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Spectrum (Russian novel)
Encyclopedia
Spectrum is a novel that takes place in the near future. Contact with aliens allowed humanity to travel between planets through portals. The Keymaster civilization not only provides new technologies to the world but also makes sure that their conditions are fulfilled to the letter: unrestricted access to the Gates for all who are willing. Payment for their use is an unusual story told to a Keymaster by the traveler. The main character of the novel is a private investigator who solves his clients' problems on other planets.
His main strength is his ability to make up the necessary stories needed to gain passage to alien worlds. This earned him the nickname "the Walker" from those who know of him.
discovers that the same woman exists on several other worlds, each is connected to the other. One by one, they are killed in seemingly random, totally unrelated events. It is to the Walker's great surprise when he finds himself becoming attracted to his client's daughter. It's a race against time, as the Walker desperately tries to save the identical copies of the woman, only to have them die in his arms. Can he save the last one before she perishes and, in the process, uncover a massive conspiracy going back thousands of years with the Keymasters in the middle?
(see Roy G. Biv) which helps to remember the spectrum colors: "Kazhdy Okhotnik Zhalaet Znatj Gde Sidit Fazan" (Every hunter wants to know where a pheasant sits; K - Krasny, red; O - oranzevy, orange; Zh - zholty, yellow; Z - zelyony, green; G - goluboy, cyan; S - siniy, blue; F - fioletovy, purple). Each part includes something on food, cooking and gourmet ideas. Each planet has something of the corresponding color (e.g., the Preria features orange sky and the first human met by the Walker, is a red, even orange-covered kid). In the Orange part, there appears a "cowboy" whose name is not revealed but it's hidden in the paragraph describing him; by reading only capital letters you get the name "Semetskiy" (for several years, Russian and Ukraininan SF writers included a character of this name who had to be killed in this or that way. The real Semetskiy is a well known Russian SF fan, works in book selling business and a good friend of Sergey Lukianenko and many other writers.)
and nine species of marine animals, living in canals. All of these are inedible and non-aggressive.
and appears to be an idealized version of the American Old West
. It is populated by over 20,000 colonists. However, it is also home to a native race of sentient humanoids (called Indians
by the colonists), who live in a primitive agrarian society.
. Other concepts such as religion, soul, and God are all foreign to them. In fact, they privately consider the other races' obsession with these concepts to be ridiculous. Despite this, the Aranks are still an emotional and friendly people. Their laws forbid them from giving technology to races that are not sufficiently advanced to properly use it, with one exception. By Arank law, attempted murderers lose all their property to their would-be victims, including their spouses (the victim has the right to refuse). This supersedes the technology non-proliferation law.
s called the Dio-Dao. Their lifespan is extremely short by most races' standards — only six months. However, the parents are able to pass on half of their memories to their children. The parent dies immediately after giving birth. Those who have failed to get pregnant live slightly longer (no more than a month). Despite their short lives, the Dio-Dao adore bureaucracy
. The Valley of God is an area on Marge devoted to all religious cults of the galaxy with most of the followers and priests being Dio-Dao. The planet's true name is Fakyu; "Marge" is an American name (for obvious reasons).
, allowing anyone to walk on it as if on land. The planet is populated by the Bezzarians, who are sentient 6.5-foot amoeba
e, the only known sentient single-celled organisms in the galaxy. The Bezzarians are quite advanced in the fields of biotechnology and space travel (their ships don't physically move through space; they simply shift their spacial coordinates). They also have a very low temperature tolerance. Humans can only survive on Bezzar for no more than twenty-four hours due to the planet's unique properties.
s, who have learned to completely suppress their minds after reaching adulthood. This way, they are free of troublesome thoughts and bad emotions. All adult Shealy act only in accordance with their reflexes, gained during childhood.
His main strength is his ability to make up the necessary stories needed to gain passage to alien worlds. This earned him the nickname "the Walker" from those who know of him.
Plot summary
His life changes when a wealthy man walks into his office and asks him to find his missing daughter. After a short investigation, the Walker finds her on Library - a world full of ancient ruins. Before he can bring her back, however, she dies in a freak accident. A clue leads him to another alien planet where he finds her alive and well. Soon hediscovers that the same woman exists on several other worlds, each is connected to the other. One by one, they are killed in seemingly random, totally unrelated events. It is to the Walker's great surprise when he finds himself becoming attracted to his client's daughter. It's a race against time, as the Walker desperately tries to save the identical copies of the woman, only to have them die in his arms. Can he save the last one before she perishes and, in the process, uncover a massive conspiracy going back thousands of years with the Keymasters in the middle?
