Сердце змеи

by Ivan Efremov, Иван Ефремов

Contents:

The Heart of the Serpent - novelette by Ivan Yefremov
Siema - novelette by Anatoly Dnieprov
The Trial of Tantalus - novelette by Victor Saparin
Stone from the Stars - short story by Valentina Zhuravlyova
Six Matches - short story by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

Professor Ivan Yefremov (born 1907) is well known both as a tireless fossil hunter and a talented science-fiction writer. His fantasy ranges between the mysteries of times long bygone and the distant future. His novels include The Land of Foam, where the scene is set in ancient Egypt and Greece, and the world-renowned Andromeda, in which his fantasy roams two thousand years ahead. The Heart of the Serpent, given in this volume, was written in 1959. Its subject is related to that of Andromeda.

Anatoly Dnieprov (born 1919), the author of Siema, which he wrote in 1958, is a distinguished physicist who works at an institute of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences. His first book appeared in 1946. His favorite subject is cybernetics - its amazing achievements to date and its breathtaking potentialities. Scientific authenticity is a salient feature of his writings.

Victor Separin (born 1905), a journalist by profession, is editor of the Soviet popular geographic magazine Around the World. His fiction, which treats of present-day scientific and technical problems, is amazingly realistic. In this volume he is represented by The Trial of Tantalus, a story dealing with prospects of microbiology.

Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, authors of The Six Matches, are frequent contributors to Soviet popular science periodicals. Few readers know, however, that the two brothers are not professional writers. Boris Strugatsky (born 1933) is an astronomer and works at the computer laboratory of Pulknovo Observatory. Arkady (born 1925) is a linguist and translator specializing in Japanese.

Valentina Zhuravleva (born 1933) is a comparatively recent graduate of the Azerbaijan Medical Institute. She was probably prompted to try her hand at scientific fiction by the almost fantastic possibilities offering in the field of medicine. The bold flights of fancy in her scientific thinking make her stories particularly noteworthy. Bio-automation is the theme of her Stone from the Stars, written in 1959, and included in this volume.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Russian Literature, Science Fiction Fantasy, Russia

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Ivan Antonovich (real patronymic Antipovich) Yefremov (Russian: Иван Ефремов; April 22, 1908–October 5, 1972), last sometimes spelled Efremov, was a Soviet paleontologist, science fiction author and social thinker. He originated taphonomy, the study of fossilization patterns.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heart of the Serpent Ivan Yefremov
Novella. Compare to "To Be Taught, If Fortunate."

Siema Anatoly Dnieprov (aka Dneprov)
Compare to "Murderbot."

The Trial of Tantalus Victor Saparin
Compare to Covid-19.

Stone from the Stars Valentina Zhuravleva
Compare to a certain part of "A Wrinkle in Time."

Six Matches Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky
Um, compare to whatever myth of hubris you choose.

The thing is, I can see, that these authors had to work within the political climate. Communism had to be shown as a good thing. Utopia, or at least improved society, were to be depicted as natural outcomes of current USSR programs. But still there's a subtle wink of satire in some, irony too.... These stories are well worth reading.

I would love to find more by any of the authors and have added a couple of other anthologies of Soviet SF to my list because I found them on openlibrary.org.

[Zulfiya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sci-fi is one of the most dated fiction one can find, and only very few stand the test of time. The same is still true about this particular novella as it is epistemologically and technically very dated.
Dated can be explained or accepted, but I also feel that the author fell into the same rut as with its predecessor in the series. Let me elaborate.

The novella was a good choice for that kind of plot - first contact, and it started strongly, and I was quite engaged, and my thoughts literally were,"Well, now, when it is a novella, we might not go into the rabbit hole of communist propaganda, and it might possibly be a fast-paced, engaging story" ... Alas, it did not least long. Right at the turning point of the story, the author segued into pages and pages of political spin that focuses on the supremacy of Communism and communal living. It is obvious that one can not decry everything in this idealistic vision, but most of it nowadays sounds awfully dated.

Another peeve is the concept of physical beauty that somehow rubs me the wrong way. Physical beauty in the evolutionary sense of procreation and passing on genes might be important, but its superiority over the beauty of human spirit and human nature did not go well with me.
I did like, though, the concept of life form that was fluorine based. I am not sure how viable it is, but I am also not a xenobiologist, so I would humbly defer to their opinion.
Overall, a promising beginning, but the story followed suit of its predecessor in its structure and axiology.
Now, it is my personal quest to see if the author is able to improve or if the third part in this series replicates the first two.

