, Latvians, and Poles which can lead one to surmise that the Russian Revolution of 1917 was indeed forced on the Russian people by "people from another planet鈥�! So now consider, was interference really the right thing to do? Forced advancement of the social system within Russia (and other places) didn't necessarily succeed, though the temptation of interfering was strong and seemed right. The authors do a good job in accurately portraying this truth.
I highly recommend this book for those who love fantasy, but maybe want to read something a little more scholastic. And I highly recommend it for those in academia who don't delve too much into fantasy, but would like something creative, yet compatible with their sensibilities. The authors throw in a bit of scientific vocabulary here in there; sound philosophical observations; and seem to have a genuine ease in storytelling. Highly recommended!
February 16, 2025
鈥炐⒀€褍写薪芯 械 写邪 斜褗写械褕 袘芯谐鈥� 械 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 胁褗蟹写械泄褋褌胁邪褖邪 泻薪懈谐邪! 袟邪 屑械薪, 褌芯胁邪 械 谐械薪懈邪谢械薪 懈 屑薪芯谐芯锌谢邪褋褌芯胁 褉芯屑邪薪, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 械 褋褗斜褉邪薪邪 褋褌褉邪褕薪芯 屑薪芯谐芯 屑褗写褉芯褋褌... 袗褉泻邪写懈泄 懈 袘芯褉懈褋 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈 薪邪锌褗谢薪芯 蟹邪褋谢褍卸械薪芯 褋邪 褋屑褟褌邪薪懈 蟹邪 械写薪懈 芯褌 薪邪泄- 谐芯谢械屑懈褌械 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈! 袙 褋胁芯懈褌械 泻薪懈谐懈 褌械 胁谢邪谐邪褌 薪械胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯 褋懈谢薪懈 锌芯褋谢邪薪懈褟 泻褗屑 褑褟谢芯褌芯 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯, 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 褉邪蟹褋褗卸写邪胁邪褌 胁褗褉褏褍 胁邪卸薪懈褌械 卸懈褌械泄褋泻懈 褌械屑懈...
袧邪 锌褉褗胁 锌芯谐谢械写 鈥炐⒀€褍写薪芯 械 写邪 斜褗写械褕 袘芯谐鈥� 械 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪褋泻邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪 鈥� 褌褗卸薪邪 鈥炐佳冄佇盒笛傂把€褋泻邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟鈥�, 锌芯胁谢懈褟薪邪 芯褌 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袗谢械泻褋邪薪写褗褉 袛褞屑邪. 袨斜邪褔械, 胁 薪械褟 褔懈褌邪褌械谢懈褌械 褋邪 胁褗胁械写械薪懈 胁 写芯褋褌邪 屑褉邪褔薪芯褌芯 懈 褌褟谐芯褋褌薪芯 小褉械写薪芯胁械泻芯胁懈械 薪邪 写邪谢械褔薪邪 锌谢邪薪械褌邪, 泻褗写械褌芯 褑邪褉懈 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌械薪 褎械芯写邪谢懈蟹褗屑, 薪邪褋懈谢懈械 懈 斜械蟹锌褉芯褋胁械褌薪芯褋褌... 袧邪 屑褟褋褌芯, 泻褗写械褌芯 胁褋懈褔泻懈 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪懈 褏芯褉邪 斜懈胁邪褌 锌褉械褋谢械写胁邪薪懈 懈 褍斜懈胁邪薪懈, 锌芯薪械卸械 芯褌 谐谢械写薪邪 褌芯褔泻邪 薪邪 胁谢邪褋褌懈屑邪褖懈褌械 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢褟胁邪褌 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌. 校褔懈谢懈褖械褌芯 褌邪屑 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪, 褋邪屑芯 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 写邪 斜褗写邪褌 褋褗蟹写邪胁邪薪懈 锌芯褋谢褍褕薪懈 胁芯泄薪懈褑懈, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 蟹邪 锌芯写写褗褉卸邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 褌邪蟹懈 蟹谢芯胁械褖邪 褋懈褋褌械屑邪 褋邪 薪褍卸薪懈 胁械褉薪懈, 薪芯 薪械 懈 褉邪蟹褍屑薪懈 褏芯褉邪. 袟械屑褟褌邪 锌芯 褌芯胁邪 胁褉械屑械 械 屑薪芯谐芯 薪邪锌褉械写薪邪谢邪, 薪邪褕械褌芯 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯 械 锌芯褋褌懈谐薪邪谢芯 锌芯 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 薪邪褔懈薪 屑懈褉 懈 褏邪褉屑芯薪懈褟, 薪芯 薪械 懈褋泻邪 写邪 褋械 薪邪屑械褋胁邪 写懈褉械泻褌薪芯 胁 褉邪蟹胁懈褌懈械褌芯 薪邪 懈蟹芯褋褌邪薪邪谢邪褌邪 锌谢邪薪械褌邪! 袠蟹锌褉邪褌械薪懈 褋邪 薪褟泻芯谢泻芯 薪邪斜谢褞写邪褌械谢懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 写邪 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪褌 写邪 锌芯屑芯谐薪邪褌 懈薪写懈褉械泻褌薪芯 胁 褉邪蟹胁懈褌懈械褌芯 薪邪 褌邪屑芯褕薪薪芯褌芯 薪邪褋械谢械薪懈械, 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 写邪 褋锌邪褋褟胁邪褌 写芯泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 械 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯 褉邪蟹褍屑薪懈褌械 卸懈褌械谢懈, 锌褉械写懈 写邪 斜褗写邪褌 懈蟹斜懈褌懈 芯褌 薪邪褋懈谢薪懈褑懈褌械.
鈥炐⒀€褍写薪芯 械 写邪 斜褗写械褕 袘芯谐鈥� 褉邪蟹谐谢械卸写邪 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 胁邪卸薪懈 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈, 泻邪褌芯 薪械胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌褌邪 写邪 锌芯屑芯谐薪械褕 薪邪 芯斜褖械褋褌胁芯, 泻芯械褌芯 薪械 卸械谢邪械 写邪 芯褋褗蟹薪邪械 褋胁芯懈褌械 褋谢邪斜芯褋褌懈 懈 胁 泻芯械褌芯 胁褋械泻懈 械 褋邪屑 蟹邪 褋械斜械 褋懈... 袨褋薪芯胁械薪 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸 胁 褌邪蟹懈 褌褗卸薪邪 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻邪 械 袛芯薪 袪褍屑邪褌邪 鈥� 袟械屑械薪 褔芯胁械泻, 泻芯泄褌芯 卸懈胁械械 胁 袗褉泻邪薪邪褉 锌芯写 锌褉懈泻褉懈褌懈械褌芯 薪邪 斜谢邪谐芯褉芯写薪懈泻, 泻邪褌芯 懈蟹屑褗泻胁邪 芯褌 褉褗褑械褌械 薪邪 屑芯薪邪褉褏懈褟褌邪 褉邪蟹褍屑薪懈褌械 卸懈褌械谢懈. 袞懈胁械械泄泻懈 芯褌 谐芯写懈薪懈 胁 褌芯胁邪 芯斜褖械褋褌胁芯, 褌芯泄 褋械 斜芯褉懈 泻邪泻褌芯 褋褗褋 小懈胁懈褌械 懈 薪邪泄-芯锌懈褌薪懈褟 懈 邪谢褔械薪 蟹邪 胁谢邪褋褌 懈薪褌褉懈谐邪薪褌 袛芯薪 袪械斜邪, 褌邪泻邪 懈 褋褗褋 褋械斜械 褋懈, 胁薪懈屑邪胁邪泄泻懈 写邪 薪械 褋械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪械 胁 蟹胁褟褉 泻邪褌芯 褌褟褏. 袣芯械褌芯 薪械 械 褌褉褍写薪芯 写邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔懈 胁 褌械蟹懈 褌褗屑薪懈 懈 谢懈褕械薪懈 芯褌 褉邪蟹褍屑 胁褉械屑械薪邪... 袪褍屑邪褌邪 褉械褕邪胁邪 写邪 芯褌懈写械 胁 袛胁芯褉械褑邪, 蟹邪 写邪 懈蟹屑褗泻薪械 芯褌 褌邪屑 褋褌邪褉懈褟 袘褍写邪褏, 泻邪褌芯 锌芯 褌芯蟹懈 薪邪褔懈薪 薪邪胁谢懈蟹邪 胁 褋械褉懈芯蟹薪懈 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌懈...
袨褋胁械薪 褋懈谢薪芯 锌芯褍褔懈褌械谢薪邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪, 褌邪蟹懈 褌胁芯褉斜邪 薪邪 斜褉邪褌褟褌邪 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈 械 懈 褋褌褉邪褏芯褌薪邪 泻褉懈褌懈泻邪 泻褗屑 褋褗胁械褌褋泻懈褟 褉械卸懈屑! 袩褉械蟹 谐芯写懈薪懈褌械 薪邪 褑械薪蟹褍褉邪褌邪, 薪邪谢邪谐邪薪邪 芯褌 褌芯褌邪谢懈褌邪褉薪邪褌邪 写褗褉卸邪胁邪, 薪邪褍褔薪邪褌邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪褌邪 械 斜懈谢邪 薪邪褔懈薪褗褌, 褔褉械蟹 泻芯泄褌芯 锌芯 蟹邪胁芯邪谢懈褉邪薪 薪邪褔懈薪 写邪 懈蟹泻邪卸械褕 褋胁芯械褌芯 屑薪械薪懈械! 袩芯褋谢邪薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 斜褉邪褌褟 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈 胁 鈥炐⒀€褍写薪芯 械 写邪 斜褗写械褕 袘芯谐鈥� 褋邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褏褍屑邪薪薪懈, 褋褗褖芯 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 胁 写褉褍谐邪 褌褟褏薪芯 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌薪芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈械 鈥� 鈥炐熜感盒叫感� 泻褉邪泄 锌褗褌褟鈥�. 袙褗锌褉械泻懈 褋械褉懈芯蟹薪懈褌械 褌械屑懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 蟹邪褋褟谐邪, 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 械 蟹邪胁谢邪写褟胁邪褖邪 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械褌芯 懈 褋械 褔械褌械 谢械褋薪芯! 袧邪写褟胁邪屑 褋械 锌芯胁械褔械 褏芯褉邪 写邪 褋械 锌芯褌芯锌褟褌 胁 薪械泄薪邪褌邪 薪械锌褉械褏芯写薪邪 屑褗写褉芯褋褌...
鈥炐⌒惭娧€褕械薪芯, 锌芯屑懈褋谢懈 褋懈 袪褍屑邪褌邪. 笑褟谢邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 褋胁褗褉褕懈. 袙懈薪邪谐懈 锌芯 械写懈薪 懈 褋褗褖 薪邪褔懈薪. 袩褉芯胁械褉泻邪, 锌褉械写锌邪蟹谢懈胁芯 褉邪蟹屑械薪褟薪械 薪邪 写胁褍褋屑懈褋谢械薪懈 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻懈... 袩芯 褑械谢懈 褋械写屑懈褑懈 褋械 斜谢褗褋泻邪褕 褋 谐谢褍锌邪胁懈 斜褉褗褌胁械卸懈 褋 褉邪蟹薪懈 芯褌褉械锌泻懈, 邪 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褋褉械褖薪械褕 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈 褔芯胁械泻, 薪褟屑邪 胁褉械屑械 写邪 褋懈 锌芯谐芯胁芯褉懈褕 褋 薪械谐芯. 孝褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 谐芯 褍泻褉懈械褕, 写邪 谐芯 褋锌邪褋懈褕, 写邪 谐芯 懈蟹锌褉邪褌懈褕 薪邪 斜械蟹芯锌邪褋薪芯 屑褟褋褌芯, 邪 褌芯泄 褋懈 芯褌懈胁邪, 斜械蟹 写芯褉懈 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械 写邪谢懈 械 懈屑邪谢 褉邪斜芯褌邪 褋 锌褉懈褟褌械谢 懈谢懈 褋 薪褟泻芯泄 泻邪锌褉懈蟹械薪 褔褍写邪泻. 袩褗泻 懈 褌懈 薪懈褖芯 薪械 褋懈 薪邪褍褔懈谢 蟹邪 薪械谐芯. 袣邪泻胁芯 懈褋泻邪, 泻邪泻胁芯 屑芯卸械, 蟹邪 泻邪泻胁芯 卸懈胁械械...鈥�
袧邪 锌褉褗胁 锌芯谐谢械写 鈥炐⒀€褍写薪芯 械 写邪 斜褗写械褕 袘芯谐鈥� 械 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪褋泻邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪 鈥� 褌褗卸薪邪 鈥炐佳冄佇盒笛傂把€褋泻邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟鈥�, 锌芯胁谢懈褟薪邪 芯褌 褌胁芯褉褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 薪邪 袗谢械泻褋邪薪写褗褉 袛褞屑邪. 袨斜邪褔械, 胁 薪械褟 褔懈褌邪褌械谢懈褌械 褋邪 胁褗胁械写械薪懈 胁 写芯褋褌邪 屑褉邪褔薪芯褌芯 懈 褌褟谐芯褋褌薪芯 小褉械写薪芯胁械泻芯胁懈械 薪邪 写邪谢械褔薪邪 锌谢邪薪械褌邪, 泻褗写械褌芯 褑邪褉懈 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌械薪 褎械芯写邪谢懈蟹褗屑, 薪邪褋懈谢懈械 懈 斜械蟹锌褉芯褋胁械褌薪芯褋褌... 袧邪 屑褟褋褌芯, 泻褗写械褌芯 胁褋懈褔泻懈 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪懈 褏芯褉邪 斜懈胁邪褌 锌褉械褋谢械写胁邪薪懈 懈 褍斜懈胁邪薪懈, 锌芯薪械卸械 芯褌 谐谢械写薪邪 褌芯褔泻邪 薪邪 胁谢邪褋褌懈屑邪褖懈褌械 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢褟胁邪褌 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌. 校褔懈谢懈褖械褌芯 褌邪屑 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪, 褋邪屑芯 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 写邪 斜褗写邪褌 褋褗蟹写邪胁邪薪懈 锌芯褋谢褍褕薪懈 胁芯泄薪懈褑懈, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 蟹邪 锌芯写写褗褉卸邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 褌邪蟹懈 蟹谢芯胁械褖邪 褋懈褋褌械屑邪 褋邪 薪褍卸薪懈 胁械褉薪懈, 薪芯 薪械 懈 褉邪蟹褍屑薪懈 褏芯褉邪. 袟械屑褟褌邪 锌芯 褌芯胁邪 胁褉械屑械 械 屑薪芯谐芯 薪邪锌褉械写薪邪谢邪, 薪邪褕械褌芯 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯 械 锌芯褋褌懈谐薪邪谢芯 锌芯 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 薪邪褔懈薪 屑懈褉 懈 褏邪褉屑芯薪懈褟, 薪芯 薪械 懈褋泻邪 写邪 褋械 薪邪屑械褋胁邪 写懈褉械泻褌薪芯 胁 褉邪蟹胁懈褌懈械褌芯 薪邪 懈蟹芯褋褌邪薪邪谢邪褌邪 锌谢邪薪械褌邪! 袠蟹锌褉邪褌械薪懈 褋邪 薪褟泻芯谢泻芯 薪邪斜谢褞写邪褌械谢懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 写邪 褋械 芯锌懈褌胁邪褌 写邪 锌芯屑芯谐薪邪褌 懈薪写懈褉械泻褌薪芯 胁 褉邪蟹胁懈褌懈械褌芯 薪邪 褌邪屑芯褕薪薪芯褌芯 薪邪褋械谢械薪懈械, 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 写邪 褋锌邪褋褟胁邪褌 写芯泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 械 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯 褉邪蟹褍屑薪懈褌械 卸懈褌械谢懈, 锌褉械写懈 写邪 斜褗写邪褌 懈蟹斜懈褌懈 芯褌 薪邪褋懈谢薪懈褑懈褌械.
