Hard to Be a God
Encyclopedia
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
. The novel's core idea is that human progress throughout the centuries is often cruel and bloody, and that religion and blind faith can be an effective tool of oppression, working to destroy the emerging scientific discipline and enlightenment. The title 'Hard to be a God' refers to Anton's (known as his alias Don Rumata throughout the book) perception of his precarious role as an observer on the planet, for while he has far more advance knowledge than the people around him, he is forbidden to assist too actively, as it would interfere with the natural progress of history. The book pays a lot of attention to the internal world of the main character, showing his own evolution from a dedicated 'progressor' to the person who rejects the blind belief in theory when confronted with the cruelty of real events.
with his friends, Pashka (Paul) and Anka (Anna), for a small role-play in the woods. It reveals that children live in a futuristic utopia, and the teenagers are drawn to the adventures on far away planets, where earth tries to stimulate progress, by sending undercover agents (known as progressors). While children play they find an abandoned road with a road sign "wrong way". Anton decides to go further and discovered remnants from World War (it is unclear which war, but we assume it is WWII) - a skeleton lying besides machine gun.
Later it is revealed that both Anton and Pashka grow up to be progressors on the other planet, and are based in the same Arkanar Kingdom.
The actual story begins when don Rumata (Anton) visits the Drunken Den, a meeting place for progressors working in the Lands Beyond the Strait (Запроливье). Currently, he is investigating disappearance of famed scientist, Doctor Budah, who might have been kidnapped by the Prime Minister of Arkanar, don Reba. Don Reba leads a campaign against all educated people in the kingdom, blaming them for all the calamities and misfortunes of the kingdom. Rumata is alarmed, as kingdom rapidly transforms into a fascist police state
. Apparently, all Rumata's efforts are concentrated on saving most talented poets, writers, doctors and scientists and hijacking them abroad, into neighboring countries. However, most of his native friends are murdered or broken by Don Reba's regime.
Rumata tries to convince his colleagues that a more active intervention must take place. However, Don Goog (Pashka) and don Kondor feel that he became to involved into native affairs and can't see the historical perspective objectively. They remind him of the vices of overly active meddling with history of the planet. Not convinced, but left with no other choice, Rumata agrees to continue his work.
Back in the city, Rumata tries pumping multiple people for information, including Vaga the Wheel, the head of local organised crime. He also comes to a soiree organised by don Reba's lover, dona Okana, who is also rumored to be don Reba's confidante. Rumata hopes to seduce he, and pump for information, however, he cannot hide the disgust, of whoring himself out, and has to retreat. Rumata's love interest, a young commoner named Kira, who can't stand any longer the brutality and horrors of fascist Arcanar asks Rumata to stay in his house. Rumata gladly agrees, happy that she will be secured in his home, until he will be able to deliver her to earth.
His other plans don't go that smoothly. The life in Arcanar becomes less and less tolerable. Reba suspects that dona Okana had love affair with Rumata tortures and executes her. Rumata - faced with horrible consequences of his power play - goes into drunken stupor. Finally, left no other option, Rumata openly blames don Reba in front of the King Piy VI for kidnapping a famous physician, that he, Rumata, invited to tend King's maladies.
The ensuing events prove that don Reba has anticipated and prepared for this. After confessing that he, in fact, kidnapped Dr. Budah, fearing that the man is not to be trusted with King's life, don Reba apologizes. He then brings forward a physician, introducing him as Dr. Budah. The next night, Rumata, who's turn is to guard royal prince and the only heir to the throne, is suddenly overwhelmed by dozens of Don Reba's men, and while fighting for his life witness them murdering the prince. They are in turn massacred by monks, apparently members of Arkanar Holy Order, a militaristic religious sect. Defeated Rumata is brought in front of don Reba.
Don Reba reveals that he has been watching don Rumata for some time - in fact he knows Rumata to be an impostor - the real Rumata died long time ago. However, don Reba realizes that there is some supernatural power behind Rumata. Rumata's gold is of impossible high quality and Rumata's sword fighting style is unheard of - and yet - he never killed a single person while staying in Arcanar. Don Reba instinctively feels that killing Rumata may lead to retribution from his supernatural allies (he believes Rumata to be denizen of hell) and tries to forge a treaty with him.
During their conversation, Rumata finally understands the magnitude of Reba's plotting. The presented physician was not Budah - impostor was promised a position of royal physician and was instructed to give King a potion - that was really a poison. King died and the physician was executed for murdering the king. With death of royal prince during Rumata's guard and king dead by hands of "Budah" - a doctor that was brought by Rumata and against Reba's wishes, Rumata can be easily blamed for staging a coup - in fact nobody would ever believe that he is not Reba's accomplice. In the same time, organized crime group of Vaga the Wheel, secretly encouraged by don Reba, started pillaging the city.