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 2 out of 5]

ENGLISH: In an environment of interstellar travel and encounters with extraterrestrials, Efremov presents the ideas of Jean Jacques Rousseau in a Soviet communist version: man is good by nature; capitalist society corrupts him; in the future, when Soviet communism will dominate the world, man's innate goodness will come to the surface automatically.

The captain of the interstellar ship falls ill. The second in command must perform a complex maneuver. When he finishes, the captain confesses that his illness was simulated; a collusion with the ship's doctor to provide his subordinate with that experience. How good they all are!

The crew members ask themselves the following question: What are we doing here, so far from Earth, which Soviet communism has turned into a paradise? Aren't we wasting our time, when we could be happy there? (Please!)

There are some funny scientific mistakes, such as assuming that matter and antimatter gravitationally repel each other (in fact they attract). In summary: This novella is a communist political pamphlet, disguised as science fiction. And the aliens are so good, that they are undoubtedly also followers of Soviet communism.

In short, this novella is, at times, a philo-communist political pamphlet disguised as science fiction, although not as much as The Andromeda Nebula, by the same author. And the part about the encounter with aliens is quite good, although I personally like better other novels in the same sub-genre, such as Project Hail Mary.

ESPAÑOL: En un entorno de viajes interestelares y encuentros con extraterrestres, Efremov nos presenta aquí las ideas de Jean Jacques Rousseau en versión comunista soviética: el hombre es bueno por naturaleza; la sociedad (capitalista) le corrompe; en el futuro, cuando el comunismo soviético domine el mundo, la bondad innata del hombre saldrá automáticamente a la superficie.

El capitán de la nave interestelar se pone enfermo. El segundo de a bordo tiene que realizar una maniobra compleja. Cuando la termina, el capitán confiesa que su enfermedad fue falsa; un contubernio con el médico de a bordo para proporcionar esa experiencia a su subordinado. ¡Qué buenos son todos!

Los tripulantes se plantean la siguiente pregunta: ¿Qué hacemos aquí, tan lejos de la Tierra, a la que el comunismo soviético ha convertido en un paraíso? ¿No estamos perdiendo el tiempo, cuando allí podríamos ser felices? (¡Por favor!)

Hay algún error científico divertido, como el suponer que materia y antimateria se repelen gravitatoriamente (se atraen). Y los extraterrestres son tan buenos, que sin duda son también adeptos al comunismo soviético.

En resumen, esta novela corta es, a veces, un panfleto político filocomunista, disfrazado de ciencia-ficción. No tanto como La nebulosa de Andrómeda, del mismo autor. Y la parte del encuentro con extraterrestres está bastante bien, aunque personalmente me gustan más otras obras en la misma línea, como por ejemplo, Project Hail Mary.

[Roddy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contents:-

The Heart of The Serpent – Ivan Yefremov (1959)
Siema - Anatoly Dnieprov (1958)
The Trial of Tantalus – Victor Separin
Stone from The Stars - Valentina Zhuravleva (1959)
The Six Matches - Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (1962)


Professor Ivan Yefremov (born 1907) is well known both as a tireless fossil hunter and a talented science fiction writer. His fantasy ranges between the mysteries of times long bygone and the distant future. His novels include ‘The Land of Foam’, where the scene is set in Ancient Egypt and Greece, and the world-renowned ‘Andromeda’ in which his fantasy roams two thousand years ahead.
‘The Heart of The Serpent’, given in this volume, was written in 1959. Its subject is related to that of ‘Andromeda’.
Anatoly Dnieprov (born 1919), the author of ‘Siema, which he wrote in 1958, is a distinguished physicist who works at an institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences. His first book appeared in 1946. His favourite subject is cybernetics – its amazing achievements to date and its breathtaking potentialities. Scientific authenticity is a salient feature of his writings.
Victor Separin (born 1905), a journalist by profession, is editor of the Soviet popular geographic magazine ‘Around The World’. His fiction, which treats of present day scientific and technical problems, is amazingly realistic. In this volume he is represented by ‘The Trial of Tantalus’, a story dealing with prospects of microbiology.
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, authors of ‘The Six Matches’, are frequent contributors to Soviet popular science periodicals. Few readers know, however, that the two brothers are not professional writers. Boris Strugatsky (born 1933) is an astronomer and works at the computer laboratory of Pulknovo Observatory. Arkady (born 1925) is a linguist and translator specialising in Japanese.
Valentina Zhuravleva (born 1933) is a comparatively recent graduate of the Azerbaijan Medical Institute. She was probably prompted to try her hand at scientific fiction by the almost fantastic possibilities offering in the field of medicine. The bold flights of fancy in her scientific thinking make her stories particularly noteworthy. Bio-automation is the theme of her ‘Stone from the Stars’ written in 1959, and included in this volume.’