鈥炐⒀€褍写薪芯 械 写邪 斜褗写械褕 袘芯谐鈥� 褉邪蟹谐谢械卸写邪 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 胁邪卸薪懈 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈, 泻邪褌芯 薪械胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌褌邪 写邪 锌芯屑芯谐薪械褕 薪邪 芯斜褖械褋褌胁芯, 泻芯械褌芯 薪械 卸械谢邪械 写邪 芯褋褗蟹薪邪械 褋胁芯懈褌械 褋谢邪斜芯褋褌懈 懈 胁 泻芯械褌芯 胁褋械泻懈 械 褋邪屑 蟹邪 褋械斜械 褋懈... 袨褋薪芯胁械薪 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸 胁 褌邪蟹懈 褌褗卸薪邪 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻邪 械 袛芯薪 袪褍屑邪褌邪 鈥� 袟械屑械薪 褔芯胁械泻, 泻芯泄褌芯 卸懈胁械械 胁 袗褉泻邪薪邪褉 锌芯写 锌褉懈泻褉懈褌懈械褌芯 薪邪 斜谢邪谐芯褉芯写薪懈泻, 泻邪褌芯 懈蟹屑褗泻胁邪 芯褌 褉褗褑械褌械 薪邪 屑芯薪邪褉褏懈褟褌邪 褉邪蟹褍屑薪懈褌械 卸懈褌械谢懈. 袞懈胁械械泄泻懈 芯褌 谐芯写懈薪懈 胁 褌芯胁邪 芯斜褖械褋褌胁芯, 褌芯泄 褋械 斜芯褉懈 泻邪泻褌芯 褋褗褋 小懈胁懈褌械 懈 薪邪泄-芯锌懈褌薪懈褟 懈 邪谢褔械薪 蟹邪 胁谢邪褋褌 懈薪褌褉懈谐邪薪褌 袛芯薪 袪械斜邪, 褌邪泻邪 懈 褋褗褋 褋械斜械 褋懈, 胁薪懈屑邪胁邪泄泻懈 写邪 薪械 褋械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪械 胁 蟹胁褟褉 泻邪褌芯 褌褟褏. 袣芯械褌芯 薪械 械 褌褉褍写薪芯 写邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔懈 胁 褌械蟹懈 褌褗屑薪懈 懈 谢懈褕械薪懈 芯褌 褉邪蟹褍屑 胁褉械屑械薪邪... 袪褍屑邪褌邪 褉械褕邪胁邪 写邪 芯褌懈写械 胁 袛胁芯褉械褑邪, 蟹邪 写邪 懈蟹屑褗泻薪械 芯褌 褌邪屑 褋褌邪褉懈褟 袘褍写邪褏, 泻邪褌芯 锌芯 褌芯蟹懈 薪邪褔懈薪 薪邪胁谢懈蟹邪 胁 褋械褉懈芯蟹薪懈 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌懈...
袨褋胁械薪 褋懈谢薪芯 锌芯褍褔懈褌械谢薪邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪, 褌邪蟹懈 褌胁芯褉斜邪 薪邪 斜褉邪褌褟褌邪 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈 械 懈 褋褌褉邪褏芯褌薪邪 泻褉懈褌懈泻邪 泻褗屑 褋褗胁械褌褋泻懈褟 褉械卸懈屑! 袩褉械蟹 谐芯写懈薪懈褌械 薪邪 褑械薪蟹褍褉邪褌邪, 薪邪谢邪谐邪薪邪 芯褌 褌芯褌邪谢懈褌邪褉薪邪褌邪 写褗褉卸邪胁邪, 薪邪褍褔薪邪褌邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪褌邪 械 斜懈谢邪 薪邪褔懈薪褗褌, 褔褉械蟹 泻芯泄褌芯 锌芯 蟹邪胁芯邪谢懈褉邪薪 薪邪褔懈薪 写邪 懈蟹泻邪卸械褕 褋胁芯械褌芯 屑薪械薪懈械! 袩芯褋谢邪薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 斜褉邪褌褟 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈 胁 鈥炐⒀€褍写薪芯 械 写邪 斜褗写械褕 袘芯谐鈥� 褋邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褏褍屑邪薪薪懈, 褋褗褖芯 泻邪泻褌芯 懈 胁 写褉褍谐邪 褌褟褏薪芯 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌薪芯 锌褉芯懈蟹胁械写械薪懈械 鈥� 鈥炐熜感盒叫感� 泻褉邪泄 锌褗褌褟鈥�. 袙褗锌褉械泻懈 褋械褉懈芯蟹薪懈褌械 褌械屑懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 蟹邪褋褟谐邪, 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 械 蟹邪胁谢邪写褟胁邪褖邪 胁薪懈屑邪薪懈械褌芯 懈 褋械 褔械褌械 谢械褋薪芯! 袧邪写褟胁邪屑 褋械 锌芯胁械褔械 褏芯褉邪 写邪 褋械 锌芯褌芯锌褟褌 胁 薪械泄薪邪褌邪 薪械锌褉械褏芯写薪邪 屑褗写褉芯褋褌...
鈥炐⌒惭娧€褕械薪芯, 锌芯屑懈褋谢懈 褋懈 袪褍屑邪褌邪. 笑褟谢邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 褋胁褗褉褕懈. 袙懈薪邪谐懈 锌芯 械写懈薪 懈 褋褗褖 薪邪褔懈薪. 袩褉芯胁械褉泻邪, 锌褉械写锌邪蟹谢懈胁芯 褉邪蟹屑械薪褟薪械 薪邪 写胁褍褋屑懈褋谢械薪懈 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻懈... 袩芯 褑械谢懈 褋械写屑懈褑懈 褋械 斜谢褗褋泻邪褕 褋 谐谢褍锌邪胁懈 斜褉褗褌胁械卸懈 褋 褉邪蟹薪懈 芯褌褉械锌泻懈, 邪 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褋褉械褖薪械褕 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈 褔芯胁械泻, 薪褟屑邪 胁褉械屑械 写邪 褋懈 锌芯谐芯胁芯褉懈褕 褋 薪械谐芯. 孝褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 谐芯 褍泻褉懈械褕, 写邪 谐芯 褋锌邪褋懈褕, 写邪 谐芯 懈蟹锌褉邪褌懈褕 薪邪 斜械蟹芯锌邪褋薪芯 屑褟褋褌芯, 邪 褌芯泄 褋懈 芯褌懈胁邪, 斜械蟹 写芯褉懈 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械 写邪谢懈 械 懈屑邪谢 褉邪斜芯褌邪 褋 锌褉懈褟褌械谢 懈谢懈 褋 薪褟泻芯泄 泻邪锌褉懈蟹械薪 褔褍写邪泻. 袩褗泻 懈 褌懈 薪懈褖芯 薪械 褋懈 薪邪褍褔懈谢 蟹邪 薪械谐芯. 袣邪泻胁芯 懈褋泻邪, 泻邪泻胁芯 屑芯卸械, 蟹邪 泻邪泻胁芯 卸懈胁械械...鈥�
May 12, 2014
Fascinating and important work. Published in 1964, I feel that it may have been an influence on, or at least a precursor to, many of my favorite books. I saw thematic similarities with some of Iain Banks鈥� Culture novels, especially Inversions, and Kage Baker鈥檚 Company series.
The story deals with a 鈥榙eep鈥� agent from an advanced civilization, who is supposed to observe and record the feudal society he鈥檚 been planted in, without interfering. However, the society he鈥檚 working in is on the verge of a shift from feudalism to fascism. Purges of intellectuals are increasing, and the agent finds it harder and harder to maintain any kind of objectivity. Meanwhile, he also battles the tendency to lose sight of his identity; he finds himself becoming more and more like the callous, boorish aristocrat he is impersonating. But he also finds himself truly caring for his native lover鈥�
There鈥檚 a lot going on in the relatively brief book. Anton, while maintaining his cover identity as Don Rumata, tries to balance his ethics against the demands of his job. His attempts to rescue the scientists and artists that he sees as the lights of hope in a dark and ignorant world make for an exciting story. But it鈥檚 also very philosophical, exploring the ramifications of a non-interference policy, the tendency toward abuse of power, and the nature of humanity.
It鈥檚 very interesting to see science-fiction themes which I鈥檝e seen explored from American and European perspectives many times from the point of view of Russian authors. Here, the advanced, peaceful and free society which the researchers are from is, of course, one where the ideals of communism have come to full fruition. I wished I could see more of that world 鈥� and may have to seek out some of the Strugatsky brothers鈥� other books to explore further. However, their vision is not all starry-eyed: the world of Arkanar and its Inquisitorial brutalities are very clearly parallel to abuses and purges from Russia鈥檚 history.
Highly recommended 鈥� both as a great reading experience, and for anyone interested in the various facets of science fiction as a genre.
Copy provided by NetGalley - thanks for bringing this book to my attention! As always, my opinion is purely my own.
The story deals with a 鈥榙eep鈥� agent from an advanced civilization, who is supposed to observe and record the feudal society he鈥檚 been planted in, without interfering. However, the society he鈥檚 working in is on the verge of a shift from feudalism to fascism. Purges of intellectuals are increasing, and the agent finds it harder and harder to maintain any kind of objectivity. Meanwhile, he also battles the tendency to lose sight of his identity; he finds himself becoming more and more like the callous, boorish aristocrat he is impersonating. But he also finds himself truly caring for his native lover鈥�
There鈥檚 a lot going on in the relatively brief book. Anton, while maintaining his cover identity as Don Rumata, tries to balance his ethics against the demands of his job. His attempts to rescue the scientists and artists that he sees as the lights of hope in a dark and ignorant world make for an exciting story. But it鈥檚 also very philosophical, exploring the ramifications of a non-interference policy, the tendency toward abuse of power, and the nature of humanity.
It鈥檚 very interesting to see science-fiction themes which I鈥檝e seen explored from American and European perspectives many times from the point of view of Russian authors. Here, the advanced, peaceful and free society which the researchers are from is, of course, one where the ideals of communism have come to full fruition. I wished I could see more of that world 鈥� and may have to seek out some of the Strugatsky brothers鈥� other books to explore further. However, their vision is not all starry-eyed: the world of Arkanar and its Inquisitorial brutalities are very clearly parallel to abuses and purges from Russia鈥檚 history.
Highly recommended 鈥� both as a great reading experience, and for anyone interested in the various facets of science fiction as a genre.
Copy provided by NetGalley - thanks for bringing this book to my attention! As always, my opinion is purely my own.
August 19, 2020
Hard to Be a God is a novel with a cult following and for a good reason. It is an engaging tale set in future that questions relationship between society and an (advanced) individual. This is the second novel by Strugatsky brother that I have read with this premise. The first one was Inhabited island (Prisoners of Power). However, Inhabited island featured a protagonist who explored on his own and got strangled on another planet. Both protagonists try to improve the society they found themselves in and both are equipped with special powers. Interestingly, both individuals don't reveal that much about Earth society. In both of these novels Earth is supposed to be this perfect society but it is never described in detail- I mean just how does that society function? Is it really as perfect as it seems?