Alarmed, leaderless government, complied to don Reba's decision to ask for help from holy order militia. Holy order quickly dispatched of the criminals and the guardsmen alike, seizing the defenceless city with minimal losses. Reba - who was pawn of Holy Order from the beginning - has become a new head of state, a magister of the Holy Order and governor of Arcanar.
Shocked and infuriated, Rumata still holds his ground, and forms a non-aggression pact with Don Reba. He uses his new status to rescue the real Dr. Budah as well as his friend Baron Pampa from prison. Around him, Arcanar succumbs into claws of the Holy Order. As last of his friends and allies die and suffer in the turmoil, Rumata acts with all the haste to expedite the departure of Budah. Three progressors meet again to discuss Budah's future. Both his colleagues are tortured by remorse, however, there is nothing to be done now. Don Kondor suggest Rumata to act careful, as it is clear that rascal Reba can go back on their deal at any moment. He particularly advices to deliver Rumata's lover, Kira, to Earth with uttermost speed, as "all that we hold dear should be either in our heart or on Earth".
Before Budah departure, Rumata poses before him a theological question: "what would you ask a god, if he could come from sky and fullfil any of your wishes". After a long discussion - with Budah wishing and Rumata explaining the dire consequences of each of the wishes, Budah finally states that the only true gift, a god could give the people - is to leave them to their affairs. To this, Rumata replies, that god cannot bear the sight of their suffering.
Budah crosses the border successfully and Rumata returns to his home, to discover his loyal servants murdered, as don Reba, finally feeling confident in his power as a ruler, orders Rumata's death. Feeling confident in his superior abilities and contacts in the military and the criminal world alike, Rumata instantaneously produces an escape plan for Kira and himself. It would take them only few days to reach fellow progressors - and then - Earth and deserved rest.
Militia starts shooting a barrage of arrows through the window. Kira is killed and dies in Rumata's hands. As fighters break the front door, Rumata, maddened with grief, unsheathes his swords and waits for them.
The rest is narrated by Pasha to Anka. It is told, that space station was put on alert, when the house was attacked, however they did not have chance to react. Finally, the entire city was put to sleep and it was discovered that Anton-Rumata has fought his way through entire city, bathing his way in blood, towards the palace, where he finally killed don Reba.
Remembering their childhood, Pashka wonders whether that episode, when Anton decided to disobey "wrong way" sign, and found a skeleton, had a deeper meaning - as going back to the past - to medieval world - could bring nothing but trouble.
praised Hard to Be a God as "one of the most skillfully written, heavily freighted sf novels I have ever read," saying "The writing is well paced and the narrative is beautifully structured."
's novels, Hard to Be a God was adapted multiple times on different media.
created by the Strugatsky brothers themselves in 1989. It roughly followed the story of the book and revealed several previously unknown details. It compressed the story from several years to a few weeks. Certain characters were also combined together for the sake of brevity. The play was most likely created as a reaction to Fleischmann's movie.
studios for the PC. The game is set immediately after the events in the book (known as the Arkanar
Massacre), and so can be considered a sequel
to the book. The player takes the role of a rookie imperial intelligence officer
, straight out of the intelligence academy. The first mission is to investigate the disappearance of don Rumata, and all the ramifications of his disappearance. It quickly becomes clear why an inexperienced rookie agent was chosen for such a complex mission: since the player character
is young and inexperienced, their higher-ups are hoping that they fail so that entire incident can be swept under the rug. The player eventually discovers the truth, and begins to use the advanced weaponry of Earth offered during the mission. Thus the game allows the use of weapons of a space-faring race on a medieval world.
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
The brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are Soviet Jewish-Russian science fiction authors who collaborated on their fiction.-Life and work:...
set in the Noon Universe
Noon 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...
.
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
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. The novel's core idea is that human progress throughout the centuries is often cruel and bloody, and that religion and blind faith can be an effective tool of oppression, working to destroy the emerging scientific discipline and enlightenment. The title 'Hard to be a God' refers to Anton's (known as his alias Don Rumata throughout the book) perception of his precarious role as an observer on the planet, for while he has far more advance knowledge than the people around him, he is forbidden to assist too actively, as it would interfere with the natural progress of history. The book pays a lot of attention to the internal world of the main character, showing his own evolution from a dedicated 'progressor' to the person who rejects the blind belief in theory when confronted with the cruelty of real events.