Blurb from the 2002 Fredonia Books paperback edition


Sadly, my copy of this very interesting collection is lacking the previous publication details, apart from some brief notes in the back cover blurb, although it would appear that the stories in this volume come the fifties or sixties and were presumably originally published in the Soviet Union of the time.
It would appear that Soviet SF writers mirror their Western counterparts in often being working scientists, which seems to be the case with some of the writers here.

The Heart of The Serpent – Ivan Yefremov (1959)

This, the longest story in this volume, is presumably a Soviet response to the famous SF story ‘First Contact’ which indeed is mentioned within the story.
A group of representatives from the now ‘classless’ world society of Earth have travelled to the constellation known to ancient Arabia as ‘The Serpent’ on a scientific mission. They encounter an alien vessel and manage to communicate with the alien crew. (It is here the Captain points out that the original SF story ‘First Contact’ had a crew with a very capitalistic suspicion about the motives of the aliens)
The Captain is also rather scathing about something of which many SF writers – but mainly Americans – are guilty today, and that is positing a future in which interstellar culture is mainly American, or at least Western.
The alien crew are from a fluoride world (these are rare in the galaxy) and are sad that the two races can never share the same atmosphere, although the Soviets suggest that perhaps they could be genetically redesigned in order to join the humans and other races on oxygen-based worlds some time in the future.
It’s an interesting tale, despite a complete lack of suspense or plot, and at least has the benefit of scientific accuracy and the likelihood of social change in the near future.

Siema - Anatoly Dnieprov (1958)

The narrator, on a long train journey, has his peace invaded by a man in pyjamas who wishes to share his carriage.
At first annoyed, and then intrigued, he is prompted to question the pyjamaed man, who then tells a tale of how he designed a thinking machine, Siema, a female thinking machine at that.
The science, for its time, is very credible, and the denouement quite interesting, since the reader is left to decide whether the man in pyjamas was telling the truth or simply mad.

The Trial of Tantalus – Victor Separin

An ecological tale which espouses the role of viruses in the ecosystem and their positive and negative benefits. An agricultural researcher is trying to determine the origin of the Tantalus virus which has suddenly attacked both sugar cane crops and caused the deaths of a number of African elephants after they ate infected reeds. the story also contains the interesting concept of a virus museum, postulating that viruses should be imprisoned and studied, rather than destroyed.

Stone from The Stars - Valentina Zhuravleva (1959)

An asteroid which crashed high on a mountain slope is found not to be an asteroid at all but a cylindrical ship. Upon hearing knocking from within, scientists open it to find that its operating system is a living brain.
It’s an odd tale which ends up with a sense of bittersweet futility, since the scientists cannot communicate with the now dying brain or work quickly enough to duplicate the mechanisms to keep it alive. It is therefore left undiscovered whether the brain was a sentient life-form or merely an organic machine.

The Six Matches - Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (1962)

An inspector is sent to a research institute to discover the details behind an accident which left a senior professor in a coma.
It was known that the professor was investigating the effects of directing streams of neutrinos at various areas of the brain, and had lately been exhibiting strange feats of memory and performing party tricks by moving small objects about without touching them and extinguishing matches at a distance.
As is usual for the Strugatskys the piece is well written and characterised and obliquely says much about the scientific community of the time and their relationship with the authorities.

What all these stories have in common is that there is, from a Western perspective, a sense of incompleteness about them, as if something has been lost in translation although conversely one would argue that there is a subtle poetic element to most of them.
Yefremov’s ‘Heart of The Serpent’ is certainly very unsubtle in its ideological tub-thumping and its not very thinly-veiled attack on the Capitalist Nations of the world.

[Benjamin]

This book may have been given to me as a joke, but I read it in earnest, which seems the best way to read this book. Reading older science fiction is often an exercise in sympathy, even moreso than when reading older non-sf lit because of the evolution of scientific theories; "well, yes," you have to say, "clearly we don't believe this theory to be an accurate representation of the world now, so this isn't the question we would ask, but at the time, I can see how this would be a serious question."