Hard to Be a God tells a tale of Anton, an Earth-man from a future society who dwells on a newly discovered planet with middle age society (feudalism). Anton dwells there for research purposes and assumes a disguise persona of a nobleman. Anton isn't the only human dwelling on the planet, there are other researchers and scientists like him. In fact, Anton and other Earth-men are expected to send information back to Earth so that future historians can examine it. There are also expected to follow strict rules, they are not to interfere with the natural development of society.
It is a novel that shows the inner battle of its protagonist Anton, who is full of doubt, both in himself and in the mankind (on both planets). Anton constantly doubts himself and his colleagues. At the start of the novel, Anton can see that things are going baldy on this planet. All the learned men are being killed and Anton is not content to stand and watch. At the same time, Anton is not sure what exactly is he supposed to do. His colleagues give him examples of Earthman who have forgotten their true identity and got mixed up in the struggles of the planet. How does one remain distant and remain a human? Anton is torn between pity for the people and his hate towards the more brute examples of this medieval society:
...鈥淏ecause I sincerely hate and despise them. Not pity them, no鈥攐nly hate and despise. I can justify the stupidity and brutality of the kid I just passed all I want鈥� the social conditions, the appalling upbringing, anything at all鈥攂ut I now clearly see that he鈥檚 my enemy, the enemy of all that I love, the enemy of my friends, the enemy of what I hold most sacred. And I don鈥檛 hate him theoretically, as a 鈥渢ypical specimen,鈥� but him as himself, him as an individual. I hate his slobbering mug, the stink of his unwashed body, his blind faith, his animosity toward everything other than sex and booze. There he goes, stomping around, the oaf, who half a year ago was still being thrashed by a fat-bellied father in a vain attempt to prepare him for selling stale flour and old jam; he鈥檚 wheezing, the dumb lug, struggling to recall the paragraphs of badly crammed regulations, and he just can鈥檛 figure out whether he鈥檚 supposed to cut the noble don down with his ax, shout 鈥淪top!鈥� or just forget about it. No one will find out anyway, so he鈥檒l forget about it, go back to his recess, stuff some chewing bark into his mouth and chew it loudly, drooling and smacking his lips. And there鈥檚 nothing that he wants to know, and there鈥檚 nothing he wants to think about.鈥�
Hard to Be a God is a wonderful SF novel, full of interesting ideas and moral debates. My only complain would be that it ended sooner than I expected. I do appreciate the economy of the writing. A short novel can convey a lot if a writer is skillful and this one certainly does raises many interesting questions. However, I was left wanting more. I wanted to know more about the characters, about the future societies it describes and etc. I have a feeling that the novel ended mid sentence. I don't mind an ambiguous ending, but I hoped for something more towards the end. Nevertheless, this is still a great novel and one that I would recommend to everyone.
Hard to Be a God tells a tale of Anton, an Earth-man from a future society who dwells on a newly discovered planet with middle age society (feudalism). Anton dwells there for research purposes and assumes a disguise persona of a nobleman. Anton isn't the only human dwelling on the planet, there are other researchers and scientists like him. In fact, Anton and other Earth-men are expected to send information back to Earth so that future historians can examine it. There are also expected to follow strict rules, they are not to interfere with the natural development of society.
It is a novel that shows the inner battle of its protagonist Anton, who is full of doubt, both in himself and in the mankind (on both planets). Anton constantly doubts himself and his colleagues. At the start of the novel, Anton can see that things are going baldy on this planet. All the learned men are being killed and Anton is not content to stand and watch. At the same time, Anton is not sure what exactly is he supposed to do. His colleagues give him examples of Earthman who have forgotten their true identity and got mixed up in the struggles of the planet. How does one remain distant and remain a human? Anton is torn between pity for the people and his hate towards the more brute examples of this medieval society:
...鈥淏ecause I sincerely hate and despise them. Not pity them, no鈥攐nly hate and despise. I can justify the stupidity and brutality of the kid I just passed all I want鈥� the social conditions, the appalling upbringing, anything at all鈥攂ut I now clearly see that he鈥檚 my enemy, the enemy of all that I love, the enemy of my friends, the enemy of what I hold most sacred. And I don鈥檛 hate him theoretically, as a 鈥渢ypical specimen,鈥� but him as himself, him as an individual. I hate his slobbering mug, the stink of his unwashed body, his blind faith, his animosity toward everything other than sex and booze. There he goes, stomping around, the oaf, who half a year ago was still being thrashed by a fat-bellied father in a vain attempt to prepare him for selling stale flour and old jam; he鈥檚 wheezing, the dumb lug, struggling to recall the paragraphs of badly crammed regulations, and he just can鈥檛 figure out whether he鈥檚 supposed to cut the noble don down with his ax, shout 鈥淪top!鈥� or just forget about it. No one will find out anyway, so he鈥檒l forget about it, go back to his recess, stuff some chewing bark into his mouth and chew it loudly, drooling and smacking his lips. And there鈥檚 nothing that he wants to know, and there鈥檚 nothing he wants to think about.鈥�
Hard to Be a God is a wonderful SF novel, full of interesting ideas and moral debates. My only complain would be that it ended sooner than I expected. I do appreciate the economy of the writing. A short novel can convey a lot if a writer is skillful and this one certainly does raises many interesting questions. However, I was left wanting more. I wanted to know more about the characters, about the future societies it describes and etc. I have a feeling that the novel ended mid sentence. I don't mind an ambiguous ending, but I hoped for something more towards the end. Nevertheless, this is still a great novel and one that I would recommend to everyone.
November 8, 2015
I was fascinated by the sound of this when I came across it in the library, because I really liked Roadside Picnic, and because the foreword mentions parallels with Star Trek and Iain M. Banks鈥� Culture novels. However, I found this鈥� pretty much unreadable. There鈥檚 a sort of opaqueness I associate with reading Russian novels in translations, but in spades. Supposedly, this translation is much more readable than the old one, which was done via German, but鈥� if that鈥檚 the case, I hate to think what the old one was like.
It鈥檚 really disappointing, honestly, because the foreword makes it sound interesting, it鈥檚 blurbed by Ursula Le Guin, and the parallels mentioned are there. But I couldn鈥檛 even hold onto the meaning of the action 鈥� why did this character say that, what was the significance of that鈥�
I might try again at some other time, maybe with the other translation, or with some future translation. The setting itself 鈥� being fairly traditional-fantasy-esque 鈥� doesn鈥檛 bother me, and I did, as I said, enjoy Roadside Picnic. Hm.
It鈥檚 really disappointing, honestly, because the foreword makes it sound interesting, it鈥檚 blurbed by Ursula Le Guin, and the parallels mentioned are there. But I couldn鈥檛 even hold onto the meaning of the action 鈥� why did this character say that, what was the significance of that鈥�
I might try again at some other time, maybe with the other translation, or with some future translation. The setting itself 鈥� being fairly traditional-fantasy-esque 鈥� doesn鈥檛 bother me, and I did, as I said, enjoy Roadside Picnic. Hm.
July 20, 2017
"B眉t眉n belalar, karde艧ler, b眉t眉n belalar 艧u okumu艧lardan 莽谋k谋yor! 脰nce gelmi艧 parayla saadet olmaz, diyorlar, sonra k枚yl眉 dedi臒in de insan evlad谋d谋r; sonra k眉fre varan maniler, pe艧inden ayaklanma... Hepsini asacaks谋n bunlar谋n, karde艧! Mesela ben olsam ne mi yapard谋m? Evvela sorard谋m: Okuman yazman var m谋? 脰yleyse do臒ru dara臒ac谋na!"
April 11, 2013
It's intelligent, and philosophical, and it makes you angry, and it makes you think, and it makes you hope.
It involves a planet which is in a Medieval stage of development, so Earth sends in "on the ground" observers for study purposes, who are trained to blend in. The thing is, what to a researcher on Earth "interesting development, 200 people got killed in a routine feudal coup," to the person on the ground are his friends dying. Yet, they cannot interfere, shortcircuit the curse of history and give (e.g.) the more enlightened guys guns, as that would result in more death, more innocent people (only different ones) dying.
But does standing back make you less human? When you start to see people not as individuals but as masses, there's a problem. The main character, Anton, is probably one of my favorite fictional characters ever, and the end? Wow. You see him fall apart more and more during the book, as he witnesses more and more events he knows he should not interfere in, but is morally repulsed to let proceed. He is a good man, whose humanity is outraged more and more daily, and he is teetering on the edge of losing it the whole book, But there is also no question that if he did not act, he would forfeit a claim to his own humanity, because it would be inhuman not to have a snapping point. And of course his actions do not make it better.
The book really does make a point that people as people, matter. For example, Kira is not even a blip in a history book, she didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. But of course, she was the world to Anton, And every person who died in any of these events historians record, routine palace coups, book burnings, little wars, really mattered to somebody. But, and that's why I love it, interference does not make it better for others. These people are not ready for modernity. Interference allows you to save your own humanity, but no more. I don't know how something so hopeless comes across as so hopeful, but it does.
It involves a planet which is in a Medieval stage of development, so Earth sends in "on the ground" observers for study purposes, who are trained to blend in. The thing is, what to a researcher on Earth "interesting development, 200 people got killed in a routine feudal coup," to the person on the ground are his friends dying. Yet, they cannot interfere, shortcircuit the curse of history and give (e.g.) the more enlightened guys guns, as that would result in more death, more innocent people (only different ones) dying.
But does standing back make you less human? When you start to see people not as individuals but as masses, there's a problem. The main character, Anton, is probably one of my favorite fictional characters ever, and the end? Wow. You see him fall apart more and more during the book, as he witnesses more and more events he knows he should not interfere in, but is morally repulsed to let proceed. He is a good man, whose humanity is outraged more and more daily, and he is teetering on the edge of losing it the whole book, But there is also no question that if he did not act, he would forfeit a claim to his own humanity, because it would be inhuman not to have a snapping point. And of course his actions do not make it better.
The book really does make a point that people as people, matter. For example, Kira is not even a blip in a history book, she didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. But of course, she was the world to Anton, And every person who died in any of these events historians record, routine palace coups, book burnings, little wars, really mattered to somebody. But, and that's why I love it, interference does not make it better for others. These people are not ready for modernity. Interference allows you to save your own humanity, but no more. I don't know how something so hopeless comes across as so hopeful, but it does.
April 25, 2011
I have been delaying this review for a while now. I wanted to do the Strugatsky's justice but I just haven't been able to come up with anything intelligent or witty to relate to you in honor of their work. All I can say is read the book, you won't regret it.
The Story
It starts off very symbolically with some kids playing on a one way street; this mirrors evolution and history. All these things flow in one direction and travel along with their own unalterable velocities. Now lets suppose that evolution follows a linear course. Every planet capable of housing life develops similar lifeforms as our Earth with the primates ultimately adapting into primitive versions of the human race. We superior humans, who have attained the pinnacle of perfection, ship some of our own off to these developing planets to observe and indirectly help speed along the progress of the various indigenous peoples.
And so the story begins. Anton is covertly trying to further the medieval age humans with his fellow comrades. They quickly discover that evolution does not come as easily to a people who aren't ready for it. If fact the social evolution of these alien civilizations worked in the opposite direction than they had initially thought. The ignorance and prejudices of the day work against them while the effects of culture shock begin mounting. After several years spent in vain Anton begins seeing the people as little more than savages fit for being abandoned or destroyed. His mental condition gently starts to deteriorate as he spends time in a vastly different environment than he is accustomed to. He yearns for his home planet but must fulfill his responsibility to the people. It truly is hard to be a god, he realizes.
The Writing
One word. Seamless.
The Strugatsky combo of Boris and Arkady is so dynamic and well-meshed that I had no idea when I made the transition from one writers work to then next. I have read many works written by dual authors and it has always been relatively simple to spot the parts where one author passed the pen to the other. Not so with Boris and Arkady! (Maybe it's solely a brother/sister thing) Another thing that I always find pleasing is the structure of the sentences in stories originally written in Russian. There was something distinct added to the story when long flowing sentences were used to depict the thoughts of the author. I find this to generally be the sign of talented Russians writers.
Final Summation: I promise you'll like this book. If you don't it's short so you won't hate me too much.
The Story
It starts off very symbolically with some kids playing on a one way street; this mirrors evolution and history. All these things flow in one direction and travel along with their own unalterable velocities. Now lets suppose that evolution follows a linear course. Every planet capable of housing life develops similar lifeforms as our Earth with the primates ultimately adapting into primitive versions of the human race. We superior humans, who have attained the pinnacle of perfection, ship some of our own off to these developing planets to observe and indirectly help speed along the progress of the various indigenous peoples.
And so the story begins. Anton is covertly trying to further the medieval age humans with his fellow comrades. They quickly discover that evolution does not come as easily to a people who aren't ready for it. If fact the social evolution of these alien civilizations worked in the opposite direction than they had initially thought. The ignorance and prejudices of the day work against them while the effects of culture shock begin mounting. After several years spent in vain Anton begins seeing the people as little more than savages fit for being abandoned or destroyed. His mental condition gently starts to deteriorate as he spends time in a vastly different environment than he is accustomed to. He yearns for his home planet but must fulfill his responsibility to the people. It truly is hard to be a god, he realizes.
The Writing
One word. Seamless.
The Strugatsky combo of Boris and Arkady is so dynamic and well-meshed that I had no idea when I made the transition from one writers work to then next. I have read many works written by dual authors and it has always been relatively simple to spot the parts where one author passed the pen to the other. Not so with Boris and Arkady! (Maybe it's solely a brother/sister thing) Another thing that I always find pleasing is the structure of the sentences in stories originally written in Russian. There was something distinct added to the story when long flowing sentences were used to depict the thoughts of the author. I find this to generally be the sign of talented Russians writers.
