Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Encyclopedia
The brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are Soviet
Jewish-Russian science fiction authors who collaborated on their fiction.
writers with a well-developed fan base. Their early work was influenced by Ivan Yefremov. Their famous novel Piknik na obochine has been translated into English
as Roadside Picnic
in 1977 and was filmed by Andrei Tarkovsky
under the title Stalker
.
Several other of their works were translated into German, French, English, and Italian but did not receive the same magnitude of the critical acclaim granted them by their Russian audiences. The Strugatsky brothers, however, were and still are popular in many countries, including Poland
, Hungary
, former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria
, and Germany, where most of their works were available in both East and West Germany.
The brothers were Guests of Honour at the 1987 World Science Fiction Convention, held in Brighton
, England.
; his father Natan Zalmanovich was an art critic, his mother a teacher. The family later moved to Leningrad
.
In January 1942 Arkady and his father left the besieged city, but Arkady was the only survivor in his train car; his father died on reaching Vologda
.
Arkady was later drafted into the Soviet army, training 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.
From 1955 he began to work as a editor and writer. In 1958, he began to collaborate with his brother Boris, a collaboration that lasted until Arkady's death October 12, 1991.
; another unofficial and perhaps less-known title is the Wanderers
Universe. The name is derived from the title of one of their texts, Noon: 22nd Century
. The main characteristics of the Noon Universe are: a very high level of social, scientific, and technological development; the creativity of the general population; and the very significant level of societal maturity compared to the modern world. For instance, this world knows no monetary stimulation (indeed, money does not exist), and every person is engaged in a profession that interests him or her. The Earth of the Noon Universe is governed by a global meritocratic
council composed of the world's leading scientists and philosophers. That Noon World has been clearly named as "World of Communism" in their novels, which was handy for publishing their novels in the USSR where the Communist Party decided whether a book would be printed, and approved for mass circulation.
The Universe was described by the authors as the world in which they would like to live and work. It became highly influential for at least a generation of Soviet people, e.g. a person could quote the Strugatsky books and be sure of being understood. At first the authors thought that the Noon Universe would become reality "by itself", but then they realized that the only way to achieve it is by inventing the High Theory of Upbringing, making the upbringing of each person a unique deed.
One of the important story arcs of those books is how the advanced human civilization covertly steers the development of those considered less advanced. Agents of humans are known as Progressors. At the same time, some humans suspect that a very advanced spacefaring race called Wanderers
exists and is 'progressing' humanity itself.
Short stories originally published as part of the novel Noon: 22nd Century
:
Following titles have been published by Boris Strugatsky under the pseudonym S. Vititsky (С. Витицкий):
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Jewish-Russian science fiction authors who collaborated on their fiction.
Life and work
The Strugatsky brothers ( or simply ), as they are usually called, although also known as "" ("Abeesy", from ABS, Arkadiy and Boris Strugatsky) in Russian, are perhaps the best-known Soviet science fictionRussian science fiction and fantasy
Russian science fiction and fantasy are genres of speculative and fantastic fiction that have been part of mainstream Russian literature since the 19th century, though SF did not emerge as a coherent genre until the early 20th century through the influence of translated works by authors such as...
writers with a well-developed fan base. Their early work was influenced by Ivan Yefremov. Their famous novel Piknik na obochine has been translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as Roadside Picnic
Roadside Picnic
Roadside Picnic is a short science fiction novel written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky between January 18 and November 3 of 1971. As of 1998, 38 editions of the novel were published in 20 countries. The novel was first translated to English by Antonina W. Bouis...
in 1977 and was filmed by Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, writer, film editor, film theorist, theatre and opera director, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers of the 20th century....
under the title Stalker
Stalker (film)
Stalker is a 1979 science fiction film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, with a screenplay written by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, loosely based on their novel Roadside Picnic...
.
Several other of their works were translated into German, French, English, and Italian but did not receive the same magnitude of the critical acclaim granted them by their Russian audiences. The Strugatsky brothers, however, were and still are popular in many countries, including Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, and Germany, where most of their works were available in both East and West Germany.
The brothers were Guests of Honour at the 1987 World Science Fiction Convention, held in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, England.
Arkady
Arkady Natanovich Strugatsky was born August 25, 1925 in BatumiBatumi
Batumi is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. Sometimes considered Georgia's second capital, with a population of 121,806 , Batumi serves as an important port and a commercial center. It is situated in a subtropical zone, rich in...