The works in question here are not that old, but they are couched in a "scientific" view of history that we (mostly) no longer hold: that human labor is our most precious resource and that correct application of this labor will enable us to communally harness all the natural forces and take our place among (and as brothers to) the stars. (If that sounds like an eschatological dream, there's a reason for that: beyond a certain point in the future, Soviet theory has no vision of history. In contemporary SF, we call that point the Singularity.)

So, while these stories run through some typical sf tropes--first contact with aliens, the invention of artificial intelligence/life, tracking down a mysterious illness, the development of psychic powers--what's common and most notable about them is that the info-dumps are mostly humanitarian. That is, whereas the "You know, Bob" speeches often tell the reader the scientific issues at stake/made-up for convenience--"You know, Bob, the pan-galactic gargle-blaster is the best ice-breaker"--in these stories, when the characters/the narrator break character to tell the reader something, the something that we need to know is usually that humans are the goal of the world and that human forces are always on the verge of moving us forward.

Asimov's introduction notices this Utopian bent to these stories, and goes on to argue that we should believe that these are true stories that are not being produced only to fool us--that the Soviets really want peace. Again, that may not be an interesting issue in our day, but in '62, I can see why Asimov would've considered that issue earnestly.

Ivan Yefremov, "The Heart of the Serpent" (1959)
Anatoly Dnieprov, "Siema" (1958)
Victor Saparin, "The Trial of Tantalus" (1959)
Valentina Zhuravleva, "Stone from the Stars" (1960)
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, "Six Matches" (1959)

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Introduction by Asimov alone is worth the entire book. In trying to compare Soviet science fiction to American, Asimov proposes a three part time-line to the genre: 1) Science Fiction as Grand Adventure; 2)Science Fiction as a discourse on Technology; 3) Science Fiction as a sociological discourse. He then breaks these thirds into three parts - "gambits" - each (What If stories, If Only stories, and If This Goes On stories) and even shows how some American and Soviet/Russian sci-fi blends different parts and gambits of the time-line.

His explanation is quite conversational and easy to understand. Never thought of sci-fi in such an evolutionary/chronological way before! Fascinating!

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a bland collection, but not surprising considering who compiled it. Even the Strugatsky brothers' story was less interesting than others I've found in other collections. Most of the stories were much more concerned about describing the science than telling a good tale. Not that that's really a bad thing, but it gets a little boring. Still wishing someone would publish an English collection of Strugatsky short stories...

[Иван Иванов · Rating 4 out of 5]

В едноименната новела Ефремов опонира на Мъри Лейнстър и неговия "Първи контакт" (твърде надценяван разказ по мое мнение). Честно казано, и двете произведения са доста наивни, но руският вариант ми допада повече - взаимопомощта ми изглежда по-присъща на развития разум от дълбоко набитата в западното колониално съзнание параноя "ТЕ МОЖЕ ДА НИ ЗАВЛАДЕЯТ!" Останалите разкази също са като цяло приятни, но разочароващо постни откъм фантастични елементи. Средна оценка около 3,5*.

[Tomislav]

13 December 1974. This anthology was required reading for a college course I took at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Comp Lit 230 “Science Fiction and Myth

[Tomika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting point of view how the writer imagined the first contact between human kind and the aliens. Luckily it was a positive way!!

[Temucano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fue la primera muestra de ciencia ficción soviética que llegó a mis manos, y me dejó gustos disímiles según autor:

"El corazón de la serpiente" de Iván Efremov, trata sobre el primer contacto con una raza similar a la humana donde la base de sus organismos es el flúor en vez del oxígeno. Un relato plano, con interesantes detalles técnicos sobre el viaje en el espacio profundo y curiosas loas al sistema comunista, pero nada más.

"Maela" de Anatoly Dneprov, gran cuento sobre la creación de una robot femenina, que se muestra rebelde e inquisidora nada más nacer. Una Andreida soviética muy bien lograda por este autor altamente recomendable.

"El proceso del Tantalus" de Viktor Saparin, soporífero, lo peor del libro.

"La piedra sideral" de Valentina Zhuravleva, idea original sobre un meteorito que cae a la Tierra, me gustó.

"Seis Cerillas", de los hermanos Strugatsky, cuento clásico de ciencia ficción soviética, en el cual un investigador experimenta los rayos de neutrinos en su propio cerebro, con efectos insospechados. Lo mejor de esta antología.

17.11.2004

[Foxtower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gee... it's been so long I forget, yet I only keep books I think are worth reading again, and there it is!