Interesting features
Each of the 7 parts of the novel starts with a word of the Russian mnemonicMnemonic
A mnemonic , or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids memory. To improve long term memory, mnemonic systems are used to make memorization easier. Commonly encountered mnemonics are often verbal, such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something,...
(see Roy G. Biv) which helps to remember the spectrum colors: "Kazhdy Okhotnik Zhalaet Znatj Gde Sidit Fazan" (Every hunter wants to know where a pheasant sits; K - Krasny, red; O - oranzevy, orange; Zh - zholty, yellow; Z - zelyony, green; G - goluboy, cyan; S - siniy, blue; F - fioletovy, purple). Each part includes something on food, cooking and gourmet ideas. Each planet has something of the corresponding color (e.g., the Preria features orange sky and the first human met by the Walker, is a red, even orange-covered kid). In the Orange part, there appears a "cowboy" whose name is not revealed but it's hidden in the paragraph describing him; by reading only capital letters you get the name "Semetskiy" (for several years, Russian and Ukraininan SF writers included a character of this name who had to be killed in this or that way. The real Semetskiy is a well known Russian SF fan, works in book selling business and a good friend of Sergey Lukianenko and many other writers.)
Planets
The main character visits 7 alien planets (8, including the Keymasters' homeworld) throughout the novel, one in each chapter.Library
This planet is not a home to any native race. The entire world is made up of many rocky islands, separated by thin canals. Each of those islands features from one to several hundred stone obelisks. There is a letter written on each obelisk. Library is home to about a thousand sentients, 300 of them being human. Most of these are scientists, engaged in futile attempts to decipher the alien writings on the obelisks. Many of these are unable to return home, as they lack storytelling skills. The only forms of native life are three species of algaeAlgae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
and nine species of marine animals, living in canals. All of these are inedible and non-aggressive.
Prairie II
This planet was colonized by the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and appears to be an idealized version of the American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
. It is populated by over 20,000 colonists. However, it is also home to a native race of sentient humanoids (called Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
by the colonists), who live in a primitive agrarian society.
Arank
Homeworld of the humanoid Aranks, who are physically indistinguishable from humans. The Aranks possess highly-advanced technology, second only to the Keymasters, and centuries ahead of Earth. Most of their needs are satisfied freely. The Aranks are a wise and good-natured race. They possess a unique trait — they do not understand the concept of the meaning of lifeMeaning of life
The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general. This concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as "Why are we here?", "What is life all about?", and "What is the meaning of it all?" It has...
. Other concepts such as religion, soul, and God are all foreign to them. In fact, they privately consider the other races' obsession with these concepts to be ridiculous. Despite this, the Aranks are still an emotional and friendly people. Their laws forbid them from giving technology to races that are not sufficiently advanced to properly use it, with one exception. By Arank law, attempted murderers lose all their property to their would-be victims, including their spouses (the victim has the right to refuse). This supersedes the technology non-proliferation law.
Marge
This world is populated by a race of marsupial hermaphroditeHermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
s called the Dio-Dao. Their lifespan is extremely short by most races' standards — only six months. However, the parents are able to pass on half of their memories to their children. The parent dies immediately after giving birth. Those who have failed to get pregnant live slightly longer (no more than a month). Despite their short lives, the Dio-Dao adore bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
. The Valley of God is an area on Marge devoted to all religious cults of the galaxy with most of the followers and priests being Dio-Dao. The planet's true name is Fakyu; "Marge" is an American name (for obvious reasons).
Bezzar
A unique planet, completely covered by a thin layer of water with extremely high surface tensionSurface tension
Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force. It is revealed, for example, in floating of some objects on the surface of water, even though they are denser than water, and in the ability of some insects to run on the water surface...
, allowing anyone to walk on it as if on land. The planet is populated by the Bezzarians, who are sentient 6.5-foot amoeba
Amoeba
Amoeba is a genus of Protozoa.History=The amoeba was first discovered by August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof in 1757. Early naturalists referred to Amoeba as the Proteus animalcule after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his shape...
e, the only known sentient single-celled organisms in the galaxy. The Bezzarians are quite advanced in the fields of biotechnology and space travel (their ships don't physically move through space; they simply shift their spacial coordinates). They also have a very low temperature tolerance. Humans can only survive on Bezzar for no more than twenty-four hours due to the planet's unique properties.
Shealy
Home to the Shealy, a race of sentient flightless birdFlightless bird
Flightless birds are birds which lack the ability to fly, relying instead on their ability to run or swim. They are thought to have evolved from flying ancestors. There are about forty species in existence today, the best known being the ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea, kiwi, and penguin...
s, who have learned to completely suppress their minds after reaching adulthood. This way, they are free of troublesome thoughts and bad emotions. All adult Shealy act only in accordance with their reflexes, gained during childhood.