; his father Natan Zalmanovich was an art critic, his mother a teacher. The family later moved to Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
.
In January 1942 Arkady and his father left the besieged city, but Arkady was the only survivor in his train car; his father died on reaching Vologda
Vologda
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...
.
Arkady was later drafted into the Soviet army, training 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.
From 1955 he began to work as a editor and writer. In 1958, he began to collaborate with his brother Boris, a collaboration that lasted until Arkady's death October 12, 1991.
Boris
Born April 14, 1933, Boris Natanovich Strugatsky remained in Leningrad with his mother during the siege of the city during World War II. He graduated from high school in 1950 and applied to the physics department at Leningrad State University, but studied astronomy instead. After graduating in 1955, he worked as an astronomer and computer engineer until 1966 when he became a full-time writer.Noon Universe
Several of the books written by the Strugatsky brothers take part in the same universe, known as The World of NoonNoon Universe
The Noon Universe is a fictional future setting for a number of hard science fiction novels written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The universe is named after Noon: 22nd Century, the chronologically first novel from the series...
; another unofficial and perhaps less-known title is the Wanderers
Wanderers (Noon Universe)
Wanderers are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe created by Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is unknown. No official contact between Earth and Wanderers has ever been registered, although they've contacted humans from other planets, e.g...
Universe. The name is derived from the title of one of their texts, Noon: 22nd Century
Noon: 22nd Century
Noon: 22nd Century is a 1961 science fiction book by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, expanded in 1962 and further in 1967, translated into English in 1978. It is sometimes considered an episodic novel, collection of linked short stories or a fix-up as some parts had been published previously as...
. The main characteristics of the Noon Universe are: a very high level of social, scientific, and technological development; the creativity of the general population; and the very significant level of societal maturity compared to the modern world. For instance, this world knows no monetary stimulation (indeed, money does not exist), and every person is engaged in a profession that interests him or her. The Earth of the Noon Universe is governed by a global meritocratic
Meritocracy
Meritocracy, in the first, most administrative sense, is a system of government or other administration wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and education, determined through evaluations or...
council composed of the world's leading scientists and philosophers. That Noon World has been clearly named as "World of Communism" in their novels, which was handy for publishing their novels in the USSR where the Communist Party decided whether a book would be printed, and approved for mass circulation.
The Universe was described by the authors as the world in which they would like to live and work. It became highly influential for at least a generation of Soviet people, e.g. a person could quote the Strugatsky books and be sure of being understood. At first the authors thought that the Noon Universe would become reality "by itself", but then they realized that the only way to achieve it is by inventing the High Theory of Upbringing, making the upbringing of each person a unique deed.
One of the important story arcs of those books is how the advanced human civilization covertly steers the development of those considered less advanced. Agents of humans are known as Progressors. At the same time, some humans suspect that a very advanced spacefaring race called Wanderers
Wanderers (Noon Universe)
Wanderers are a fictional alien race from the Noon Universe created by Strugatsky brothers. Their homeworld is unknown. No official contact between Earth and Wanderers has ever been registered, although they've contacted humans from other planets, e.g...
exists and is 'progressing' humanity itself.