Plot summary
The first chapter shows a scene from Anton's childhood, when he sneaks away from his boarding schoolBoarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
with his friends, Pashka (Paul) and Anka (Anna), for a small role-play in the woods. It reveals that children live in a futuristic utopia, and the teenagers are drawn to the adventures on far away planets, where earth tries to stimulate progress, by sending undercover agents (known as progressors). While children play they find an abandoned road with a road sign "wrong way". Anton decides to go further and discovered remnants from World War (it is unclear which war, but we assume it is WWII) - a skeleton lying besides machine gun.
Later it is revealed that both Anton and Pashka grow up to be progressors on the other planet, and are based in the same Arkanar Kingdom.
The actual story begins when don Rumata (Anton) visits the Drunken Den, a meeting place for progressors working in the Lands Beyond the Strait (Запроливье). Currently, he is investigating disappearance of famed scientist, Doctor Budah, who might have been kidnapped by the Prime Minister of Arkanar, don Reba. Don Reba leads a campaign against all educated people in the kingdom, blaming them for all the calamities and misfortunes of the kingdom. Rumata is alarmed, as kingdom rapidly transforms into a fascist police state
Police state
A police state is one in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population...
. Apparently, all Rumata's efforts are concentrated on saving most talented poets, writers, doctors and scientists and hijacking them abroad, into neighboring countries. However, most of his native friends are murdered or broken by Don Reba's regime.
Rumata tries to convince his colleagues that a more active intervention must take place. However, Don Goog (Pashka) and don Kondor feel that he became to involved into native affairs and can't see the historical perspective objectively. They remind him of the vices of overly active meddling with history of the planet. Not convinced, but left with no other choice, Rumata agrees to continue his work.
Back in the city, Rumata tries pumping multiple people for information, including Vaga the Wheel, the head of local organised crime. He also comes to a soiree organised by don Reba's lover, dona Okana, who is also rumored to be don Reba's confidante. Rumata hopes to seduce he, and pump for information, however, he cannot hide the disgust, of whoring himself out, and has to retreat. Rumata's love interest, a young commoner named Kira, who can't stand any longer the brutality and horrors of fascist Arcanar asks Rumata to stay in his house. Rumata gladly agrees, happy that she will be secured in his home, until he will be able to deliver her to earth.
His other plans don't go that smoothly. The life in Arcanar becomes less and less tolerable. Reba suspects that dona Okana had love affair with Rumata tortures and executes her. Rumata - faced with horrible consequences of his power play - goes into drunken stupor. Finally, left no other option, Rumata openly blames don Reba in front of the King Piy VI for kidnapping a famous physician, that he, Rumata, invited to tend King's maladies.
The ensuing events prove that don Reba has anticipated and prepared for this. After confessing that he, in fact, kidnapped Dr. Budah, fearing that the man is not to be trusted with King's life, don Reba apologizes. He then brings forward a physician, introducing him as Dr. Budah. The next night, Rumata, who's turn is to guard royal prince and the only heir to the throne, is suddenly overwhelmed by dozens of Don Reba's men, and while fighting for his life witness them murdering the prince. They are in turn massacred by monks, apparently members of Arkanar Holy Order, a militaristic religious sect. Defeated Rumata is brought in front of don Reba.
Don Reba reveals that he has been watching don Rumata for some time - in fact he knows Rumata to be an impostor - the real Rumata died long time ago. However, don Reba realizes that there is some supernatural power behind Rumata. Rumata's gold is of impossible high quality and Rumata's sword fighting style is unheard of - and yet - he never killed a single person while staying in Arcanar. Don Reba instinctively feels that killing Rumata may lead to retribution from his supernatural allies (he believes Rumata to be denizen of hell) and tries to forge a treaty with him.
During their conversation, Rumata finally understands the magnitude of Reba's plotting. The presented physician was not Budah - impostor was promised a position of royal physician and was instructed to give King a potion - that was really a poison. King died and the physician was executed for murdering the king. With death of royal prince during Rumata's guard and king dead by hands of "Budah" - a doctor that was brought by Rumata and against Reba's wishes, Rumata can be easily blamed for staging a coup - in fact nobody would ever believe that he is not Reba's accomplice. In the same time, organized crime group of Vaga the Wheel, secretly encouraged by don Reba, started pillaging the city.
Alarmed, leaderless government, complied to don Reba's decision to ask for help from holy order militia. Holy order quickly dispatched of the criminals and the guardsmen alike, seizing the defenceless city with minimal losses. Reba - who was pawn of Holy Order from the beginning - has become a new head of state, a magister of the Holy Order and governor of Arcanar.
