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Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is a slightly alcohol tinged story of conflict between a group of Soviet scientists who are all working on pet projects to different ends, and some unknown enemy who wants to stop them from making further scientific discoveries in any field. The main character, Malianov, is a physicist who is working on a paper concerning the effect of stellar bodies on near by gas clouds, and though we are never told this, it seems that he is on the verge of making an enormous discovery that could change the way we use physics. Malianov works out of an apartment he shares with his wife and son who have both gone off on a vacation to his mother-in-law's home in the South. As Malianov sets down to working, which seems difficult to do because of the incredible heat wave that has struck the city, he is set upon by one distraction after another. First a merchant accidentally delivers boxes and boxes of food and alcohol. Then a stunning looking woman shows up who claims to be a long-lost friend of his wife's. Then neighbors begin visiting randomly. Eventually one of his neighbors is found dead in a way that is suggestive of suicide, though because of some signs of foul play, and the police begin to investigate Malianov as a suspect. During brief bouts of sobriety Malianov discusses what is going on in his life with friends of his who are scientists too, and learns that some experiencing the same phenomena. Some even have been visited by a mysterious red-haired man, very similar to the investigator who has been hounding Malianov over the murder. The red haired man tries to strong arm them to stop working on their various scientific projects.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
175 people are currently reading
5423 people want to read
About the author
Arkady Strugatsky
514 books1,880 followersThe brothers Arkady Strugatsky [Russian: Аркадий Стругацкий] and Boris Strugatsky [Russian: Борис Стругацкий] were Soviet-Russian science fiction authors who collaborated through most of their careers.
Arkady Strugatsky was born 25 August 1925 in Batumi; the family later moved to Leningrad. In January 1942, Arkady and his father were evacuated from the Siege of Leningrad, but Arkady was the only survivor in his train car; his father died upon reaching Vologda. Arkady was drafted into the Soviet army in 1943. He trained first at the artillery school in Aktyubinsk and later at the Military Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow, from which he graduated in 1949 as an interpreter of English and Japanese. He worked as a teacher and interpreter for the military until 1955. In 1955, he began working as an editor and writer.
In 1958, he began collaborating with his brother Boris, a collaboration that lasted until Arkady's death on 12 October 1991. Arkady Strugatsky became a member of the Union of Soviet Writers in 1964. In addition to his own writing, he translated Japanese language short stories and novels, as well as some English works with his brother.
Source: Wikipedia
Arkady Strugatsky was born 25 August 1925 in Batumi; the family later moved to Leningrad. In January 1942, Arkady and his father were evacuated from the Siege of Leningrad, but Arkady was the only survivor in his train car; his father died upon reaching Vologda. Arkady was drafted into the Soviet army in 1943. He trained first at the artillery school in Aktyubinsk and later at the Military Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow, from which he graduated in 1949 as an interpreter of English and Japanese. He worked as a teacher and interpreter for the military until 1955. In 1955, he began working as an editor and writer.
In 1958, he began collaborating with his brother Boris, a collaboration that lasted until Arkady's death on 12 October 1991. Arkady Strugatsky became a member of the Union of Soviet Writers in 1964. In addition to his own writing, he translated Japanese language short stories and novels, as well as some English works with his brother.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
July 15, 2022
What is the real law of the cosmic order? Who is the master of the universe?
The main character is on the threshold of an important scientific discovery but suddenly the strange and incredible events interfering with his work begin to occur all around him…
Some mysterious and probably wicked forces are attempting to prevent any serious scientific discoveries. The nature of these impeding forces is absolutely enigmatic. Is it some supernatural power? Is it an intrusion of some supercivilized enemy? Is it a clandestine conspiracy of some omnipotent obscurantists?
Mankind has been gathering and accumulating knowledge for ages but nonetheless the unknown surrounds humanity on all sides… Those who are afraid of the unknown turn back or hide in conformity…
The cosmos needs no ruler, it rules itself.
The main character is on the threshold of an important scientific discovery but suddenly the strange and incredible events interfering with his work begin to occur all around him…
“Wait a minute. Is your work classified?”