Novels
| English title | Russian title | Published in Russian | Published in English | Type of work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Beyond | Извне | 1958 | 1982 | novella |
| The Land of Crimson Clouds The Land of Crimson Clouds The Land of Crimson Clouds is a 1959 science fiction novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, most likely, set in the Noon Universe.-Plot summary:... |
Страна багровых туч | 1959 | N/A | novel |
| The Way to Amalthea The Way to Amalthea The Way to Amalthea also known as Destination: Amaltheia is an early science fiction short story by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky written in 1959... (also known as Destination: Amaltheia) |
Путь на Амальтею | 1960 | 1963 | novella |
| Noon: 22nd Century Noon: 22nd Century Noon: 22nd Century is a 1961 science fiction book by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, expanded in 1962 and further in 1967, translated into English in 1978. It is sometimes considered an episodic novel, collection of linked short stories or a fix-up as some parts had been published previously as... |
Полдень, XXII век | 1962 | 1978 | novel / collection of linked stories |
| Space Apprentice Space Apprentice Space Apprentice, also known as Probationers , is one of the early novels of Russian science fiction writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky... (also known as Probationers, includes The Gigantic Fluctuation short story) |
Стажеры | 1962 | 1981 | novel |
| Escape Attempt Escape Attempt Escape Attempt is a 1962 sci-fi novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe... |
Попытка к бегству | 1962 | 1982 | novella |
| Far Rainbow Far Rainbow Far Rainbow is a 1963 science fiction novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe.- Plot summary :The novel tells the story of the Rainbow catastrophe of 2156. It starts very simple, as a Wave observer Robert Sklyarov notices an unusually persistent Wave and reports it to the... |
Далёкая Радуга | 1963 | 1979 | novella |
| Hard to Be a God Hard to Be a God Hard to be a God is a 1964 sci-fi novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe.The novel follows Anton, an undercover operative from the future planet Earth, in his mission on an alien planet, that is populated by human beings, whose society has not advanced beyond the Middle Ages... |
Трудно быть богом | 1964 | 1973 | novel |
| Monday Begins on Saturday Monday Begins on Saturday Monday Begins on Saturday is a 1964 science fiction / science fantasy novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. Set in a fictional town in northern Russia, where highly classified research in magic occurs, the novel is a satire of Soviet scientific research institutes, complete with an inept... |
Понедельник начинается в субботу | 1965 | 1977 | novel |
| The Final Circle of Paradise The Final Circle of Paradise The Final Circle of Paradise is a science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the first half of the 21st century. It was first published in the USSR in 1965 and the first English edition, translated by Leonid Renen, was published by DAW books in 1976... |
Хищные вещи века | 1965 | 1976 | novel |
| Disquiet (initial variant of Snail on the Slope) | Беспокойство | 1990 (written 1965) |
N/A | novella |
| Snail on the Slope | Улитка на склоне | 1966–68 (written 1965) |
1980 | novel |
| The Ugly Swans The Ugly Swans The Ugly Swans is a science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. In the USSR, it was published in 1987, in the Latvian magazine "Daugava", with the title "The Time of Rains"... |
Гадкие лебеди (also known as Время дождя) | 1972 (written 1966–67) |
1972 | novel |
| The Second Invasion from Mars The Second Invasion from Mars The Second Invasion from Mars , subtitled Diary of a Sane [Person] , is a relatively short 1968 science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky that portrays two weeks from the life of a common person in highly unusual circumstances... (also known as The Second Martian Invasion) |
Второе нашествие марсиан | 1967 | 1970 | novella |
| Tale of the Troika Tale of the Troika Tale of the Troika is a 1968 satirical science fiction novel written by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky that criticises both Soviet bureaucracy and somewhat the Soviet scientific environment... |
Сказка о Тройке | 1968 | 1977 | novella |
| Prisoners of Power Prisoners of Power Prisoners of Power also known as Inhabited Island is a science fiction novel written by Soviet authors Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. It was written in 1969 and originally published in 1971, the English translation was released in 1977... (also known as The Inhabited Island) |
Обитаемый остров | 1969 | 1977 | novel |
| Dead Mountaineer's Hotel Dead Mountaineer's Hotel Dead Mountaineer's Hotel is a 1970 science fiction detective novel written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky... (also known as Inspector Glebsky's Puzzle) |
Отель «У Погибшего Альпиниста» | 1970 | 1982 | novel |
| Space Mowgli Space Mowgli Space Mowgli also known as The Kid is a 1971 sci-fi novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe.- Plot summary :... |
Малыш | 1971 | 1982 | novel |
