Alexander Romanovich Belyaev (Russian: Александр Беляев); born 16 March 1884 in Smolensk, Russian Empire; died 6 January 1942 in Pushkin, USSR] Born in Smolensk, at the age of 30 Alexander became ill with tuberculosis. Treatment was unsuccessful; the infection spread to his spine and resulted in paralysis of the legs. Belyayev suffered constant pain and was paralysed for six years. In search for the right treatment he moved to Yalta together with his mother and old nanny. During his convalescence, he read the work of Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, and Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, and began to write poetry in his hospital bed. By 1922 he had overcome the disease and in 1923 returned to Moscow where he began his serious literary activity as writer of science fiction novels. In 1925 his first novel, Professor Dowell's Head (Голова Профессора Доуэля) was published. From 1931 he lived in Leningrad with his wife and oldest daughter; his youngest daughter died of meningitis in 1930, aged six. In Leningrad he met H. G. Wells, who visited the USSR in 1934. In the last years of his life Belyaev lived in the Leningrad suburb of Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoye Selo). At the beginning of the German invasion of the Soviet Union during Second World War he refused to evacuate because he was recovering after an operation that he had undergone a few months earlier. Belyayev died of hunger in the Soviet town of Pushkin in 1942 while it was occupied by the Nazis. His wife and daughter, who managed to survive, were taken away to Poland by the Nazis. The exact location of his grave is unknown. A memorial stone at the Kazanskoe cemetery in the town of Pushkin is placed on the mass grave where his body is assumed to be buried.
Wonderful book. Very interesting, the presented idea of mind control is very fascinating, though not so much realistic, but it's fiction, isn't it. I was slightly disappointed by the ending, but not as much as to change my opinion of the book.
Книга мне очень сильно понравилась. Александрийские Романович придумал отличный сюжет, постарался логически объяснить необычное явление, вокруг которого был построен этот сюжет и самое главное для меня - он раскрыл всех персонажей: полностью передал их душевное состояние, пояснил причины их действий и объяснил их точку зрения.
Роман загалом про можливість передачі думок на відстані. На цьому фоні відбуваються різні події, інспіровані злим генієм - ученим-винахідником Штірнером. Загадкові смерті та убивства, фінансова криза, багатство Штірнера. І лише радянський учений може подолати зло...
Siužetas gana nuspėjamas ir meilės istorijos daro jį per daug sentimentalų. Iš pradžių buvo keista, kad rusų rašytojo romane beveik visi pagrindiniai veikėjai vokiečiai, bet gal dėl to, kad tarybinio blogiečio nebūtų praleidusi cenzūra. Yra ir trečiaeilis veikėjas rusas, aišku, gerietis, ir išradimą Maskvoje panaudoja gerais tikslais, ne taip kaip kapitalistiniai veikėjai. Aha, patikėjom. Šiaip gana įdomi novelė, rašytojas moka rašyti, tik kaip didelė dalis to meto rašytojų, atrodo labiau nori aprašyti savo protų valdymo teoriją, negu kurti įdomų siužetą. Geriau būtų rašęs ne novelę, o apsakymą.
Unfortunately, a large part of my reading of Russian books is how well I am able to understand them and this was the perfect level. The ending wasn’t as strong as I had hoped, but the beginning and climax were very strong
Gave me enormous imagination! Belyaev is truly genius... I didn't think about brain massages before, i consider it's real. Maybe Belyaev have already achieved that , but who knows??
Who would've thought that an old sci-fi novel about mind control would describe my struggle with mental illness so well?
Belyaev was one of the first 'grown-up' authors I read in my childhood. I cried at Ichthyander's tragic fate and sympathised Ariel, wondered about the things I could ask Professor Dowell and was disgusted at Bayley's wickedness. This was a very nostalgic read, comforting and familiar. Frankly, it made me wish I were back to being a 9 year old, reading sneakily at night under the blanket.
(also the last chapter was boring, unnecessary and just bad. I wish I had skipped reading the last few pages. A disappointing ending to an otherwise good book)