[Luis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mixed, and pretty dated. But the last two stories were entertaining.

[Atanas Dimitrov · Rating 3 out of 5]

„Човешката природа е двойствена […]. Наред със стремежа към вечни промени ние винаги изпитваме съжаление за миналото, по-точно за онова хубаво в него, което се филтрира от паметта и което по-рано е израствало в представата за доброто старо време.“

Макар и под логото на „Библиотека Галактика“, този сборник с шест разказа на Ефремов по-точно трябва да бъде вписан в жанр „геология“, отколкото „научна-фантастика“. Следва кратка рецензия:

Сърцето на змията
Основният и най-дълъг разказ е единственият реално научно-фантастичен такъв. Повествованието се развива във вселената от „Мъглявината Андромеда“, а историята – изпълнена с много философеми и пространни научни обосновки (точно в стилистиката на споменатия роман), представя оригинален утопичен (комунистически) поглед върху темата за първия контакт с представители на другоземна интелигентна цивилизация. Тази част е разгърната блестящо и с дълбоки проникновения. По тази тема повърхностни разсъждения липсват, точно като в романа.

От страна на философемите, обаче, съществуват сериозни проблеми. Авторът, по комунистически (или по глобалистки), критикува и низвергва семейството като градивна и нужна структура на обществото, както и смисъла на родствените връзки. Твърдо заявява, точно както либералните глобалисти днешно време правят (които са идейни деца на същата атеистична комунистическа интернационална поквара в душите и умовете на хората), че „глобалното село“ е бъдещето; бъдеще на свободни индивиди и електрони, без семейство, без род, без народ, без принадлежност:

„Самотата винаги се е схващала като липса на близки, роднини, а тези близки са представлявали нищожна шепа хора, свързани често само с формални родствени връзки. Но сега, когато ти е близък всеки човек, когато няма никакви граници или условности, които да пречат на общуването на хората във всички краища на планетата?!“

Продължава с още по-сериозни абсурди, осакатяващи и изопачаващи човешките душа, същност и битийност. Във фантастичен междузвезден полет, който отнема 700 земни години на екипажа, т.е. трагично скъсване с цялото семейство, приятели, близки и среда, авторът заявява, че, видиш ли, няма проблем:

„Ние, хората от «Телур», загубихме всичките си близки на Земята. Но там, в бъдещия ден, ни чакат не по-малко близки, родни хора, които ще знаят още повече и ще чувствуват още по-силно от нашите съвременници, които завинаги сме напуснали.“

Още две нелепи античовешки идеологеми: громенето на езиците (в името на новия мулти-култи Есперанто), културните особености на народите, традицията и религията. Общо взето авторът унищожава всички градивни елементи на обществото, стълбовете на личността и на общността. Пълна деконструкция, като сянка в очакване на психопатичните писания на пост-модерните „мислители“ като Меркузе.

Не е изненадваща и острата критика към капитализма: тази, според повествованието, провалила се пагубна милитаристична �� индивидуалистична идеология на хората. Тук авторът е прав. Но киселият привкус остава, защото заменя действително отвратителния и вреден материализъм на капитализма, с друг такъв – този на комунизма.

Отвъд тези криви идеологеми, разказът все пак има немалко стойност.

Елинската тайна
Разказ за общата, родствена памет, която трансцендира битието на отделната личност. Чете се като разгръщаща се мистерия, разказ в разказа. Не е лош, но пространните научни обосновки на места отегчават. Литературното средство на разказ в разказа е добре използвано тук.

Обсерваторията Нур-и-Дещ
Първият „геоложки“ разказ с фантастичен елемент. Разкопки в пустинята. Мистерия. Пустинна любов. Също не е лош.

Белият рог
Може би най-добрият разказ в сборника и със сигурност моя любим. Втори „геоложки“ такъв с друга пустош за поле на действие. Разказ за неописуемия и нечовешки човешки подвиг на духа и тялото. Отново съществува средството на разказ в разказа, тук наистина майсторски използвано.

Олгой-хорхай
Трети „геоложки“ разказ. Отново пустинна среда. Тук също присъстват елементи на мистерия, но с добавка – и ужаси. Не е лош.

Сянката на миналото
Тук се отегчих и прескачах. Четвърти „геоложки“ разказ. Интригуваща научна идея за фотографските способности на земята. Но разказът е прекалено дълъг, антиклимактичен и прекомерно научно-описателен, за да е интересен. Либералните хуманистични и еволюционно религиозни идеологеми също дразнят.