| Roadside Picnic Roadside Picnic Roadside Picnic is a short science fiction novel written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky between January 18 and November 3 of 1971. As of 1998, 38 editions of the novel were published in 20 countries. The novel was first translated to English by Antonina W. Bouis... |
Пикник на обочине | 1972 | 1977 | novel |
| The Kid from Hell The Kid from Hell The Kid from Hell is a 1974 sci-fi novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe. The English translation was included in a single volume entitled Escape Attempt with the other Noon universe stories Escape Attempt and Space Mowgli.-Plot summary:The novel tells the story of Gack, a... |
Парень из преисподней | 1974 | 1982 | novella |
| Definitely Maybe Definitely Maybe (novel) Definitely Maybe is a sci fi novel written in 1974 by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.-Plot summary:Action takes place in the Leningrad, USSR, apparently in the 1970s.... |
За миллиард лет до конца света | 1977 | 1978 | novella |
| The Doomed City The Doomed City The Doomed City is a 1975 science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, which is widely considered among the most philosophical of their novels. The name originates from a work by Nicholas Roerich which "astonished [the authors] a while ago with its gloomy beauty and the feeling of... |
Град обреченный | 1988–89 (written 1970–75) |
N/A | novel |
| Tale of Friendship and Non-friendship | Повесть о дружбе и недружбе | 1980 | 1988 | novelette |
| Beetle in the Anthill Beetle in the Anthill Beetle in the Anthill is a 1979 sci-fi novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe.-Explanation of the novel's title:Beetle in the Anthill is the title of a theory explaining the Stepchildren phenomenon... |
Жук в муравейнике | 1980 | 1980 | novel |
| Limping Fate | Хромая судьба | 1986 | N/A | novel |
| The Time Wanderers The Time Wanderers The Time Wanderers is a 1985 science fiction novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, set in the Noon Universe... |
Волны гасят ветер | 1986 | 1987 | novel |
| Overburdened with Evil | Отягощённые злом | 1988 | N/A | novel |
Short stories
| English title | Russian title | Published in Russian | Published in English | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The White Cone of the Alaid | Белый конус Алаида | 1959 | 1968 | included in the novel Noon: 22nd Century Noon: 22nd Century Noon: 22nd Century is a 1961 science fiction book by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, expanded in 1962 and further in 1967, translated into English in 1978. It is sometimes considered an episodic novel, collection of linked short stories or a fix-up as some parts had been published previously as... as "Defeat" |
| The Mu Man | Человек из Пасифиды | 1962 | N/A | |
| The Gigantic Fluctuation | Гигантская флуктуация | 1962 | 1973 | included in the novel Space Apprentice Space Apprentice Space Apprentice, also known as Probationers , is one of the early novels of Russian science fiction writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky... |
| Wanderers and Travelers | О странствующих и путешествующих | 1963 | 1966 | included in the novel Noon: 22nd Century Noon: 22nd Century Noon: 22nd Century is a 1961 science fiction book by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, expanded in 1962 and further in 1967, translated into English in 1978. It is sometimes considered an episodic novel, collection of linked short stories or a fix-up as some parts had been published previously as... as Pilgrims and Wayfarers |
Short story collections
Short stories originally published in Six Matches:| English title | Russian title | Published in Russian | Published in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six Matches | Шесть спичек | 1958 | 1961 |
| Spontaneous Reflex (also known as Initiative) | Спонтанный рефлекс | 1958 | 1959 |
| Forgotten Experiment | Забытый эксперимент | 1959 | N/A |
| The Examination of SCYBER | Испытание СКИБР | 1959 | N/A |
| Special Assumptions | Частные предположения | 1959 | N/A |
| An Emergency Case | Чрезвычайное происшествие | 1960 | 1966 |
Short stories originally published as part of the novel Noon: 22nd Century
Noon: 22nd Century
Noon: 22nd Century is a 1961 science fiction book by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, expanded in 1962 and further in 1967, translated into English in 1978. It is sometimes considered an episodic novel, collection of linked short stories or a fix-up as some parts had been published previously as...
:
| English title | Russian title | Published in Russian | Published in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night on Mars | Ночь в пустыне | 1960 | 1978 |
| Almost the Same | Почти такие же | 1960 | 1978 |
| Old-timer | Перестарок | 1961 | 1978 |
| The Conspirators The Conspirators The Conspirators is a 1944 film directed by Jean Negulesco. It stars Hedy Lamarr and Paul Henreid.-Cast:*Hedy Lamarr as Irene Von Mohr*Paul Henreid as Vincent Van Der Lyn*Sydney Greenstreet as Ricardo Quintanilla*Peter Lorre as Jan Bernazsky... |
Злоумышленники | 1962 | 1978 |
| Chronicle | Хроника | 1961 | 1978 |
| Two from the Taimyr | Двое с «Таймыра» | 1961 | 1978 |
| The Moving Roads | Самодвижущиеся дороги | 1961 | 1978 |
