The best books by the Strugatsky brothers in 2024

The works of the Strugatsky brothers touch the hearts of even those people who are cold to the science fiction genre. In fact, the co-authors raise social issues in their works, they carry a deep meaning. Stories about unknown worlds, invented by writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, not only captivate the storyline, but force the reader to look differently at the real world surrounding reality.

How to choose a book from many authors' works

The most popular books of the Strugatskys were filmed and known in our country, as well as abroad, therefore, even if for some reason a person has not yet read anything from the numerous creations of the brothers, then the question of where to start acquaintance with great authors usually does not arise. You need to start with the most famous novels, such as: Roadside Picnic, Hard to Be God, Inhabited Island, Monday Starts on Saturday, Interns.

The perception of literary works is subjective and individual, therefore the best book from Arkady and Boris Strugatsky is different for everyone.

At what age of the reader are the Strugatsky novels oriented?

It is believed that adolescent readers are not able to understand the entire deep meaning of the works, being carried away only by the fantastic storyline. In fact, everything is very individual, since all children develop in their own rhythm. In any case, if the child loves and is passionate about reading, then from the age of twelve you can be offered to read the novel "It's Hard to Be God" or "Monday Starts on Saturday", which is an excellent option for developing a good sense of humor.

The books are not just entertaining in nature, allowing you to while away the time on the road, they are the time spent in a good campaign of two interesting people who are the best among Russian authors of science and social fiction.

Most recommended books by these authors, according to readers

For a long time, the books of Arkady Natanovich and Boris Natanovich were withdrawn from free access on the electronic network, so it was not possible to download the novel for free or read it online.

The average cost of downloading per torrent exceeded the expectations of ordinary users and undoubtedly moved away from acquaintance with the masterpieces of literature. Fortunately, recently, any restriction has been removed, and now anyone can read novels using any gadget, download books by their favorite authors.

"It's hard to be god"

The science fiction novel was published in 1964 as part of the author's collection "Distant Rainbow".The work was screened in 2013, but director Alexei German, who had been looking for an opportunity and a suitable script for a film for many years, could not see the result of his work due to his sudden death. The son of the director managed to complete the work he had begun with his father, since Alexey German Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and also became a director.

The action of the fantastic story plunges the reader into another planet, the civilization of which lags behind the earthly one so much that it is comparable to the times of the dark Middle Ages. On a planet that was once peaceful and prosperous, chaos and reigning injustice began due to changes in power and main political priorities that deny the need for education.

A surprisingly brutal order prevails in the Arkanar kingdom. Sensible people who have education and the ability to make independent decisions are subjected to persecution and all kinds of torture.

The future has come on planet Earth, and progress has stepped so far that earthlings can observe the situation taking place in the territory of the dysfunctional Arkanara. Observers from Earth, sent to Arkanara and secretly introduced into the ranks of the royal guard, have no right to change the course of the history of an alien civilization according to the rules of "Bloodless Impact". Therefore, they can only save individual unfortunate and persecuted representatives of a civilization that is striving for dullness and the creation of a society that can only faithfully fulfill the orders of high leaders.

• The book may be of interest not only to an adult reader, but also to children in middle and high school, since it covertly raises questions of the need for education, human relations, altruism, justice, eternal values, spiritual development;
• The story can be read in electronic form, but it will be more interesting for teenagers to read the story in print with accompanying illustrations;
• The main character, Don Rumata Estorsky, exhibits knightly qualities and is a positive example of a bright, noble person who is able to defend the truth;
• The main character does not use his power and knowledge for selfish purposes, does not accept any possibility of taking the life of a living being;
• The authors show the problem in which a normal person cannot remain calm and not interfere in the course of history when Rumata decides to take a desperate step to storm a palace occupied by tyrants.

• The impression that remains after reading the story is heavy, since there is no happy ending, the main character realizes that any coups with a change of power in a bloody or bloodless way will plunge civilization into an endless cycle in which some officials replace others, and a hungry people again and again restores a shaky world ...

"Roadside Picnic"

The first publication of the work in 1972 subsequently underwent many edits from the editors, contrary to common sense. The story was forgotten for a long time and received a reprint in a previously unknown form only in 1989.

The film "Stalker", directed by Andrei Tarkovsky in 1979, was shot in collaboration with the Strugatskys scriptwriters, since the film was based on the plot of the story "Roadside Picnic".

The term and concept "Stalker" was a find of co-authors brothers and became a widely used neologism, which denoted people engaged in industrial tourism, lovers of visiting abandoned exclusion zones, cities of the dead, unknown points on the map.

The plot is set in an English-speaking country, in a fantastic city of 1970, which in fact does not exist.

The earth is no longer a prosperous place, since it is divided into zones, in some of which you can live, and in others it is dangerous to life.

What is the reason for the anomalies that lead to various human and animal mutations are trying to figure out the daredevils who go to forbidden zones in search of objects of unearthly origin. It is hypothesized that items with dangerous or useful properties were left by representatives of extraterrestrial civilization, who from time to time visit the earth and leave their garbage, just like people throw empty cans and bags after a picnic.

• The authors touch on the theme of a passion for profit, craving for everything illegal and forbidden, which leads to the suffering not only of the adventurers themselves, but also of children, relatives and friends;
• The thought is raised about whether the goal is comparable to the sacrifices that will have to be made in order to achieve it;
• The book is easy to read, in one breath;
• There are several adaptations of the story, including the latest foreign TV series based on the novel, Roadside picnic, on AMC.