Final Summation: I promise you'll like this book. If you don't it's short so you won't hate me too much.
September 2, 2024
丕蹖賳 乇賵夭鈥屬囏� 亘丕 賲乇诏 丕夭 丿賳蹖丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫辟堐屬�
亘丕 賲乇诏 賲丕 乇丕 丕夭 丿賳蹖丕 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟嗀�.
讴鬲丕亘 禺丿丕 亘賵丿賳 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲 丕夭 丕賵賳 讴鬲丕亘丕 亘賵丿 讴賴 賮賯胤 禺賵賳丿賲 讴賴 鬲賲賵賲 卮賴 賵 亘賴 夭賵乇 鬲賲賵賲卮 讴乇丿賲. 賳賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 讴鬲丕亘 亘丿蹖 亘丕卮賴 賴丕貙 丕鬲賮丕賯丕 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 禺蹖賱蹖 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵亘蹖賴 賵 丨乇賮 賲賴賲蹖 丿丕乇賴 讴賴 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 賲蹖賮賴賲蹖賲 丕賵賳 丨乇賮卮 趩蹖賴 賵賱蹖 讴賱 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀� 丕賳讴丕乇 蹖賴 趩蹖夭蹖 亘蹖賳 賲賳 賵 讴鬲丕亘 賯乇丕乇 诏乇賮鬲賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖鈥屫簇� 丕夭 禺賵賳丿賳卮 賱匕鬲蹖 賳亘乇賲.
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖丿賴 禺賵亘蹖 丿丕卮鬲 讴賴 丿乇 倬爻 丕賵賳 丕蹖丿賴 倬蹖丕賲 禺蹖賱蹖 禺賵亘蹖賲 亘賵丿 賵賱蹖 讴賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 蹖賴 胤賵乇蹖 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕賳诏丕乇 蹖賴 丌丿賲 鬲丕夭賴 讴丕乇 丕賵賳賵 賳賵卮鬲賴.
丨爻 賲蹖讴賳賲 賲卮讴賱 亘夭乇诏 讴鬲丕亘 鬲乇噩賲賴 丕賵賳 亘丕卮賴 讴賴 亘丕毓孬 賲蹖鈥屫簇� 丨爻 讴賳蹖 蹖賴 噩丕蹖 讴丕乇 賲蹖賱賳诏賴.
鬲賵 賴賲蹖賳 诏賵丿乇蹖丿夭 蹖讴蹖 賳賵卮鬲賴 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕賳诏丕乇 鬲乇噩賲賴 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 讴鬲丕亘 賴賲 噩丕賱亘 賳蹖爻鬲 賵 丨鬲蹖 鬲乇噩賲賴 賮丕乇爻蹖卮 亘賴鬲乇賴.
禺賱丕氐賴 賳賲蹖丿賵賳賲 丨爻 賲蹖讴賳賲 丕诏賴 鬲乇噩賲賴 亘賴鬲乇蹖 丿丕卮鬲 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 丕夭卮 亘匕鬲 亘亘乇賲.
蹖毓賳蹖 丨爻賲 亘賴 讴鬲丕亘 鄄 丕夭 鄣 亘賵丿 賵 賮賯胤 趩賵賳 賲蹖丿賵賳蹖 讴鬲丕亘 禺賵亘蹖賴 賳鬲賵賳爻鬲賲 鄄 亘丿賲 賵 賴賲賵賳 鄢 丕夭 鄣 乇賵 丿丕丿賲.
April 7, 2017
I've waited a long time to read this book, due to its rarity and price, but it was thankfully recently republished and I had to get my hands on it, being such a fan of Soviet science-fiction and the Strugatsky brothers in particular (Roadside Picnic... So good).
This novel imagines that Earth achieved perfect Communism, and the Moscow Historical Society sends agents out to other worlds to guide the development of the human condition with a subtle invisible hand. The protagonist, Don Rumata, is one such cosmonaut/agent, and discovers it is indeed 'Hard to be a God,' watching in dismay as the intelligentsia and dissident ideas are destroyed by the forces of Don Reba (originally Don Rebia, an all too obvious anagram of the infamous Beria of the USSR). I love that the Strugatsky brothers were able to publish such brilliant and incisive literature in a repressive communist society under the guise of criticizing feudalism's treatment of freedom of speech, the fate of freethinkers, innovators, and the intelligentsia.
The book also provides room for philosophical thought, as Don Rumata talks with a persecuted doctor/thinker about what he would ask God to do about the problem of evil and the human condition, with Rumata playing the role of God explaining why each well-intentioned intervention would ultimately fail. Another philosophical conversation follows Don Rumata's conversation with 'Arata the Beautiful,' a man fighting for freedom from tyranny and oppression who asks Rumata to provide him with the proverbial 'fire from heaven' with which to strike down all the oppressors. Once again, Rumata realizes his limitations as a God, and though Arata was a man before his time, he could not oblige his request; causing Arata to tell Rumata that it would be better if he and his comrades had never come at all.
A wonderful novel about oppression, the human condition, evil, satire, and imagination.
This novel imagines that Earth achieved perfect Communism, and the Moscow Historical Society sends agents out to other worlds to guide the development of the human condition with a subtle invisible hand. The protagonist, Don Rumata, is one such cosmonaut/agent, and discovers it is indeed 'Hard to be a God,' watching in dismay as the intelligentsia and dissident ideas are destroyed by the forces of Don Reba (originally Don Rebia, an all too obvious anagram of the infamous Beria of the USSR). I love that the Strugatsky brothers were able to publish such brilliant and incisive literature in a repressive communist society under the guise of criticizing feudalism's treatment of freedom of speech, the fate of freethinkers, innovators, and the intelligentsia.
The book also provides room for philosophical thought, as Don Rumata talks with a persecuted doctor/thinker about what he would ask God to do about the problem of evil and the human condition, with Rumata playing the role of God explaining why each well-intentioned intervention would ultimately fail. Another philosophical conversation follows Don Rumata's conversation with 'Arata the Beautiful,' a man fighting for freedom from tyranny and oppression who asks Rumata to provide him with the proverbial 'fire from heaven' with which to strike down all the oppressors. Once again, Rumata realizes his limitations as a God, and though Arata was a man before his time, he could not oblige his request; causing Arata to tell Rumata that it would be better if he and his comrades had never come at all.
A wonderful novel about oppression, the human condition, evil, satire, and imagination.
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October 4, 2015
One of the things that makes alien contact attractive is the possibility of interacting with a species more advanced than our own. Outside of films, whenever we think of aliens we tend to see them as superior beings, with great knowledge to impart, more sophisticated technology, etc. In the Strugatsky鈥檚 Roadside Picnic the Russian brothers cleverly played on this idea, with the visitors being completely disinterested in human beings, suggesting, you might argue, a kind of haughtiness in their attitude towards us. But what if it is not the case? What if contact was made and it turned out that we are actually the more advanced species? Looking around me, that strikes me as really quite a depressing thought.
In any case, this is the situation in Hard to be a God, only the alien planet is not simply primitive, relative to earth, but is essentially earth with the clock turned back thousands of years to the middle ages. Upon discovery of this planet human beings have taken to sending observers to live amongst the natives. The reason for this never seems particularly clear, but it is stressed to these people that their task is limited to observation, that they must not interfere or intervene, and they certainly should not reveal their purpose or real identity. Most of the agents find these rules easy enough to stick to, with the notable exception being Rumata [earth name Anton].
For me, this is one of the great existential novels, with Rumata's emotional and intellectual crisis being as intense, and unrelenting, as any of Dostoevsky鈥檚 antiheroes. His role, or part, is as a womanising nobleman and dangerous, expert swordsman. In this he fails, not only because he isn鈥檛 allowed to kill anyone, but also because he cannot bear to sleep with any of the native women, who are not prone to bathing. More interestingly, he is a superior, more evolved being, who every day is forced to live amongst, to confront, the barbarous, drunken, and primitive. Moreover, the city is run by the tyrannical Don Reba, who plots and kills, and generally brutalises the locals, paying particular attention to the literate, who are captured and hung. It is in relation to this that one begins to understand the significance of the title.
[From Aleksei German鈥檚 film adaptation of the book]
Rumata is the God [in fact numerous characters believe him to be divine] who has the power and knowledge to alter what is happening, even put a stop to it altogether. The dilemma that he faces is a theological one, is one that is generally thought to be God鈥檚. Think about how often you hear people cussing God, criticising Him for not doing something to prevent certain tragedies. When bad things happen He is charged with not caring, with abandoning his children. The counter argument is that if you force people to be good, then goodness essentially becomes meaningless, and if you stop all disasters, if only positive things ever happen, you prevent people from learning through adversity. God, it is said, created free will, and created the world, and then left us all to it, come what may, and this is the best thing for us. These are some of the issues Hard to be a God asks you to consider.
Furthermore, Rumata is aware that he cannot make people enlightened. He could remove Don Reba, he could save individual lives [and he does], but this will actually change nothing, or very little, because the people will still be primitive. On this, I was put in mind of certain conflicts, which are deemed humanitarian, whereby the UK and/or US government has invaded countries and sought to remove a tyrannical regime, with Iraq being the most obvious example. I鈥檓 not, I ought to point out, calling Iraqis primitive, but there are parallels between that situation and Hard to be a God, as both raise questions about how much of a responsibility do we have to protect other nations, and how worthwhile is it if you cannot guarantee that the people will accept the new conditions and way of living? There is, moreover, something of Joseph Conrad鈥檚 Heart of Darkness about the Strugatsky鈥檚 book, in that there is a certain arrogance in going into another country [or planet, in this instance] and negatively judging it against your own. In fact, Hard to be a God could be interpreted as a comment on colonial arrogance, because it suggests that perhaps 鈥榰ncivilised鈥� countries ought to be left alone, be allowed to develop and work things out on their own.
It ought to be clear by now that this is a weighty, complex book. I have in this review really only tentatively jabbed at all the fascinating themes and ideas contained with in it [I haven鈥檛, for example, discussed the cyclical nature of history]. However, one thing that does demand some attention is the theory that Hard to be a God is political allegory, that the world it describes is really Russia in the 1960鈥檚, the decade in which it was written. This is given weight by the Strugatsky鈥檚 themselves, who claimed to have started the book as a kind of Three Musketeers in Space-type historical romp, only to change their minds. They did so, it is said, due to fears that the death of Stalin, and 'the thaw' that followed, had done little to change the climate of the country, that artists and their art were still under attack, would be suppressed etc. Yet while there is clearly some of this in the book 鈥� specifically Don Reba鈥檚 hatred for writers and the literate 鈥� I feel it is reaching somewhat to suggest that this is the real or primary focus.
Before finishing I want to briefly touch upon a couple of negatives, one more serious than the other. The first is that Hard to be a God is essentially plotless, and pretty repetitive. You will, I鈥檓 sure, have your own tolerance levels where this sort of thing is concerned, but it didn鈥檛 particularly bother me. More of an issue was the ending, which felt rushed to me. It was as though the Strugatsky鈥檚 had simply taken on too much, too many big questions, and couldn鈥檛 figure out how to neatly tie up their narrative, and so it ends at an arbitrary point. Yet while this is a criticism it is, in a way, also a kind of compliment too, because I wanted the book to be longer, I wanted another couple of hundred pages so that we [the reader and the authors] could really, fully ride this engrossing and challenging story out and so achieve a more natural and rewarding conclusion.
In any case, this is the situation in Hard to be a God, only the alien planet is not simply primitive, relative to earth, but is essentially earth with the clock turned back thousands of years to the middle ages. Upon discovery of this planet human beings have taken to sending observers to live amongst the natives. The reason for this never seems particularly clear, but it is stressed to these people that their task is limited to observation, that they must not interfere or intervene, and they certainly should not reveal their purpose or real identity. Most of the agents find these rules easy enough to stick to, with the notable exception being Rumata [earth name Anton].
For me, this is one of the great existential novels, with Rumata's emotional and intellectual crisis being as intense, and unrelenting, as any of Dostoevsky鈥檚 antiheroes. His role, or part, is as a womanising nobleman and dangerous, expert swordsman. In this he fails, not only because he isn鈥檛 allowed to kill anyone, but also because he cannot bear to sleep with any of the native women, who are not prone to bathing. More interestingly, he is a superior, more evolved being, who every day is forced to live amongst, to confront, the barbarous, drunken, and primitive. Moreover, the city is run by the tyrannical Don Reba, who plots and kills, and generally brutalises the locals, paying particular attention to the literate, who are captured and hung. It is in relation to this that one begins to understand the significance of the title.
[From Aleksei German鈥檚 film adaptation of the book]
Rumata is the God [in fact numerous characters believe him to be divine] who has the power and knowledge to alter what is happening, even put a stop to it altogether. The dilemma that he faces is a theological one, is one that is generally thought to be God鈥檚. Think about how often you hear people cussing God, criticising Him for not doing something to prevent certain tragedies. When bad things happen He is charged with not caring, with abandoning his children. The counter argument is that if you force people to be good, then goodness essentially becomes meaningless, and if you stop all disasters, if only positive things ever happen, you prevent people from learning through adversity. God, it is said, created free will, and created the world, and then left us all to it, come what may, and this is the best thing for us. These are some of the issues Hard to be a God asks you to consider.