| Cornucopia | Скатерть-самобранка | 1961 | 1978 |
| Homecoming | Возвращение (also known as Известные люди and Пациенты доктора Протоса | 1962 | 1978 |
| Langour of the Spirit | Томление духа | 1962 | 1978 |
| The Assaultmen | Десантники | 1961 | 1978 |
| Deep Search | Глубокий поиск | 1960 | 1978 |
| Pilgrims and Wayfarers (also known as Wanderers and Travelers) |
О странствующих и путешествующих | 1963 | 1978 |
| The Planet with all the Conveniences | Благоустроенная планета | 1961 | 1978 |
| The Mystery of the Hind Leg | Загадка задней ноги (a.k.a. Великий КРИ) | 1961 | 1978 |
| Natural Science in the Spirit World | Естествознание в мире духов | 1962 | 1978 |
| Candles Before the Control Board | Свечи перед пультом | 1961 | 1978 |
| The Meeting | Свидание (a.k.a. Люди, люди...) | 1961 | 1978 |
| What You Will Be Like | Какими вы будете | 1961 | 1978 |
Solo works
Following titles have been published by Arkady Strugatsky under the pseudonym S. Yaroslavtsev (C. Ярославцев):| English title | Russian title | Published in Russian | Published in English | Type of work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Expedition into Inferno | Экспедиция в преисподнюю | 1974 | N/A | novel |
| The Details of Nikita Vorontsov's Life | Подробности жизни Никиты Воронцова | 1984 | 1989 | short story |
| Devil Amongst People Devil amongst people Devil amongst people — is a 1991 Russian science fiction novel by S. Yaroslavtsev about "the time which created monsters".... |
Дьявол среди людей | 1991 | N/A | novella |
Following titles have been published by Boris Strugatsky under the pseudonym S. Vititsky (С. Витицкий):
| English title | Russian title | Published in Russian | Published in English | Type of work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search for Designation or Twenty Seventh Theorem of Ethics Search for designation or Twenty seventh theorem of ethics Search for Designation, or Twenty Seventh Theorem of Ethics — is a 1994 science fiction novel by Boris Strugatsky , covering the life of a fictional Soviet citizen Krasnogorov with light and bitter truth about that time and including the long chapter "A Happy Boy" about his childhood in sieged... |
Поиск предназначения, или Двадцать седьмая теорема этики | 1994 | N/A | novel |
| The Powerless Ones of this World | Бессильные мира сего | 2003 | N/A | novel |
Adaptations
Strugatskies books were often adapted for screen, stage, comics and video game. Some of the adaptations are very loose, like Tarkovsky's Stalker, some are not adaptations but rather a new script written by Brothers themselves, like The Sorcerers.- StalkerStalker (film)Stalker is a 1979 science fiction film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, with a screenplay written by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, loosely based on their novel Roadside Picnic...
(1979) by Andrey Tarkovsky, inspired by The Roadside Picnic - Dead Mountaineer's HotelDead Mountaineer's Hotel (film)Dead Mountaineer's Hotel is a 1979 Estonian film directed by Grigori Kromanov and based on the novel Dead Mountaineer's Hotel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky....
(1979) by Grigori KromanovGrigori KromanovGrigori Kromanov was an Estonian theatre and film director. He directed some of the most known Estonian movies, including Viimne reliikvia and "Hukkunud Alpinisti" hotell .- External links :...
based on the novel of the same name - The Sorcerers (1982), by Konstantin Bromberg, based on Strugatskies' script inspired by Monday Begins on SaturdayMonday Begins on SaturdayMonday Begins on Saturday is a 1964 science fiction / science fantasy novel by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. Set in a fictional town in northern Russia, where highly classified research in magic occurs, the novel is a satire of Soviet scientific research institutes, complete with an inept...
- Days of EclipseDays of EclipseDays of Eclipse is a 1988 Soviet film directed by Aleksandr Sokurov. Screenplay written by Yuri Arabov and Pyotr Kadochnikov based on a screenplay by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky and very loosely based on their novel Definitely Maybe...
(1988) by Alexander SokurovAlexander SokurovAlexander Nikolayevich Sokurov is a Russian filmmaker. His most significant works include a semi-documentary, Russian Ark , filmed in a single unedited shot, and Faust , which was honoured with the Golden Lion, the highest prize for the best film at the Venice Film Festival.- Life and work...
, inspired by One billion years before the end of the worldDefinitely Maybe (novel)Definitely Maybe is a sci fi novel written in 1974 by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.-Plot summary:Action takes place in the Leningrad, USSR, apparently in the 1970s.... - Hard to be a GodHard to Be a God (1989 film)Hard to Be a God is a joint USSR-Germany science fiction film directed by Peter Fleischmann released in 1989. Based on the novel with the same name by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky....
(1989) by Peter FleischmannPeter FleischmannPeter Fleischmann is a German film director.- Biography :Peter Fleischmann was born in Zweibrücken. He studied at the German Institute of Film and Television in München and Institut des hautes études cinématographiques in Paris...