…

„[…] хората неволно са търсели доброто в миналото, мечтаели са за неговото повтаряне […] Оттогава в душата на човека е залегнало дълбоко съжалението за миналото, скръбта за безвъзвратно отминалото, чувството на печал, което го обхваща пред развалините и паметниците на миналата история на човечеството. Това съжаление за миналото се засилваше особено у зрелите възрастни хора и изпълваше със скръб душите на сериозните и деликатни натури.“

Като цяло странен сборник в преобладаващо особен жанр на белетристиката, който има както силни страни, така и слаби.

[SciFi Pinay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended not because of hard SF leaning themes similar to Asimov but because of the nice balance between scifi and unique humanist elements:

The Heart of the Serpent (Ivan Yefremov): a communist POV on the causes of "social stagnation" that inhibits cultural advancement (i.e. to think outside the box) such as insisting on, for instance, assuming that capitalism is the best political system, or that oxygen-based beings are more abundant than fluorine-based sentient creatures because there's more oxygen than fluorine in the universe

Siema (Anatoly Dnieprov): "a self-improving electronic machine... Siema may have resembled an automobile without brakes"; a more fundamental take on AI similar to Stanislaw Lem's "Summa Technologiae"

The Trial of Tantalus (Victor Saparin): our relationship towards microbes is lopsidedly anthropocentric as infections are Nature's "rebellion against man"; "The question is, what is the best thing to do--to preserve or destroy? In other words, which is the most advantageous to man?"

Stone from the Stars (Valentina Zhuravleva): scientists believe a tiny alien spacecraft that has crashed on Earth contain the future of man's interstellar space exploration ...bio-automatons

Six Matches (Arkady and Boris Strugatsky): A hard SF take on discovering clairvoyance?

This only has 5 stories but this collection is packed with commentary, layered with SF exposition, and I love every entry. Not sure if these are representative of classic Soviet SF during the West's SF golden age, but I believe the Soviets have captured the proto new wave pizzazz earlier than their Western counterparts. Mindblowing!

[Janne Wass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the most important post-war Soviet SF author, paleontologist Ivan Yefremov is best known for his heavy-going and philosophical futuristic epic "The Andromeda Nebula". He wrote half a dozen novels and a good number of novellas and short stories. "The Heart of the Serpent"/"Се́рдце Змеи́", originally published under the Latin title "Cor Serpentis", is a long novella. It is a more lively and much less convoluted affair than the bloated "Andromeda".

However, the story takes place within the same futuristic framework, the interplanetary "Great Circle" as the former book. It follows the crew of a spaceship encountering an alien spaceship, and the discussion on how to handle the situation. In short: should they assume the aliens are hostile or peaceful? The book is really a debunking of Murray Leinster's "First Contact", which is also mentioned, in which an Earth crew conclude that in a meeting between two alien races in space, there is no way to guarantee a peaceful meeting, and therefore one should always assume hostile intents. Yefremov argues that interplanetary travel requires a peaceful, communist world order, and thus any race capable of traversing the stars will by definition be peaceful.

While the conclusion is admittedly hogwash, the story itself is a damn good one. The meeting between two races lacking a common language foreshadows "Arrival", and is brilliantly described. As always, the character descriptions and motivations are Yefremov's Achilles heel.

[Oreon · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://whatsread.pp.ua/work/36
Перше, що мені впало у вічі, так це: О, знову ці дивні односкладові імена майбутнього з Туманності Андромеди! Карі Рам, Свет Сім, а капітан Мут Анг як?! Останнє звучить майже так само лайливо, як МутАнт, мені навіть захотілося потренуватися і самому вигадати кілька співзвучних імен, наприклад Іди От, Дуб Іна, Дур Ак... Цікаво як діти в тому майбутньому їх отримують, успадковують чи самі вигадують? Та й бувають же у творах Єфремова і людські, красиві імена. Навскидку згадалася Міріам з читаної перед тим повісті, значить може автор їх вживати у своїй творчості, навіщо ж у майбутньому він вирішив їх позбутися, яким місцем вони комунізму автора заважали?