Furthermore, Rumata is aware that he cannot make people enlightened. He could remove Don Reba, he could save individual lives [and he does], but this will actually change nothing, or very little, because the people will still be primitive. On this, I was put in mind of certain conflicts, which are deemed humanitarian, whereby the UK and/or US government has invaded countries and sought to remove a tyrannical regime, with Iraq being the most obvious example. I鈥檓 not, I ought to point out, calling Iraqis primitive, but there are parallels between that situation and Hard to be a God, as both raise questions about how much of a responsibility do we have to protect other nations, and how worthwhile is it if you cannot guarantee that the people will accept the new conditions and way of living? There is, moreover, something of Joseph Conrad鈥檚 Heart of Darkness about the Strugatsky鈥檚 book, in that there is a certain arrogance in going into another country [or planet, in this instance] and negatively judging it against your own. In fact, Hard to be a God could be interpreted as a comment on colonial arrogance, because it suggests that perhaps 鈥榰ncivilised鈥� countries ought to be left alone, be allowed to develop and work things out on their own.
鈥淎nd no matter how much the gray people in power despise knowledge, they can鈥檛 do anything about historical objectivity; they can slow it down, but they can鈥檛 stop it.鈥�
It ought to be clear by now that this is a weighty, complex book. I have in this review really only tentatively jabbed at all the fascinating themes and ideas contained with in it [I haven鈥檛, for example, discussed the cyclical nature of history]. However, one thing that does demand some attention is the theory that Hard to be a God is political allegory, that the world it describes is really Russia in the 1960鈥檚, the decade in which it was written. This is given weight by the Strugatsky鈥檚 themselves, who claimed to have started the book as a kind of Three Musketeers in Space-type historical romp, only to change their minds. They did so, it is said, due to fears that the death of Stalin, and 'the thaw' that followed, had done little to change the climate of the country, that artists and their art were still under attack, would be suppressed etc. Yet while there is clearly some of this in the book 鈥� specifically Don Reba鈥檚 hatred for writers and the literate 鈥� I feel it is reaching somewhat to suggest that this is the real or primary focus.
Before finishing I want to briefly touch upon a couple of negatives, one more serious than the other. The first is that Hard to be a God is essentially plotless, and pretty repetitive. You will, I鈥檓 sure, have your own tolerance levels where this sort of thing is concerned, but it didn鈥檛 particularly bother me. More of an issue was the ending, which felt rushed to me. It was as though the Strugatsky鈥檚 had simply taken on too much, too many big questions, and couldn鈥檛 figure out how to neatly tie up their narrative, and so it ends at an arbitrary point. Yet while this is a criticism it is, in a way, also a kind of compliment too, because I wanted the book to be longer, I wanted another couple of hundred pages so that we [the reader and the authors] could really, fully ride this engrossing and challenging story out and so achieve a more natural and rewarding conclusion.
July 2, 2021
A thoroughly satisfying, creative and intelligent book.
This is a book about history made even more interesting by the fact that it鈥檚 told through a Marxist lens. This is what I want when I read books from other cultures; books that give me an insight into other ideologies or ways of thinking. I鈥檓 tired of Soviet writers idolised in the West because they secretly disparaged against the regime. I get it. Now give me a stiff glass of Soviet bardcore sci-fi!
I might as well add I came to this book by way of , a film I would only recommend to seasoned cinephiles, as it鈥檚 a three-hour-long black-and-white mostly atmospheric and borderline incomprehensible Russian monstrosity. The book, on the other hand, while still revolting and plot-thin, is a light and riveting read, especially in this new translation by Olena Bormashenko (older translations are reportedly terrible).
The premise is brilliant and perfectly executed. In the far future, Earth has become a Communist utopia, and when man sets out to explore the stars, they discover human life is developing on other planets as well. Observers are then sent to supervise and study the evolution of history on these other planets as they make their slow but (according to Marxist theory) inexorable way towards Communism.
All this is mere context and hardly mentioned. They don鈥檛 milk the fact that our hero is a future spaceman on a primitive alien planet. And that鈥檚 great. The focus of the story is on this man鈥檚 immersion into local society and it wouldn鈥檛 be half as effective if it kept making spacey sci-fi remarks.
From the get-go, we are thrown in media fucking res into the messy, strinking, muddy, bloody, drunken cesspool that is Arkanar, a city stuck in the mediaeval ages. The book follows the day-to-day life of our observer, posing as a local baron, as he does his best to not intervene while he watches the godless turmoil of history in motion.
Most interesting of all is the character study of the villain, don Reba, a thinly veiled personification of Beria, the depraved, double-crossing minister of Internal Affairs under Stalin.
Damn that鈥檚 good. And the echoes of the chaos following Stalin鈥檚 death make for a wonderful piece of hidden nerdfuel.
Will read more by the Strugatsky bros. Love it, love it, love it.
This is a book about history made even more interesting by the fact that it鈥檚 told through a Marxist lens. This is what I want when I read books from other cultures; books that give me an insight into other ideologies or ways of thinking. I鈥檓 tired of Soviet writers idolised in the West because they secretly disparaged against the regime. I get it. Now give me a stiff glass of Soviet bardcore sci-fi!
I might as well add I came to this book by way of , a film I would only recommend to seasoned cinephiles, as it鈥檚 a three-hour-long black-and-white mostly atmospheric and borderline incomprehensible Russian monstrosity. The book, on the other hand, while still revolting and plot-thin, is a light and riveting read, especially in this new translation by Olena Bormashenko (older translations are reportedly terrible).
The premise is brilliant and perfectly executed. In the far future, Earth has become a Communist utopia, and when man sets out to explore the stars, they discover human life is developing on other planets as well. Observers are then sent to supervise and study the evolution of history on these other planets as they make their slow but (according to Marxist theory) inexorable way towards Communism.
All this is mere context and hardly mentioned. They don鈥檛 milk the fact that our hero is a future spaceman on a primitive alien planet. And that鈥檚 great. The focus of the story is on this man鈥檚 immersion into local society and it wouldn鈥檛 be half as effective if it kept making spacey sci-fi remarks.
From the get-go, we are thrown in media fucking res into the messy, strinking, muddy, bloody, drunken cesspool that is Arkanar, a city stuck in the mediaeval ages. The book follows the day-to-day life of our observer, posing as a local baron, as he does his best to not intervene while he watches the godless turmoil of history in motion.
Most interesting of all is the character study of the villain, don Reba, a thinly veiled personification of Beria, the depraved, double-crossing minister of Internal Affairs under Stalin.
He emerged out of some musty basement of the palace bureaucracy three years ago, a petty, insignificant functionary, obsequious and pallid, with an almost bluish tint to his skin. Soon the then-First Minister was suddenly arrested and executed, a number of horror-stricken and bewildered officials died during torture, and this tenacious, ruthless genius of mediocrity grew like a pale fungus on their corpses.
Damn that鈥檚 good. And the echoes of the chaos following Stalin鈥檚 death make for a wonderful piece of hidden nerdfuel.
Will read more by the Strugatsky bros. Love it, love it, love it.
July 23, 2021
Damn, this was tough.
The whole book is one long howl of despair and disgust. Not in a this-is-elegantly-bleak way, but in an oh-jesus-please-make-it-stop way. Even the slapstick "light relief" passages are dispiriting.
It's a deep tribute to the Strugatskys' skill when I say I just couldn't bear it. Yeah, thanks fellas for making me feel something of what it was like to be an artist in the USSR in the 1960s. And double thanks for making me feel the parallels with what's happening in the world in general lately.
Now please excuse me while I go and scream into a bucket.
The whole book is one long howl of despair and disgust. Not in a this-is-elegantly-bleak way, but in an oh-jesus-please-make-it-stop way. Even the slapstick "light relief" passages are dispiriting.
It's a deep tribute to the Strugatskys' skill when I say I just couldn't bear it. Yeah, thanks fellas for making me feel something of what it was like to be an artist in the USSR in the 1960s. And double thanks for making me feel the parallels with what's happening in the world in general lately.
Now please excuse me while I go and scream into a bucket.
June 29, 2014
Written by two Russian brothers in the mid-20th century in response to political pressure on art and artistic works under Khrushchev, Hard to be a God is about one man's struggle with the questions of how far to go to save others and live by his moral code, and if he can observe without interfering.
The main character in this novel, known mostly as Don Rumata, is a 'historian' who has been placed on a more primitive world to live in and observe the feudal culture that exists there. In kind of a Truman Show way, a camera placed in a gold circlet on his head reports everything he sees, his interactions, the daily life of the people. This culture that he witnesses is a mix of medieval feudalism and 20th century totalitarianism, with secret police and attacks on literate, artistic individuals - writers, poets, artists, musicians, scientists, philosophers, etc.
The story kind of drops its readers in the midst of Don Rumata's work. He's been an undercover historian for some time, and has been made sick to his soul by the atrocities committed under the oppressive regime. His dilemma: ordered to observe and never interfere, he feels compelled to rescue the members of the intelligentsia that he can. His role as don, or noble, is to drink and fool around with other dons and ladies, and he finds the company of the other nobles stultifying and dull. When he's not carousing, he tries to avoid the grey police, the ones who arrest and hang the 'bookworms,' as the intelligentsia are called.
This novel explores several interesting issues, such as political control of art and science and intellect, how totalitarian regimes affect their subjects, what sparks rebellion, when to prevent (or not at all) abuse, and what consequences acting "for the greater good" might have. In general, these issues aren't explored deeply, but the novel does pose the questions, leaving it up to the readers to think about it further. There is a thesis - that stifling art and science and culture ruins individuals' lives, but more importantly it destroys the society as a whole.
As a science fiction novel, I enjoyed Hard to be a God. It's a mix of bleakness and humor, action and silliness. The premise is interesting: sending 'operatives' to other, less-developed worlds, to study the cultures and societies that live there. The world-building is unique and convincing, a mix of Spanish and Russian cultures, medieval society and mid-century communism that have taken on their own characteristics and become a grey, depressing, and dangerous civilization.
I struggled with the only female characters - one, an unscrupulous and promiscuous woman who, it is implied, "deserved what she got," and the weak saint, who is helpless without the main character and so honest and simple and true and everything else. Clearly, we have the Madonna and the whore stereotypes here, and no other female characters to balance them out. The characterizations of women are weak, insubstantial, and decidedly unoriginal.
The other thing I found difficult was how distanced I felt from the story. For whatever reason, I never felt fully engaged or absorbed. Don Rumata's difficulties were thought-provoking, but the immediacy of the action was filtered too heavily by his narration. Additionally, it seemed like a clip had been taken from Don Rumata's life and work as an operative. As readers, we never really learn about how it was for him before the events that take place in the book. The context of his own life is hard to perceive.
Overall, this book gives readers an interesting glimpse into classic science fiction from Russia. If you're looking for a diverse perspective, that would definitely qualify. An adventurous, dark tale that questions the results of totalitarianism, it is not difficult to read. I would recommend this book for fans of classic science fiction and more literary science fiction.
See my post on for read-alikes.
The main character in this novel, known mostly as Don Rumata, is a 'historian' who has been placed on a more primitive world to live in and observe the feudal culture that exists there. In kind of a Truman Show way, a camera placed in a gold circlet on his head reports everything he sees, his interactions, the daily life of the people. This culture that he witnesses is a mix of medieval feudalism and 20th century totalitarianism, with secret police and attacks on literate, artistic individuals - writers, poets, artists, musicians, scientists, philosophers, etc.
The story kind of drops its readers in the midst of Don Rumata's work. He's been an undercover historian for some time, and has been made sick to his soul by the atrocities committed under the oppressive regime. His dilemma: ordered to observe and never interfere, he feels compelled to rescue the members of the intelligentsia that he can. His role as don, or noble, is to drink and fool around with other dons and ladies, and he finds the company of the other nobles stultifying and dull. When he's not carousing, he tries to avoid the grey police, the ones who arrest and hang the 'bookworms,' as the intelligentsia are called.
This novel explores several interesting issues, such as political control of art and science and intellect, how totalitarian regimes affect their subjects, what sparks rebellion, when to prevent (or not at all) abuse, and what consequences acting "for the greater good" might have. In general, these issues aren't explored deeply, but the novel does pose the questions, leaving it up to the readers to think about it further. There is a thesis - that stifling art and science and culture ruins individuals' lives, but more importantly it destroys the society as a whole.
As a science fiction novel, I enjoyed Hard to be a God. It's a mix of bleakness and humor, action and silliness. The premise is interesting: sending 'operatives' to other, less-developed worlds, to study the cultures and societies that live there. The world-building is unique and convincing, a mix of Spanish and Russian cultures, medieval society and mid-century communism that have taken on their own characteristics and become a grey, depressing, and dangerous civilization.
I struggled with the only female characters - one, an unscrupulous and promiscuous woman who, it is implied, "deserved what she got," and the weak saint, who is helpless without the main character and so honest and simple and true and everything else. Clearly, we have the Madonna and the whore stereotypes here, and no other female characters to balance them out. The characterizations of women are weak, insubstantial, and decidedly unoriginal.
The other thing I found difficult was how distanced I felt from the story. For whatever reason, I never felt fully engaged or absorbed. Don Rumata's difficulties were thought-provoking, but the immediacy of the action was filtered too heavily by his narration. Additionally, it seemed like a clip had been taken from Don Rumata's life and work as an operative. As readers, we never really learn about how it was for him before the events that take place in the book. The context of his own life is hard to perceive.
Overall, this book gives readers an interesting glimpse into classic science fiction from Russia. If you're looking for a diverse perspective, that would definitely qualify. An adventurous, dark tale that questions the results of totalitarianism, it is not difficult to read. I would recommend this book for fans of classic science fiction and more literary science fiction.
See my post on for read-alikes.