, based on the novel of the same name - The Ugly SwansThe Ugly Swans (film)The Ugly Swans is a 2006 Russian science fiction film directed by Konstantin Lopushansky, based on the novel of the same name by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The film is often compared to Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker, also adapted from a Strugatsky book....
(2006) by Konstantin LopushanskyKonstantin LopushanskyKonstantin Sergeyevich Lopushansky is a Soviet and Russian film director, film theorist and author. He is perhaps best known for his post-apocalyptic film Pisma Myortvogo Cheloveka aka Dead Man's Letters ....
, based on the novel of the same name - The Inhabited IslandThe Inhabited IslandThe Inhabited Island is a 2008-2009 science fiction film directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk based on a 1971 novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky of the same Russian name, published in English as Prisoners of Power. Due to the length of the filmed material, the film was released in two installments...
(2009) by Feodor Bondarchuk, based on the novel of the same name - History of the Arkanar Massacre (in production) by Alexei German, based on Hard to Be a GodHard to Be a GodHard to be a God is a 1964 sci-fi novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe.The novel follows Anton, an undercover operative from the future planet Earth, in his mission on an alien planet, that is populated by human beings, whose society has not advanced beyond the Middle Ages...
Legacy
Several writers have to a varying degree paid their tribute to the works of Strugatsky brothers:- Sergey LukyanenkoSergey LukyanenkoSergei Vasilievich Lukyanenko is a science fiction and fantasy author, writing in Russian, and is arguably the most popular contemporary Russian sci-fi writer...
in his duology The Stars Are Cold ToysThe Stars Are Cold ToysThe Stars Are Cold Toys — Star Shadow are two 1997 books of a space opera duology by Russian science fiction writer Sergey Lukianenko. It's a first-person narration, told by a pilot Pyotr Khrumov, who attempts to prevent destruction of the planet....
has the main character visit a world that is in many aspects strikingly similar to Earth from Noon Universe but in truth is revealed to be fundamentally different and oppressive. On his website, Lukyanenko commented that he disagreed with Strugatsky's view on education and upbringing and conceived his duology partly as a polemic criticism of it. - The plot of Kir BulychevKir BulychevKir Bulychev or Bulychov was a pen name of Igor Vsevolodovich Mojeiko , who was a Soviet and Russian science fiction writer and historian. He received a Master's degree in 1965 and a Ph.D. in 1981 and wrote his first science fiction story in 1965...
's novella about AliceAlice, Girl from the FutureAlice, Girl of the Future, also known as Alice, the Girl from Earth, is a collection of science fiction stories for children by Kir Bulychev, published in 2002...
's adventures Vacations in Space, or the Planet Five-Four is based on finding a secret base of mysterious "Wanderers" (Странники), an extinct highly advanced civilization. He also depicted his own Zone in the story Save Galya! - In late 1990s, a three-volume collection of fiction by notable contemporary Russian science fiction authors, titled The Time of the Apprentices (Время учеников), was published with an endorsement of Boris Strugatsky. Each piece in the collection was a sequel to one of Strugatskys' books.
- The asteroidAsteroidAsteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
3054 Strugatskia3054 Strugatskia3054 Strugatskia is a small main belt asteroid, which was discovered by Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh at Nauchnyj on September 11, 1977. It is named after The Strugatsky brothers, Soviet science fiction authors.- External links :*...
, discovered by Nikolai Stepanovich ChernykhNikolai Stepanovich ChernykhNikolay Stepanovich Chernykh was a Soviet and Russian astronomer.Chernykh was born in the city of Usman' in Voronezh Oblast...
in 1977 was named after the Strugatsky brothers. - The fictional planet Pandora depicted in the movie Avatar by James Cameron contains some similarities with the Noon UniverseNoon UniverseThe Noon Universe is a fictional future setting for a number of hard science fiction novels written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The universe is named after Noon: 22nd Century, the chronologically first novel from the series...
series, where the planet is also called Pandora, it is also filled with jungle, where live weird animals and humanoid race. Also, the girlfriend of Biologist Sidorov in Strugatskys' novel is called "Nava" (compare to "Na'vi" as name of the humanoid race in the movie). However, Boris Strugatsky had rejected accusations of plagiarism, despite the similarities.
See also
- List of heroic fictional scientists
- Planets in science fictionPlanets in science fictionPlanets in science fiction are fictional planets that appear in various media, especially those of the science fiction genre, as story-settings or depicted locations.-History:...