До речі, про комунізм. Якщо взяти все добре, світле, правильне і назвати його цим словом, то я його яскравий шанувальник і навіть готовий вступити до лав! Але, дивлюся на життя та історію людини, на нашу реальність і розумію, що ідеалу немає. Майже в будь-якому ладі, політичній формації немає так, щоб було все ідеально добре, або навпаки, що все треба беззастережно відкинути. Майже у всьому є сильні та слабкі сторони. І, на мою думку, не важливо яким словом це потім називати, але треба відкидати слабкі сторони і розвивати сильні і таким чином рухатися вперед. У того ж комунізму взяти щось у медицини, у соціального захисту, у відношенні до споживання (навіщо тобі стільки ганчірок, «аксесуарів» та іншого барахла?); капіталізм розвиваючись теж був змушений робити нахил у бік соціалки, а як показала історія, економічно він і так виявився сильнішим. Капіталізм, виявився динамічнішим, більш здатним до розвитку та еволюції, а значить на його основі з більшою ймовірністю можна побудувати щось вартісніше; більше того він виріс у так званий демократичний лад. Комунізм же як був так і залишився на рівні догм, де б його не будували. Ось і в Єфремова дві перші третини книги це просто агітка у піку «вже програлому і догнилому капіталізму», яка тепер виглядає просто анахронізмом. Ця суміш імен і агітки настільки мені здалася цікавою і настільки виступала продовженням (асоціювалась) з Туманністю Андромеди, що навіть захотілося повернутися до останньої і знизити оцінку їй теж. Але благо кінцівка трохи скрасила мої відчуття :).

Лейнстера поки не читав (взяв на замітку), але погляд Єфремова на контакт теж має право на існування, хоча будь суспільство майбутнього хоч тричі добрим і комуністичним, все одно вважаю, що в першу чергу слід було потурбуватися про безпеку, ніж покладатися на нічим не перевірені гіпотетичні теорії. До речі, самі теорії капітан корабля добрих кілька сторінок тексту доносив нетямущій команді, аж у мене виникло резонне питання, як їм підбирали команду? А то складається враження, що лише капітан, щось розуміє у теорії першого контакту, а решту випустили ідеологічно непідкованими, що він їм змушений був прописні істини товкмачити...

Що ж до технічної сторони, то потішило спорудження землянами у відкритому космосі з «м'якого дерева перехідної рами», причому «на космічному морозі дерево миттєво змінило свою молекулярну структуру і стало міцніше сталі» (дивно, чому зореліт землян був все ж таки з металу, а не дерев'яним🙂). Ідея заміни кисню на фтор, цікава, хоча наскільки вона реальна (особливо після прикладу з деревом) — не беруся судити (цікаво було у відгуках почитати коментарі двох хіміків із протилежною думкою🙂). Пам'ятаю такою ж інтересною мені була ідея життя на основі кремнію замість вуглецю. Ідея, чи краще доцільність, польотів довжиною в 700 років, теж вельми спірна, оскільки, крім усього іншого, ймовірність зустріти в космосі замість чужих свій же зореліт, просто побудований на технології, що виникла через якусь сотню років, — буде набагато вищою.

А так дві піщинки серед неосяжного порожнього всесвіту випадково зустрілися, злетілися влаштувати один одному стриптиз і мабуть на цьому вдовольнившись пересічністю зустрічі, розлетілися. Бо пояснення автора такої раптовості розставання при підкресленій унікальності рандеву, виглядають дуже бліденько.

Ну і фінал!, от якщо комунізм — то до дрібниць і мозку кісток: річки повернути назад, гори зрівняти із землею, інші — побудувати, фтористих чужих переробити в кисневих! УРА товариші! Хепі енд! Думаю, комунізм набагато агресивніший за інші ідеології, оскільки йому не сиди��ься на місці, на досягнутому, він постійно мріє експортувати свою революцію іншим народам, а ледве вилетівши в космос, навіть за волею фантазії автора вже хоче нести себе і свою правду іншим космічним цивілізаціям, якщо такі знайдуться. А було б багато цікавіше на місці автора поміркувати, наприклад, про техніку чужих, якщо плавикова кислота роз'їдає скло і будь-які кремніймісні сплави і матеріали, то у чужих не тільки геном інший, у них і всі технічні досягнення повинні бути на іншій основі ніж у землян. І наостанок, ось я сиджу, читаю, пишу відгук, милуюсь у вікно гарною погодою і так нехай уже тисячі років; тепер я дізнаюся, що моя Земля унікальна у всесвіті, і життя на основі людської комбінації вуглець+кисень більше майже ніде не зустрічається, решта 9 відомих рас - фторні. Ви відчули втрату? Сум? Вам захотілося переінакшити себе під фтор? Мені якось поки що не особливо..🤭)

PS: А ось думка, що бути загальносвітовою мовою не тільки мові ієрогліфів, а й мові у якої написання не відповідає читанню (англійська), дещо не логічно і суперечить теорії еволюції (менш зручно та життєздатно в порівнянні з іншими аналогами) досить, треба сказати, цікава і слушна...