July 20, 2017
Ooof... Pu葲ine sunt c膬r葲ile care m膬 卯nv膬luie 卯n disperare, dezam膬gire, absurditate 葯i... grea葲膬. Grea葲膬 fa葲膬 de mizeria care colc膬ie 卯n oameni, fa葲膬 de cruzimea, egoismul, indiferen葲a 葯i bestialitatea macabr膬 care le 卯ntunec膬 sufletul.
脦ntr-un viitor nedefinit, Anton, specialist al Institutului de Istorie Experimental膬 de pe P膬m芒nt, c膬l膬tore葯te spre o alt膬 planet膬 cu misiunea de a-i observa pe locuitorii acesteia, f膬r膬 a interveni 卯n evolu葲ia general膬 a societ膬葲ii. In aceast膬 lume cenu葯ie 葯i f膬r膬 de speran葲膬, Anton devine Don Rumata, un nobil feudal a c膬rui avere 卯i permite s膬 se strecoare 卯n cele mai 卯nalte cercuri ale guvern膬rii. Captiv 卯ntr-o societate mizerabil膬 卯n care c膬rturarii, doctorii, poe葲ii 葯i arti葯tii sunt v芒na葲i, tortura葲i 葯i sf芒rteca葲i cu s膬lb膬ticie de c膬tre "Cenu葯ii", garda de securitate a regelui,(Nu avem nevoie de de葯tep葲i. Avem nevoie doar de oameni devota葲i.), Don Rumata este sf芒葯iat 卯n permanen葲膬 卯ntre dorin葲a de a-i salva pe cei din jur, de a-i elibera de suferin葲a 葯i groaza care b芒ntuie 葲inutul 葯i datoria sa, ordinele pe care trebuie s膬 le respecte.
Avem nervi minuna葲i: 葯tim s膬 nu 卯ntoarcem capul c芒nd cineva este b膬tut m膬r sau executat. Avem o incredibil膬 st膬p芒nire de sine: suntem capabili s膬 rezist膬m la efuziunile unor cretini iremediabili. Am uitat 葯i de sil膬, suntem mul葲umi葲i de vasele care de obicei sunt date c芒inilor s膬 fie linse, apoi, pentru ca acestea s膬 arate totu葯i frumos, le 葯tergem cu poalele hainelor jegoase. Am devenit ni葯te monumente de impersonalitate, nici m膬car 卯n somn nu mai rostim limbile P膬m芒ntului.
In mijlocul acestei lumi ce amenin葲膬 s膬-i striveasc膬 sufletul pentru totdeauna, Anton are cuno葯tin葲ele 葯i puterea care ar putea schimba soarta a mii de oameni. M膬cinat de 卯ndoieli, cuprins de dezn膬dejde, sufocat de mediocritatea care 卯l 卯nconjoar膬, Don Rumata se str膬duie葯te s膬 salveze c芒te o f膬r芒m膬 din umanitatea r膬t膬cit膬 a Arkanarului, pune la cale eliberarea unui doctor, u葯ureaz膬 evadarea unor 卯nv膬葲a葲i, finan葲eaz膬 actele de rebeliune sau negociaz膬 r膬scump膬rarea unor c膬rturari. Dar fiecare act de bun膬tate se pierde 卯n v芒ltoarea R芒ului, 卯n mizeria 葯i indiferen葲a de fiecare zi... Unde e sc膬parea?
...to牛i, aproape f膬r膬 excep牛ie, nu erau 卯nc膬 oameni 卯n sensul contemporan al cuv芒ntului, nu erau dec芒t ni艧te lingouri, ni艧te piese brute din care numai secolele s芒ngeroase ale istoriei vor 艧lefui c芒ndva un om m芒ndru, cu adev膬rat liber. Erau pasivi, lacomi, inimaginabil de egoi艧ti. Din punct de vedere psihologic erau aproape cu to牛ii ni艧te sclavi 鈥� sclavi ai credin牛ei, sclavi ai semenilor lor, sclavi ai patimilor 艧i ai cupidit膬葲ii. 艦i dac膬 printr-un capriciu al sor牛ii careva dintre ei se n膬艧tea sau ajungea st膬p芒n, nu 葯tia cum s膬 profite de libertatea lui. Se gr膬bea iar膬艧i s膬 devin膬 un prizonier 鈥� rob al bog膬葲iei, al exager膬rilor nenaturale, al prietenilor deprava葲i, rob al robilor s膬i.
L膬s芒nd deoparte macabrul Universului creat, consisten葲a narativ膬 葯i abilitatea fra葲ilor Strugatski de a-葯i amesteca cititorii 卯n g芒ndurile personajului este uluitoare, pagin膬 dup膬 pagin膬 sim葲i suferin葲a, iminen葲a dezastrului, claustrofobia 葯i lipsa de speran葲膬. Cu toate c膬 elementele de science fiction se pierd destul de u葯or 卯n contextul general al romanului, secven葲ele introspective 葯i armonia stilului compenseaz膬 destul de u葯or aceste aspecte, cel pu葲in pentru mine; 卯n cele din urm膬, totul depinde de a葯tept膬rile cititorului.
A trecut ceva timp de c芒nd nu m-a mai ap膬sat o carte at芒t de 卯ngrozitor.
脦ntr-un viitor nedefinit, Anton, specialist al Institutului de Istorie Experimental膬 de pe P膬m芒nt, c膬l膬tore葯te spre o alt膬 planet膬 cu misiunea de a-i observa pe locuitorii acesteia, f膬r膬 a interveni 卯n evolu葲ia general膬 a societ膬葲ii. In aceast膬 lume cenu葯ie 葯i f膬r膬 de speran葲膬, Anton devine Don Rumata, un nobil feudal a c膬rui avere 卯i permite s膬 se strecoare 卯n cele mai 卯nalte cercuri ale guvern膬rii. Captiv 卯ntr-o societate mizerabil膬 卯n care c膬rturarii, doctorii, poe葲ii 葯i arti葯tii sunt v芒na葲i, tortura葲i 葯i sf芒rteca葲i cu s膬lb膬ticie de c膬tre "Cenu葯ii", garda de securitate a regelui,(Nu avem nevoie de de葯tep葲i. Avem nevoie doar de oameni devota葲i.), Don Rumata este sf芒葯iat 卯n permanen葲膬 卯ntre dorin葲a de a-i salva pe cei din jur, de a-i elibera de suferin葲a 葯i groaza care b芒ntuie 葲inutul 葯i datoria sa, ordinele pe care trebuie s膬 le respecte.
Avem nervi minuna葲i: 葯tim s膬 nu 卯ntoarcem capul c芒nd cineva este b膬tut m膬r sau executat. Avem o incredibil膬 st膬p芒nire de sine: suntem capabili s膬 rezist膬m la efuziunile unor cretini iremediabili. Am uitat 葯i de sil膬, suntem mul葲umi葲i de vasele care de obicei sunt date c芒inilor s膬 fie linse, apoi, pentru ca acestea s膬 arate totu葯i frumos, le 葯tergem cu poalele hainelor jegoase. Am devenit ni葯te monumente de impersonalitate, nici m膬car 卯n somn nu mai rostim limbile P膬m芒ntului.
In mijlocul acestei lumi ce amenin葲膬 s膬-i striveasc膬 sufletul pentru totdeauna, Anton are cuno葯tin葲ele 葯i puterea care ar putea schimba soarta a mii de oameni. M膬cinat de 卯ndoieli, cuprins de dezn膬dejde, sufocat de mediocritatea care 卯l 卯nconjoar膬, Don Rumata se str膬duie葯te s膬 salveze c芒te o f膬r芒m膬 din umanitatea r膬t膬cit膬 a Arkanarului, pune la cale eliberarea unui doctor, u葯ureaz膬 evadarea unor 卯nv膬葲a葲i, finan葲eaz膬 actele de rebeliune sau negociaz膬 r膬scump膬rarea unor c膬rturari. Dar fiecare act de bun膬tate se pierde 卯n v芒ltoarea R芒ului, 卯n mizeria 葯i indiferen葲a de fiecare zi... Unde e sc膬parea?
...to牛i, aproape f膬r膬 excep牛ie, nu erau 卯nc膬 oameni 卯n sensul contemporan al cuv芒ntului, nu erau dec芒t ni艧te lingouri, ni艧te piese brute din care numai secolele s芒ngeroase ale istoriei vor 艧lefui c芒ndva un om m芒ndru, cu adev膬rat liber. Erau pasivi, lacomi, inimaginabil de egoi艧ti. Din punct de vedere psihologic erau aproape cu to牛ii ni艧te sclavi 鈥� sclavi ai credin牛ei, sclavi ai semenilor lor, sclavi ai patimilor 艧i ai cupidit膬葲ii. 艦i dac膬 printr-un capriciu al sor牛ii careva dintre ei se n膬艧tea sau ajungea st膬p芒n, nu 葯tia cum s膬 profite de libertatea lui. Se gr膬bea iar膬艧i s膬 devin膬 un prizonier 鈥� rob al bog膬葲iei, al exager膬rilor nenaturale, al prietenilor deprava葲i, rob al robilor s膬i.
L膬s芒nd deoparte macabrul Universului creat, consisten葲a narativ膬 葯i abilitatea fra葲ilor Strugatski de a-葯i amesteca cititorii 卯n g芒ndurile personajului este uluitoare, pagin膬 dup膬 pagin膬 sim葲i suferin葲a, iminen葲a dezastrului, claustrofobia 葯i lipsa de speran葲膬. Cu toate c膬 elementele de science fiction se pierd destul de u葯or 卯n contextul general al romanului, secven葲ele introspective 葯i armonia stilului compenseaz膬 destul de u葯or aceste aspecte, cel pu葲in pentru mine; 卯n cele din urm膬, totul depinde de a葯tept膬rile cititorului.
A trecut ceva timp de c芒nd nu m-a mai ap膬sat o carte at芒t de 卯ngrozitor.
April 26, 2017
"醿儛醿溼儞醿愥儺醿愥儨 醿涐償醿┽儠醿斸儨醿斸儜醿�, 醿犪儩醿� 醿愥儬醿愥儠醿樶儭 醿愥儬醿愥儰醿斸儬醿� 醿ㄡ償醿掅儠醿樶儷醿氠儤醿�, 醿涐償醿愥儧醿戓儩醿償醿椺儛 醿涐儛醿犪儛醿撫儤醿ａ儦醿� 醿涐償醿椺儛醿ａ儬醿� 醿曖儛醿� 醿撫儛 醿曖儤醿儤, 醿犪儩醿� 醿涐儣醿斸儦醿� 醿┽償醿涐儤 醿儛醿氠儛 醿愥儬醿愥儵醿曖償醿ａ儦醿斸儜醿犪儤醿曖儤 醿愥儧醿⑨儛醿溼儩醿戓儛醿�. 醿涐儛醿掅儬醿愥儧 醿斸儭 醿儛醿氠儛 醿┽償醿涐儭 醿ａ儷醿氠儯醿犪償醿戓儛醿� 醿曖償醿犪儛醿め償醿犪儭 醿ㄡ儠醿斸儦醿樶儭. 醿┽償醿涐儤 醿掅儛醿涐儛醿犪儻醿曖償醿戓償醿戓儤 醿犪儛醿︶儛醿� 醿儛醿撫儩醿♂儨醿ａ儬醿� 醿儛醿氠儤醿� 醿儳醿愥儦醿濁儜醿樶儣 醿撫儛醿涐儛醿犪儶醿償醿戓償醿戓儛醿� 醿樶儱醿償醿曖儛 醿儩醿氠儧醿�. 醿椺儛醿溼儛醿涐償醿戓儬醿儩醿氠償醿戓儤 醿涐儮醿犪償醿戓儤 醿儞醿斸儜醿樶儛醿�, 醿п儠醿斸儦醿愥儢醿� 醿涐儛醿涐儛醿償醿戓儤 醿掅儛醿犪儜醿樶儛醿�, 醿п儠醿斸儦醿愥儢醿� 醿斸儬醿椺儝醿ａ儦醿斸儜醿� 醿涐儲醿愥儦醿愥儮醿濁儜醿斸儨 醿愥儨 醿掅儛醿メ儶醿斸儠醿樶儣 醿ㄡ儠醿斸儦醿樶儛醿� 醿椺儛醿曖儭. 醿撫儛 醿愥儬醿愥儰醿斸儬醿� 醿掅儛醿涐儛醿┽儨醿樶儛 醿ㄡ儤醿ㄡ儠醿斸儦醿� 醿償醿氠償醿戓儤醿� 醿掅儛醿犪儞醿�, 醿ㄡ儤醿ㄡ儠醿斸儦醿� 醿償醿氠償醿戓儤醿� 醿欋儤 醿曖償醿� 醿涐儤醿♂儸醿曖儞醿斸儜醿� 醿儤醿償醿♂儤醿涐儛醿掅儬醿樶儭 醿欋償醿撫儦醿斸儜醿樶儭 醿涐儤醿︶儧醿� 醿儛醿涐儩醿涐儭醿儞醿愥儬 醿涐儩醿濁儱醿犪儯醿� 醿欋償醿犪優醿斸儜醿�.."
"醿┽儠醿斸儨醿� 醿♂儛醿メ儧醿斸儴醿� 醿溼儛醿償醿曖儬醿愥儞 醿涐償醿掅儩醿戓儬醿濁儜醿� 醿ㄡ償醿ａ儷醿氠償醿戓償醿氠儤醿�, 醿溼儛醿償醿曖儬醿愥儞 醿涐償醿掅儩醿戓儛醿犪儤 醿п儩醿曖償醿氠儣醿曖儤醿� 醿溼儛醿償醿曖儬醿愥儞 醿涐儮醿斸儬醿樶儛."