Shocked and infuriated, Rumata still holds his ground, and forms a non-aggression pact with Don Reba. He uses his new status to rescue the real Dr. Budah as well as his friend Baron Pampa from prison. Around him, Arcanar succumbs into claws of the Holy Order. As last of his friends and allies die and suffer in the turmoil, Rumata acts with all the haste to expedite the departure of Budah. Three progressors meet again to discuss Budah's future. Both his colleagues are tortured by remorse, however, there is nothing to be done now. Don Kondor suggest Rumata to act careful, as it is clear that rascal Reba can go back on their deal at any moment. He particularly advices to deliver Rumata's lover, Kira, to Earth with uttermost speed, as "all that we hold dear should be either in our heart or on Earth".
Before Budah departure, Rumata poses before him a theological question: "what would you ask a god, if he could come from sky and fullfil any of your wishes". After a long discussion - with Budah wishing and Rumata explaining the dire consequences of each of the wishes, Budah finally states that the only true gift, a god could give the people - is to leave them to their affairs. To this, Rumata replies, that god cannot bear the sight of their suffering.
Budah crosses the border successfully and Rumata returns to his home, to discover his loyal servants murdered, as don Reba, finally feeling confident in his power as a ruler, orders Rumata's death. Feeling confident in his superior abilities and contacts in the military and the criminal world alike, Rumata instantaneously produces an escape plan for Kira and himself. It would take them only few days to reach fellow progressors - and then - Earth and deserved rest.
Militia starts shooting a barrage of arrows through the window. Kira is killed and dies in Rumata's hands. As fighters break the front door, Rumata, maddened with grief, unsheathes his swords and waits for them.
The rest is narrated by Pasha to Anka. It is told, that space station was put on alert, when the house was attacked, however they did not have chance to react. Finally, the entire city was put to sleep and it was discovered that Anton-Rumata has fought his way through entire city, bathing his way in blood, towards the palace, where he finally killed don Reba.
Remembering their childhood, Pashka wonders whether that episode, when Anton decided to disobey "wrong way" sign, and found a skeleton, had a deeper meaning - as going back to the past - to medieval world - could bring nothing but trouble.
Reception
Theodore SturgeonTheodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon was an American science fiction author.His most famous novel is More Than Human .-Biography:...
praised Hard to Be a God as "one of the most skillfully written, heavily freighted sf novels I have ever read," saying "The writing is well paced and the narrative is beautifully structured."
Adaptations
One of the most popular StrugatskyArkady and Boris Strugatsky
The brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are Soviet Jewish-Russian science fiction authors who collaborated on their fiction.-Life and work:...
's novels, Hard to Be a God was adapted multiple times on different media.
Theatrical films
- 1989 filmHard 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....
directed 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...
and starring Werner HerzogWerner HerzogWerner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
. - History of the Arkanar Massacre directed by Aleksei GermanAleksei GermanAleksei Yuryevich German is a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, most active as a director and screenwriter. His last name is pronounced with a hard "g" and in English is frequently spelled Guerman or Gherman to avoid confusion.Almost all of German's films have been set during the Stalin era and have...
. Recently finished filming and is now in the post-productionPost-productionPost-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
(as of February 2008).
Without Weapons
Without Weapons (Без оружия, Bez oruzhia) also known as A Man from Distant Stars (Человек с далёкой звезды, Chelovek s dalyokoy zvezdy) was a playPlay (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
created by the Strugatsky brothers themselves in 1989. It roughly followed the story of the book and revealed several previously unknown details. It compressed the story from several years to a few weeks. Certain characters were also combined together for the sake of brevity. The play was most likely created as a reaction to Fleischmann's movie.
Computer game
A computer role-playing game of the same title, based on the book, was developed by Burut Entertainment and AkellaAkella
Akella is a Russian software company specializing in the development, publishing and distribution of computer games and multimedia products. The founders of Akella met in 1993 and decided to start a company together, and in 1995 formed Akella...
studios for the PC. The game is set immediately after the events in the book (known as the Arkanar
Arkanar
Arkanar is the capital of Arkanar Kingdom on a fictional unnamed planet described in "Hard to Be a God" by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky. This planet is a part of the so called Noon Universe and presents a world in a late feudalistic/Renaissance stage...
Massacre), and so can be considered a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the book. The player takes the role of a rookie imperial intelligence officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
, straight out of the intelligence academy. The first mission is to investigate the disappearance of don Rumata, and all the ramifications of his disappearance. It quickly becomes clear why an inexperienced rookie agent was chosen for such a complex mission: since the player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
is young and inexperienced, their higher-ups are hoping that they fail so that entire incident can be swept under the rug. The player eventually discovers the truth, and begins to use the advanced weaponry of Earth offered during the mission. Thus the game allows the use of weapons of a space-faring race on a medieval world.