[John Sklar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 1958 Soviet era science fiction. Fascinating mix of science and politics. The story is simple. We meet another race of beings in space.
Most interesting observation was that as technology improves on earth, the next generation of spaceships might beat them to the target and back. In other words, their explorarion expected to take 7 centuries on earth will bring them back to a world that is completely different from the one they left.

[Katrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great selection of short stories, but of course I picked up up the Heart of Serpent one, a continuation of the Andromeda Nebula series.
Probably one of my favorite first contact stories yet. Utopian, yes, but that’s exactly what we need sometimes.

[Olexandr Yevtushok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Попри те, що автор радянський - Іван Єфремов написав одну з найкращих книг про контакт з Іншими. Нехай вони й схожі на землян, але тільки зовні.
Дуже насправді моторошна повість. Моторошна настільки, що відчуваєш шкірою та складом своєї людської крові.

[Bessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

აბა რა, მთავარი და უპირველესი ადამიანობაა!

[Anna Kalmykova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Рассказ хорош.
Но!!
Слишком много коммунистической пропаганды. Режет нервы в течении прочтения.

[Davor Stojmirov · Rating 1 out of 5]

Оваа мала книшка од 86 странички дефинитивно паѓа на тестот наречен Време.Неиновативно,наивно и слабо.Комуњарска пропаганда маскирана како научна-фантастика.

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

so boring

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

"But we could put it this way, too: man's conquest of space, his knowledge of the Universe, clashed with the primitive thinking of the individualistic property-owner. The future and the very life of humanity hung in the balance for years before progress triumphed and mankind joined into one family in a classless society. Before that happened people in the capitalistic half of the world refused for a long time to see any new paths into the future and regarded their mode of life as eternal and unchanging, with war and self-destruction as man's inevitable lot."

I picked up this random little book from my late cousin's large SciFi collection over a year ago. There are five rather long short stories included here, as well as an enlightening forward by Isaac Asimov. I found the included stories a little on the dull side generally, but still intriguing as a whole due to the specific Soviet worldview and school of thought displayed throughout.

For me, the thought of what else was going on in the USSR during the time that these stories were written (the Gulag labor camps, for instance) was particularly striking and sobering. Read this to round out your knowledge of both earlier Science Fiction and 20th century Russian history and political thought.

Related Reads:
The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (Solzhenitsyn)

[Adi · Rating 3 out of 5]

[11/2021] След второто прочитане:
Бих казала, че несправедливо съм дала малко ниска оценка за книгата след първоначалното прочитане. Да, стилът е поостарял, а и пропаганда не липсва. Но много книги, писани в тези години, звучат по подобен начин.
Авторът има някои интересни идеи и изглежда, че темите, за които пише, доста го интересуват. Най-приятни разкази от сборника според мен са "Сърцето на змията" и "Олгой-хорхой".
И вдигам с една звездичка оценката.

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2/5 звездички. Някои от разказите бяха интересни, по повечето не ме впечатлиха особено.

[Anastasia Sidorova · Rating 4 out of 5]

В целом сборник понравился. В нем собраны и исторические, и фантастические рассказы Ефремова. Из исторических отмечу "Катти Сарк" - повесть о судьбе последнего чайного клипера. Из фантастических - одноименный со сборником рассказ "Сердце змеи". В нем люди будущего во мраке далекого космоса встречают корабль "чужих" людей с совершенно другой планетной системы.
Ефремов ведь был историком-палеонтологом, что отражается его исследованиях как писателя. Так и в этом сборнике много коротких историй посвященных исследованию далеких уголков мира, глубоких заброшенных шахт и холодных гор Якутии.

[Зоран Милошевски · Rating 5 out of 5]

На 40сетата страница сфатив дека сум ја читал како дете...
Преубаво безвременско четиво. Едноставен, за нас, малку подзаборавен стил на пишување и превод. Едноставно прекрасно, залак за секој љубител на old school научна фантастика.

[Nazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Вторая книга из серии между Туманностью Андромеды и Часом Быка. Хорошая, но быстро кончилась.

[Светослав Александров · Rating 3 out of 5]

Като цяло харесах тази книга, но сърце не ми дава да й дам повече звездички във фейсбук, защото комунистическите послания ми идват в повече...