"醿┽儠醿斸儨醿� 醿♂儛醿メ儧醿斸儴醿� 醿溼儛醿償醿曖儬醿愥儞 醿涐償醿掅儩醿戓儬醿濁儜醿� 醿ㄡ償醿ａ儷醿氠償醿戓償醿氠儤醿�, 醿溼儛醿償醿曖儬醿愥儞 醿涐償醿掅儩醿戓儛醿犪儤 醿п儩醿曖償醿氠儣醿曖儤醿� 醿溼儛醿償醿曖儬醿愥儞 醿涐儮醿斸儬醿樶儛."
March 10, 2019
袧械 蟹薪邪屑 泻邪泻 懈蟹芯斜褖芯 褋邪 懈蟹写邪谢懈 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 胁 小小小袪. 袛芯褋褌邪 褋屑械谢懈 褋邪 斜懈谢懈 懈 懈蟹写邪褌械谢懈褌械, 薪械 褋邪屑芯 袘褉邪褌褟褌邪 小褌褉褍谐邪褑泻懈.
孝芯胁邪 械 泻薪懈谐邪 蟹邪 褋屑械谢芯褋褌褌邪 懈 泻邪泻胁芯 胁褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 蟹薪邪褔懈 写邪 褋懈 褋屑械谢: 写邪 褋械 胁褗蟹写褗褉卸懈褕 芯褌 泻邪泻胁邪褌芯 懈 写邪 械 薪邪屑械褋邪 胁 械写懈薪 锌芯斜褗褉泻邪薪 懈 蟹邪泻芯褋褌械薪褟谢 褋胁褟褌 - 胁褗锌褉械泻懈, 褔械 胁褋懈褔泻芯 胁 褌械斜 泻褉械褖懈, 懈谢懈 写邪 褋械 褏胁褗褉谢懈褕 褋 谐谢邪胁邪褌邪 薪邪锌褉械写 斜械蟹 懈蟹谐谢械写懈 蟹邪 芯褑械谢褟胁邪薪械, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 懈薪邪褔械 胁械褔械 褋锌懈褉邪褕 写邪 褋懈 褔芯胁械泻.
袠屑邪 褋懈 谢褞斜芯胁, 懈薪褌褉懈谐懈 懈 斜懈褌泻懈, 胁褋懈褔泻芯 泻邪泻褌芯 褋懈 褌褉褟斜胁邪 蟹邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪, 薪械 械 锌褉械褌芯胁邪褉械薪芯 褋 褎懈谢芯褋芯褎懈褟, 锌褉懈 褌芯胁邪 薪械 械 褌褍褏谢邪, 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 斜械蟹泻褉邪泄薪邪 锌芯褉械写懈褑邪. 袣褉邪褋芯褌邪!
孝芯胁邪 械 泻薪懈谐邪 蟹邪 褋屑械谢芯褋褌褌邪 懈 泻邪泻胁芯 胁褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 蟹薪邪褔懈 写邪 褋懈 褋屑械谢: 写邪 褋械 胁褗蟹写褗褉卸懈褕 芯褌 泻邪泻胁邪褌芯 懈 写邪 械 薪邪屑械褋邪 胁 械写懈薪 锌芯斜褗褉泻邪薪 懈 蟹邪泻芯褋褌械薪褟谢 褋胁褟褌 - 胁褗锌褉械泻懈, 褔械 胁褋懈褔泻芯 胁 褌械斜 泻褉械褖懈, 懈谢懈 写邪 褋械 褏胁褗褉谢懈褕 褋 谐谢邪胁邪褌邪 薪邪锌褉械写 斜械蟹 懈蟹谐谢械写懈 蟹邪 芯褑械谢褟胁邪薪械, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 懈薪邪褔械 胁械褔械 褋锌懈褉邪褕 写邪 褋懈 褔芯胁械泻.
袠屑邪 褋懈 谢褞斜芯胁, 懈薪褌褉懈谐懈 懈 斜懈褌泻懈, 胁褋懈褔泻芯 泻邪泻褌芯 褋懈 褌褉褟斜胁邪 蟹邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻邪, 薪械 械 锌褉械褌芯胁邪褉械薪芯 褋 褎懈谢芯褋芯褎懈褟, 锌褉懈 褌芯胁邪 薪械 械 褌褍褏谢邪, 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 斜械蟹泻褉邪泄薪邪 锌芯褉械写懈褑邪. 袣褉邪褋芯褌邪!
April 26, 2012
To those who read *that crappy SCI-FI jazz* in quest to run away
From grim reality of life - I must, in truth, to say
This piece is not, my friends, at all your regular fantastic tale
It is much deeper, it was written to unveil
How cruel, ignorant, barbaric we still are - at large, as Human Race
How progress strides its winding roads in slow, painful pace
1. Memorable 5
2. Social Relevance 5
3. Informative 3
4. Originality 5
5. Thought Provoking 5
6. Expressiveness 4
7. Entertaining 5
8. Visualization 2
9. Sparks Emotion 5
10. Life Changing (Pivotal, crucial, determining, defining, momentous, fateful, consequential, climacteric, transformational) 1
5,5,3,5,5,4,5,2,5,1 ======>> 40/10 = 4.0
One of the reviews, which I have seen, says that the mission was "to help speed along the progress of the various indigenous peoples".
To clarify above, as I recall it, the book says that the mission was ONLY to watch and that interference with the natural historical and social development on that planet was strictly prohibited (with the exception to allow some concealed limited humanitarian actions in saving lives of artists and scientists).
It is important to stress that Strugatskys did not mean "active" "hands-on" God - they meant the God, who never interferes and instead only observes - and that is WHY for humans it is hard to be such a God!
Probably it is also hard (;-) ) for English language reviewers to appreciate the enormous amount of humor encapsulated in this book, which is probably lost in translation. Here is the example of such humor ...
`袪褍屑邪褌邪 锌械褉械薪械褋 芯褌褑邪 袣邪斜邪薪懈 薪邪 褋泻褉懈锌褍褔懈械 薪邪褉褘, 褋褌褟薪褍谢 褋 薪械谐芯 斜邪褕屑邪泻懈, 锌芯胁械褉薪褍谢 薪邪 锌褉邪胁褘泄 斜芯泻 懈 薪邪泻褉褘谢 芯斜谢褘褋械胁褕械泄 褕泻褍褉芯泄 泻邪泻芯谐芯-褌芯 写邪胁薪芯 胁褘屑械褉褕械谐芯 卸懈胁芯褌薪芯谐芯. 袩褉懈 褝褌芯屑 芯褌械褑 袣邪斜邪薪懈 薪邪 屑懈薪褍褌褍 锌褉芯褋薪褍谢褋褟. 袛胁懈谐邪褌褜褋褟 芯薪 薪械 屑芯谐, 褋芯芯斜褉邪卸邪褌褜 褌芯卸械. 袨薪 芯谐褉邪薪懈褔懈谢褋褟 褌械屑, 褔褌芯 锌褉芯锌械谢 薪械褋泻芯谢褜泻芯 褋褌懈褏芯胁 懈蟹 蟹邪锌褉械褖褢薪薪芯谐芯 泻 褉邪褋锌械胁邪薪懈褞 褋胁械褌褋泻芯谐芯 褉芯屑邪薪褋邪 "携 泻邪泻 褑胁械褌芯褔械泻 邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 胁 褌胁芯械泄 谢邪写芯褕泻械 屑邪谢械薪褜泻芯泄", 锌芯褋谢械 褔械谐芯 谐褍谢泻芯 蟹邪褏褉邪锌械谢.`
袗袘小 "孝褉褍写薪芯 斜褘褌褜 袘芯谐芯屑"
`Rumata moved father Kabani on squeaky bunk, pulled off his shoes, turned on the right side and covered the bald skin of some long-extinct animal. At this point, the father Kabani for a moment awakened. He could not move and had not an ability to think. He contented himself by vocalizing several verses from the prohibited to sing secular romance "I am like a scarlet flower in your little palm", then began to snore loudly.`
ABS "Hard to Be God"
From grim reality of life - I must, in truth, to say
This piece is not, my friends, at all your regular fantastic tale
It is much deeper, it was written to unveil
How cruel, ignorant, barbaric we still are - at large, as Human Race
How progress strides its winding roads in slow, painful pace
1. Memorable 5
2. Social Relevance 5
3. Informative 3
4. Originality 5
5. Thought Provoking 5
6. Expressiveness 4
7. Entertaining 5
8. Visualization 2
9. Sparks Emotion 5
10. Life Changing (Pivotal, crucial, determining, defining, momentous, fateful, consequential, climacteric, transformational) 1
5,5,3,5,5,4,5,2,5,1 ======>> 40/10 = 4.0
One of the reviews, which I have seen, says that the mission was "to help speed along the progress of the various indigenous peoples".
To clarify above, as I recall it, the book says that the mission was ONLY to watch and that interference with the natural historical and social development on that planet was strictly prohibited (with the exception to allow some concealed limited humanitarian actions in saving lives of artists and scientists).
It is important to stress that Strugatskys did not mean "active" "hands-on" God - they meant the God, who never interferes and instead only observes - and that is WHY for humans it is hard to be such a God!
Probably it is also hard (;-) ) for English language reviewers to appreciate the enormous amount of humor encapsulated in this book, which is probably lost in translation. Here is the example of such humor ...
`袪褍屑邪褌邪 锌械褉械薪械褋 芯褌褑邪 袣邪斜邪薪懈 薪邪 褋泻褉懈锌褍褔懈械 薪邪褉褘, 褋褌褟薪褍谢 褋 薪械谐芯 斜邪褕屑邪泻懈, 锌芯胁械褉薪褍谢 薪邪 锌褉邪胁褘泄 斜芯泻 懈 薪邪泻褉褘谢 芯斜谢褘褋械胁褕械泄 褕泻褍褉芯泄 泻邪泻芯谐芯-褌芯 写邪胁薪芯 胁褘屑械褉褕械谐芯 卸懈胁芯褌薪芯谐芯. 袩褉懈 褝褌芯屑 芯褌械褑 袣邪斜邪薪懈 薪邪 屑懈薪褍褌褍 锌褉芯褋薪褍谢褋褟. 袛胁懈谐邪褌褜褋褟 芯薪 薪械 屑芯谐, 褋芯芯斜褉邪卸邪褌褜 褌芯卸械. 袨薪 芯谐褉邪薪懈褔懈谢褋褟 褌械屑, 褔褌芯 锌褉芯锌械谢 薪械褋泻芯谢褜泻芯 褋褌懈褏芯胁 懈蟹 蟹邪锌褉械褖褢薪薪芯谐芯 泻 褉邪褋锌械胁邪薪懈褞 褋胁械褌褋泻芯谐芯 褉芯屑邪薪褋邪 "携 泻邪泻 褑胁械褌芯褔械泻 邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 胁 褌胁芯械泄 谢邪写芯褕泻械 屑邪谢械薪褜泻芯泄", 锌芯褋谢械 褔械谐芯 谐褍谢泻芯 蟹邪褏褉邪锌械谢.`
袗袘小 "孝褉褍写薪芯 斜褘褌褜 袘芯谐芯屑"
`Rumata moved father Kabani on squeaky bunk, pulled off his shoes, turned on the right side and covered the bald skin of some long-extinct animal. At this point, the father Kabani for a moment awakened. He could not move and had not an ability to think. He contented himself by vocalizing several verses from the prohibited to sing secular romance "I am like a scarlet flower in your little palm", then began to snore loudly.`
ABS "Hard to Be God"
May 20, 2016
Pushkin'den Gogol'e, Dostoyevski'den Tolstoy'a kadar Rus edebiyat谋n谋n hangi b眉y眉k yazar谋n谋 okursan谋z okuyun, elinizdeki kitab谋n kapa臒谋n谋 kapatt谋臒谋n谋zda midenize bir yumruk yemi艧 gibi oluyorsunuz.
陌lgin莽 roman kahramanlar谋, zihninizde derin izler b谋rakan diyaloglar, beklenmedik olaylar, felsefi sorgulamalar ve edebiyat谋 ya艧amlar谋m谋zda 枚nemli ve de臒erli k谋lan her bir unsur...
B眉y眉k 莽alkant谋larla ge莽en 19. y眉zy谋l谋n ve 20. y眉zy谋l谋n ilk yar谋s谋ndan sonra Rus edebiyat谋 durulur gibi olur. 2. D眉nya Sava艧谋'n谋n insan ruhlar谋nda a莽t谋臒谋 derin yaralar谋n 眉st眉ne bir de Stalin'in 眉rk眉t眉c眉 g枚lgesi d眉艧er. Rus edebiyat谋n谋n son b眉y眉k yazarlar谋 da tarih sahnesinden 莽ekilir ve Rus edebiyat谋 kurakla艧maya ba艧lar.
陌艧te tam bu d枚nemde, 1960'larda Strugatski karde艧ler sahneye 莽谋karlar. Boris ve Arkadiy Strugatski Karde艧ler 1961 y谋l谋ndan itibaren Noon evreni serisini kaleme al谋rlar. Zor 艦ey Tanr谋 Olmak, bu serinin 5. kitab谋. Serinin di臒er kitaplar谋n谋 okumad谋臒谋m i莽in, bu roman谋n di臒er kitaplarla ilgisini bilmiyorum. Ancak Zor 艦ey Tanr谋 Olmak, ba臒谋ms谋z bir roman olarak okunabiliyor.