• No flaws were found.

"Monday starts on Saturday"

The plot of "Monday" is narrated in three parts: "Vanity around the sofa", "All kinds of vanity" and "Vanity of vanities". The story, written in 1965, continues to be relevant today. Reading, of course, will give a lot of pleasant moments that will cheer up the reader. Immersion in the atmosphere of scientific work, experiments, technical breakthroughs, incredible capabilities of scientists that border on magical abilities.

In addition, the Strugatsky co-authors raise questions and problems that hinder the development of science, and these are bureaucracy, abuse of power, pseudoscience, consumerism.

• A popular work, it had a great influence on the formation of the way of thinking of people of the 60-80s;
• The work of domestic authors has been translated into several foreign languages ​​and published many times abroad under the title: "Monday Starts On Sunday" with the assistance of translators Leonid Renen and Andrew Bromfield;
• The situation described in the story is a sarcastic model of what often happens in government organizations, when people without talent spend funds on failed projects that do not bring any practical benefit to anyone other than people who are involved in budget theft, while talented ideas, those capable of changing the world for the better lack attention;
• The work raises the problem of people leaving to work with their heads, when there is no time left for the simple joys of life, and they are not held in high esteem. The meaning of life is to be constantly involved in the work process, so people do not have Sunday as a day of the week and they spend all the holidays at work, and there is a deputy at home.

• No flaws were found.

"Inhabited Island"

A popular work in the genre of science fiction, it was written in 1969. The book is a dystopia, it was a huge success and was published 24 times in more than 13 countries around the world.

The book has become a model of classical world fiction and is equal in content, and perhaps even surpasses the story "It is difficult to be God."

The plot tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world, which lost its original beautiful appearance after a terrible war that poisoned most of the space with deadly radiation.

The knowledge of people is limited only by what is dictated to them from above by the "Unknown Fathers", but there are people in the new society who are unable to obey, who are not affected by zombie, therefore they are not pleasing to the highest rulers, they are called "geeks."

The planetary explorer Mak Sim enters a dilapidated world and remains a prisoner there, since the ship on which he arrived was destroyed. The main character quickly realizes that the existing structure of the world is false and not fair, but people cannot believe that the "Unknown Fathers" are evil, they are so intoxicated with propaganda.

• The fascinating plot of the book is recommended for reading at an adult age, since the pictures unfold at times scary and frightening;
• The authors raise, once again, the question of the evil that the revolution inflicts on ordinary citizens, since coups are beneficial only to organizers who wish to gain power. The more the revolutionaries shout about the oppression and suffering of the people, the more difficult it is for the population to cope with the consequences of the storms.

• The story includes several parts that should be read before watching the film adaptation of the work. The adaptation, according to many critics, did not meet expectations, and this is exactly the case when the book is better.

"The Ugly Swans"

For a long time, the story was not published anywhere, censorship did not pass. According to the plot, an unknown country, crippled by war, leads a strange life, the people are divided due to an unexplored genetic disease, and the weather conditions leave much to be desired, because it rains continuously.

Sick people live in isolation, but their disease is not contagious, but a person can make a choice to be sick or not. The attitude towards the outcast people in the camp is ambiguous, the adult population does not trust the lepers, many openly hate, but there are also those who, willingly or unwillingly, help unusual people.

Surprisingly, children are allowed to communicate with "sick" people, the younger generation treats people in black bands on their faces with respect and reverence. These people cannot live without receiving spiritual food, they need books for a normal existence, but there are forces that deliberately delay the supply of new books to the camp.

Then comes the understanding that the people from the camp are different, perhaps they returned from the distant future back to the past in order to prevent or correct mistakes that could lead to a catastrophe in the future. The task of the people in the camp is to educate children, to give them a guideline on which they can rely in life.

• The book makes you think about what is really important in life and what is illusory, who can be considered sick, and who is healthy and who is destined to get into a bright future.

• No flaws were found.

"Doomed City"

The work is difficult to comprehend these days, but it does not cease to remain interesting and relevant.

The co-authors raise the question of the feasibility of experiments in the economic and social spheres. What is to be understood as good, and what is pure evil under the guise of good intentions.

The work is filled with deep philosophical meaning and shows how easily ideals can collapse, worldviews change. How fanatically believers can instantly find themselves in a space that does not give any ground under their feet and not a single glimmer of hope.

• Nicholas Roerich's dramatic painting became one of the factors that prompted the authors to create this masterpiece, the name of which is also borrowed from Roerich;
• A fantastically written philosophical novel that has become a science fiction classic.

Conclusion

By no means many Russian authors writing in the genre of science fiction have the same success as Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, who work so fruitfully and productively, rightfully deserve it.

After reading the most famous works of the authors, you can proceed to further study of the work of the Strugatskys.

Possible difficulties in the perception of the brothers' books arise mainly as a result of inattention, since having missed any component of the plot, it seems difficult to put the whole idea together.

The books found many admirers, however, and critics did not bypass the works of science fiction writers, but it must be admitted that the works written in the last century are of a prophetic nature. Readers unwittingly recognize the events of the present reality, political characters and disasters that happened much later than the publication of the Strugatsky's stories and novels.