Strange Telescopes: Following the Apocalypse from Moscow to Siberia

by Daniel Kalder

When Daniel Kalder descended into the sewers of Moscow in pursuit of the mythical lost city of tramps, he didn't realize that he was embarking on a bizarre, year-long odyssey that would lead him thousands of miles across Russia to the Arctic Circle via the heart of Asia. After exploring the depths of Moscow's “Underground Planet,” Kalder journeyed to the Ukraine to chase down demons and exorcists in the dubious afterglow of the Orange Revolution, before meeting a man called Vissarion Christ―a one-time traffic cop, he is now messiah to thousands of followers in Siberia. Salvation and damnation collide as Daniel Kalder expertly guides us through this unique account of a modern day quest that reveals the astonishing lengths people will go to when they view the world through a “strange telescope.”

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Russia, History, Ukraine, Religion

416 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jake Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating journey into some of Russia's dark corners of personal obsession, made frustrating by a writer who lacks the followthrough to do justice to his subjects (at least in the first and last of the four sections). Part three, focusing on the Vissarionite cult in Siberia, is by far the most satisfying portrait. The second section features Kalder's dark wit at its sharpest. The final part, involving a wooden skyscraper and the mysterious man who built it, begins to unfold into the most interesting tale of all, before Kalder effectively says, "screw it, I'm going home." And just like that the journey's over. There is beauty and mystery and humor aplenty in this book, which made the lack of closure lazy insights of the final pages all the more disappointing.

[Shainna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting subjects but I began to loathe the book (which is why it took me so long) because the author just didn't seem to give a damn. Every time something interesting happened, he was bored/too tired/didn't care. Frankly, I wonder why he went on any of these investigations - he only seemed happy with the last one.

If he found it boring, why did he even bother to write the book? He bored me.

Don't bother with this book.

[Wareeha · Rating 1 out of 5]

White man doing white man shit ft.McDonalds.

[Binston Birchill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the historical and cultural information in the book but didn't really care about the individuals or their stories. The way the author presented the information in an attempted comedic way & his blatant indifference was terribly... well, who cares what it was, certainly not me or the author.

[Shatterlings · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something a bit depressing about these people living on the edge of society but it was still an interesting read. Daniel does get very involved in the lives of these people and at times you start to worry for him.

[Vaidyanathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this book constitutes time spent in my life that I am never seeing back. Absolute waste of time.

[Leniw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up on this one. After all this time I didn't even manage to get to the middle of it.

[Brown Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the heck out of this book. It will appeal, and probably satisfy, a reader looking for exotic intelligences, oddball wit and fearless adventure.

[Babak Fakhamzadeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat humerous and very interesting description of four Russians in control of their own, but alternate, reality, as a direct corollary of the demise of the Soviet Union. Kalder, a true Gonzo journalist; hangs out with an explorer of subterranean Moscow, a hunter of exorcisms, a new age messiah and the self proclaimed inventor of perestroika, dating back to 1966.
Kalder's second book feels more mature, more polished, more intelligent, but also a tad more conventional, than his first, Lost Cosmonaut: Observations of an Anti-Tourist.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fantastic read that rambles along like a British indie comedy on one hand and a Hunter S. Thompson mindtwister on the other, dirty, rude, funny, surprising, Kalder's curiousity makes for great reading with a cast of characters reminiscent of Pynchon but real, real, real, plus you learn to swear in Russian and which saint offers the best protection from demonic possession.

[Giselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russian lunatics seem to be a special breed. Kalder found several and delved deeply into their realities. The insights about Russian beliefs after the iron curtain fell are very interesting. I enjoyed Kalders deeply cynical views but odd enthusiasms for the weird and mysterious. This book features the blackest humour. 10/10

[Helen Damnation · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book (despite not being sure when I picked it up whether it was fiction or travel) but the author spends the first two hundred pages, despite talking about his desire for adventures, being quite unenthusiastic about his encounters which in turn seeped into me.

[Deborah Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished it. I got nothing from it. The subject matter was interesting, but i wasn't so comfortable with the author's (very biased) take on it. That was his choice.
It's not a book i could recommend to a friend.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This REALLY looks wacked out! At first I thought it was a novel that had mistakenly been assigned a call number, but nope: it's non-fiction.

[Alex Kudera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended. Kalder's reality is worth checking out, either here or with his earlier Lost Cosmonaut.

[International Cat Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this - Kalder has definitely matured as an author since Lost Cosmonaut.

[Brian]

Not as good as Lost Cosmonaut, but still worthwhile. Drags a bit here and there, but picks up with the cult.

[goodbyewaffles · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? I like these. They're weird.

[Rajendra prabhu k · Rating 3 out of 5]

can't call it a travelogue,an excellent taste for the weird, wonder what was inspiration for a work like this.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting but I enjoyed it just the same.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful romp with some of the most strangest characters to inhabit a country... Kalder's power of narration needs to be complimented..