***Spoiler***
1964 y谋l谋nda yaz谋lan bu roman谋n, simgesel olarak Sovyet devriminin ve Sovyet sisteminin bir yorumu ve ele艧tirisi oldu臒u yorumunu yapanlar var. Ger莽ekten de Strugatski karde艧ler sat谋r aralar谋nda hep 艧u sorular谋 soruyorlar: Toplumlar谋n geli艧imi do臒al ak谋艧谋na m谋 b谋rak谋lmal谋, yoksa tarihin ak谋艧谋 (Sovyet devriminde oldu臒u gibi) zorlanmal谋 m谋? Tarihin ak谋艧谋 zorlan谋rsa "ideal toplum" hedefine ula艧谋m gecikir mi?
M眉thi艧 etkileyici diyaloglar谋n ve paragraflar谋n oldu臒u bu roman T眉rk莽e'ye olduk莽a iyi 莽evrilmi艧, ancak baz谋 b枚l眉mleri okurken, yazarlar谋n anlatmak istediklerinin 莽ok iyi yans谋t谋lamad谋臒谋n谋 d眉艧眉nmeden edemedim.
陌laveten, T眉rk okurlar谋n谋n 莽ok yabanc谋 oldu臒u Sovyet bilim kurgusu ile ilgili bir tan谋t谋m yaz谋s谋 iyi olurdu diye d眉艧眉n眉yorum. Kitab谋n yeni bask谋lar谋nda bu tan谋t谋m yazs谋n谋n yer almas谋n谋 umuyorum.
陌lgin莽 roman kahramanlar谋, zihninizde derin izler b谋rakan diyaloglar, beklenmedik olaylar, felsefi sorgulamalar ve edebiyat谋 ya艧amlar谋m谋zda 枚nemli ve de臒erli k谋lan her bir unsur...
B眉y眉k 莽alkant谋larla ge莽en 19. y眉zy谋l谋n ve 20. y眉zy谋l谋n ilk yar谋s谋ndan sonra Rus edebiyat谋 durulur gibi olur. 2. D眉nya Sava艧谋'n谋n insan ruhlar谋nda a莽t谋臒谋 derin yaralar谋n 眉st眉ne bir de Stalin'in 眉rk眉t眉c眉 g枚lgesi d眉艧er. Rus edebiyat谋n谋n son b眉y眉k yazarlar谋 da tarih sahnesinden 莽ekilir ve Rus edebiyat谋 kurakla艧maya ba艧lar.
陌艧te tam bu d枚nemde, 1960'larda Strugatski karde艧ler sahneye 莽谋karlar. Boris ve Arkadiy Strugatski Karde艧ler 1961 y谋l谋ndan itibaren Noon evreni serisini kaleme al谋rlar. Zor 艦ey Tanr谋 Olmak, bu serinin 5. kitab谋. Serinin di臒er kitaplar谋n谋 okumad谋臒谋m i莽in, bu roman谋n di臒er kitaplarla ilgisini bilmiyorum. Ancak Zor 艦ey Tanr谋 Olmak, ba臒谋ms谋z bir roman olarak okunabiliyor.
***Spoiler***
1964 y谋l谋nda yaz谋lan bu roman谋n, simgesel olarak Sovyet devriminin ve Sovyet sisteminin bir yorumu ve ele艧tirisi oldu臒u yorumunu yapanlar var. Ger莽ekten de Strugatski karde艧ler sat谋r aralar谋nda hep 艧u sorular谋 soruyorlar: Toplumlar谋n geli艧imi do臒al ak谋艧谋na m谋 b谋rak谋lmal谋, yoksa tarihin ak谋艧谋 (Sovyet devriminde oldu臒u gibi) zorlanmal谋 m谋? Tarihin ak谋艧谋 zorlan谋rsa "ideal toplum" hedefine ula艧谋m gecikir mi?
M眉thi艧 etkileyici diyaloglar谋n ve paragraflar谋n oldu臒u bu roman T眉rk莽e'ye olduk莽a iyi 莽evrilmi艧, ancak baz谋 b枚l眉mleri okurken, yazarlar谋n anlatmak istediklerinin 莽ok iyi yans谋t谋lamad谋臒谋n谋 d眉艧眉nmeden edemedim.
陌laveten, T眉rk okurlar谋n谋n 莽ok yabanc谋 oldu臒u Sovyet bilim kurgusu ile ilgili bir tan谋t谋m yaz谋s谋 iyi olurdu diye d眉艧眉n眉yorum. Kitab谋n yeni bask谋lar谋nda bu tan谋t谋m yazs谋n谋n yer almas谋n谋 umuyorum.
April 3, 2018
Rumata yolun yar谋s谋n谋 g枚zleri kapal谋 y眉r眉d眉. Ald谋臒谋 her nefesle can谋 yan谋yordu adeta. Bunlar insan olabilir miydi? 陌nsana ait ne kalm谋艧t谋 bunlarda? Kimilerini sokaklarda k谋l谋莽larla bi莽mi艧lerdi, di臒erleriyse evlerinde oturuyor ve uysall谋kla s谋ralar谋n谋n gelmesini bekliyorlard谋. Ve her biri, kimin can谋n谋 al谋rlarsa als谋nlar, yeter ki beni esirgesinler, diye d眉艧眉n眉yordu. K谋l谋莽 sallayanlar谋n so臒ukkanl谋 zalimli臒i, k谋l谋莽larda bi莽ilenlerin so臒ukkanl谋 uysall谋臒谋. So臒ukkanl谋l谋k; en korkuncu da bu. On ki艧i, korkudan donmu艧, uysalca bekliyorlar; sonra biri yana艧谋yor, kurban谋n谋 se莽iyor ve so臒ukkanl谋l谋kla bi莽iyor onu. Bu insanlar谋n ruhlar谋 莽眉r眉m眉艧, uysall谋kla bekledikleri her saat, onlar谋 da da zehirliyor. Korkuyla sinmi艧 olan bu evlerde al莽aklar, muhbirler, katiller, hayatlar谋 boyunca korkuyla zehirlenmi艧 olarak kalacak binlerce insan do臒uyor, bunlar 莽ocuklar谋na, onlar da kendi 莽ocuklar谋na merhametsizce 枚臒retecekler deh艧eti. Daha fazla dayanam谋yorum. Biraz daha devam edersem akl谋m谋 yitirece臒im, onlar gibi olaca臒谋m, neden burada bulundu臒umu bile anlamaz olaca臒谋m... Kendime gelmeliyim, b眉t眉n bunlara arkam谋 d枚n眉p sakinle艧meliyim...
Akarsu y谋l谋n谋n sonunda -yeni莽a臒谋n 艧u-艧u senesinde- merkezka莽 kuvvetleri eski imparatorlukta belirginle艧meye ba艧lad谋. Bundan yararlanan, esasen feodal toplumun en gerici gruplar谋n谋n menfaatlerini temsil etmekte olan Kutsal Ni艧an, 莽枚z眉lmeyi her t眉rden ara莽la durdurma giri艧imi s谋ras谋nda... Ama 艧u kaz谋klar谋n 眉zerindeki s谋cak cesetler nas谋l korkuyordu, biliyor musunuz? Soka臒谋n tozu i莽inde, karn谋 yar谋lm谋艧 yatan 莽谋plak bir kad谋n g枚rd眉n眉z m眉 hi莽? 陌nsanlar谋n sustu臒u, sadece kargalar谋n gaklad谋臒谋 艧ehirleri g枚rd眉n眉z m眉?
December 27, 2019
7.25/10
El cl谩sico dilema de la ciencia ficci贸n envuelto en una gratificante aventura medieval: 驴Puede o debe el observador de una civilizaci贸n menos avanzada que la propia inmiscuirse e intervenir en el desarrollo y destino de la observada? Una novela escrita en 1963 tras el tel贸n de acero en la que, sin perder de vista el debido objetivo de sano entretenimiento, la carga pol铆tica, ir贸nica y reivindicativa frente al capitalismo y toda suerte de totalitarismos, incluido 鈥攐 sobre todo鈥� el r茅gimen comunista opresivo bajo el que viv铆an los autores, se hace evidente y tan actual hoy como entonces. El progreso humano ha sido demasiadas veces acompa帽ado de violencia y sangre, pero 驴es algo inevitable? El conocimiento ha sido algo a temer por parte de las 茅lites dirigentes, algo a reprimir entre el pueblo, pero 驴podr铆a haber sido de otra manera? 驴Puede la Historia evolucionar por otros caminos menos tortuosos o es unidireccional y est谩 condenada a escalar siempre unos mismos escalones hasta alcanzar el ideal? Volviendo a la pregunta inicial, b谩sica en la novela, 驴debe qui茅n m谩s sabe instruir a los que est谩n por debajo de 茅l? En una obra que se anticipa a la Directiva principal de Star Trek, los hermanos Strugatsky no van a ofrecer respuestas sencillas, sino que construyen una gratificante y en ocasiones estremecedora reflexi贸n sobre el poder y las repercusiones de su uso indiscriminado.
Rese帽a completa en Sagacomic:
El cl谩sico dilema de la ciencia ficci贸n envuelto en una gratificante aventura medieval: 驴Puede o debe el observador de una civilizaci贸n menos avanzada que la propia inmiscuirse e intervenir en el desarrollo y destino de la observada? Una novela escrita en 1963 tras el tel贸n de acero en la que, sin perder de vista el debido objetivo de sano entretenimiento, la carga pol铆tica, ir贸nica y reivindicativa frente al capitalismo y toda suerte de totalitarismos, incluido 鈥攐 sobre todo鈥� el r茅gimen comunista opresivo bajo el que viv铆an los autores, se hace evidente y tan actual hoy como entonces. El progreso humano ha sido demasiadas veces acompa帽ado de violencia y sangre, pero 驴es algo inevitable? El conocimiento ha sido algo a temer por parte de las 茅lites dirigentes, algo a reprimir entre el pueblo, pero 驴podr铆a haber sido de otra manera? 驴Puede la Historia evolucionar por otros caminos menos tortuosos o es unidireccional y est谩 condenada a escalar siempre unos mismos escalones hasta alcanzar el ideal? Volviendo a la pregunta inicial, b谩sica en la novela, 驴debe qui茅n m谩s sabe instruir a los que est谩n por debajo de 茅l? En una obra que se anticipa a la Directiva principal de Star Trek, los hermanos Strugatsky no van a ofrecer respuestas sencillas, sino que construyen una gratificante y en ocasiones estremecedora reflexi贸n sobre el poder y las repercusiones de su uso indiscriminado.
Rese帽a completa en Sagacomic:
October 5, 2021
This actually exceeded my expectations, perhaps threatening to become a new favorite of mine. Don Rumata was such a fascinating and multifaceted character, and to see him struggle despite his god-like status made for an enthralling narrative. I should say that the novel's messages are overt enough that anyone could dissect the work after an initial read, but not so ham-fisted that there isn't a sense of reward as the yarn unspools.
I loved seeing Don Rumata retreat further and further into his frustrations, seeming more and more to go off into the weeds of his imagination, fantasizing about all the wrongs he could effortlessly right if only he were not chained to his principles. I loved watching him squirm within the confines of his restraint, and I loved seeing him finally bested in that regard. I loved the beautifully layered conversation between Don Rumata and Budach; they spoke in hypotheticals and only Budach was unaware of the irony. I loved, loved, loved this book. It was short enough to not overstay its welcome and nuanced enough that I would delight in a reread. I would love to say more but I'm loathe to spoil it further.
Overall this was a magnificent and beautiful book, and Don Rumata may settle in my mind as one of my favorite protagonists. Futility and frustration never before made for such a rewarding read as this.
I loved seeing Don Rumata retreat further and further into his frustrations, seeming more and more to go off into the weeds of his imagination, fantasizing about all the wrongs he could effortlessly right if only he were not chained to his principles. I loved watching him squirm within the confines of his restraint, and I loved seeing him finally bested in that regard. I loved the beautifully layered conversation between Don Rumata and Budach; they spoke in hypotheticals and only Budach was unaware of the irony. I loved, loved, loved this book. It was short enough to not overstay its welcome and nuanced enough that I would delight in a reread. I would love to say more but I'm loathe to spoil it further.
Overall this was a magnificent and beautiful book, and Don Rumata may settle in my mind as one of my favorite protagonists. Futility and frustration never before made for such a rewarding read as this.
May 1, 2020
SF Masterworks (2010- series) #70: Don Rumata is one of the empowered privileged in the feudal society of bad wine, swordsmanship and countless political and familial finagling... there's just other thing about our Don, he is an Earth 'Historian' monitoring and recording the development of this Earth like planet!
Published in the Soviet Union in 1964, Rumata is from a future Communist Earth utopia, whereas the 'backward' humans on this planet live the lives of unbridled feudal Capitalism. Despite that overarching concept the brother pull out a gerat characterisation of the main protagonists we he struggles to consider these people as humans, and also struggles to adhere to their policy on non-interference. A novel read, that towards the end I couldn't put down. 7.5 out of 12.
Published in the Soviet Union in 1964, Rumata is from a future Communist Earth utopia, whereas the 'backward' humans on this planet live the lives of unbridled feudal Capitalism. Despite that overarching concept the brother pull out a gerat characterisation of the main protagonists we he struggles to consider these people as humans, and also struggles to adhere to their policy on non-interference. A novel read, that towards the end I couldn't put down. 7.5 out of 12.
April 14, 2018
Sovyet bilim kurgusunun bir tanr谋s谋 olsayd谋, iki ba艧l谋 olurdu herhalde. Ad谋 da Strugatsky tabiki...
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