“What do you mean classified?” Malianov said in irritation. “It’s plain ordinary astrophysics and stellar dynamics. The interrelation of stars and interstellar matter. Nothing secret here, it’s just that I don’t like talking about my work until I’ve finished!”
“Stars and interstellar matter.” Snegovoi repeated it slowly and shrugged. “There’s the estate, and there’s the water. And it’s not classified? Any part of it?”
“Not a letter of it.”
Some mysterious and probably wicked forces are attempting to prevent any serious scientific discoveries. The nature of these impeding forces is absolutely enigmatic. Is it some supernatural power? Is it an intrusion of some supercivilized enemy? Is it a clandestine conspiracy of some omnipotent obscurantists?
According to her it seemed that since ancient times there had been this secret, semimystical Union of the Nine on Earth. These were monstrously secretive wise men, either very long-lived or immortal, who were concerned with only two things: first, that they gather and master all the achievements of every single branch of science, and second, that they make sure that none of the new scientific-technological advances be used by people for self-destruction. These wise men are almost all-knowing and practically all-powerful. It is impossible to hide from them, and it is no use fighting them.
Mankind has been gathering and accumulating knowledge for ages but nonetheless the unknown surrounds humanity on all sides… Those who are afraid of the unknown turn back or hide in conformity…
The cosmos needs no ruler, it rules itself.
October 29, 2021
Unexpectedly witty and page-turning novella. Didn't thought that soviet sci-fi could be so deep and fascinating.
December 26, 2015
I first read this book twenty-five years ago, but now ... it is no longer the same book ... it is a much better book. For one thing, the old English version was based on a manuscript that was heavily edited by Soviet censors. For another, I have changed, and so the impressions I received were altogether different.
Think of a community of scientists and scholars in Leningrad, all on the point of making breakthroughs. Suddenly, they find themselves being literally driven to distraction by ... by anything. Fake phone calls. By a visit from a sexy friend of your wife, who is currently vacationing in Odessa. By a delivery of booze and caviar supposedly from the vacationing wife. By a warning from the state security services threatening a fifteen years' imprisonment. By even nameless threats.
Definitely Maybe is organized into eleven chapters composed of twenty-one fragments. The fragments in each case seem to indicate that a small excision, as from censorship, has occurred. What's "missing" is in each case a few words, a few sentences, certainly no more than a small paragraph.
Something or somebody does not want the scientists and scholars to make their breakthrough. Vecherovsky and Malianov, two of the scientists, resolve on different after their clear defeat before a "homeostatic universe" that resisted any significant change:
Think of a community of scientists and scholars in Leningrad, all on the point of making breakthroughs. Suddenly, they find themselves being literally driven to distraction by ... by anything. Fake phone calls. By a visit from a sexy friend of your wife, who is currently vacationing in Odessa. By a delivery of booze and caviar supposedly from the vacationing wife. By a warning from the state security services threatening a fifteen years' imprisonment. By even nameless threats.
Definitely Maybe is organized into eleven chapters composed of twenty-one fragments. The fragments in each case seem to indicate that a small excision, as from censorship, has occurred. What's "missing" is in each case a few words, a few sentences, certainly no more than a small paragraph.
Something or somebody does not want the scientists and scholars to make their breakthrough. Vecherovsky and Malianov, two of the scientists, resolve on different after their clear defeat before a "homeostatic universe" that resisted any significant change:
He didn't say anything; he shrugged and filled his pipe. We sat in silence. He was trying to help me. Paint some prospects for me, prove that I wasn't such a coward and that he wasn't such a hero. That we were just two scientists; we were offered a project, and due to circumstances, he could work on it now and I couldn't. But it didn't make it any easier for me. Because he was going to the Pamirs to struggle with Weingarten's revertase, Zakhar's fadings, with his own brilliant math, and all the rest. They would be aiming balls of fire at him, sending ghosts, frozen mountain climbers, especially female ones, dropping avalanches on him, tossing him in space and time, and they would finally get to him there. Or maybe not.It is never made clear who or what "they" is -- and this is one of the novels strong points. In any case, it confirms for me the excellence of those two now deceased brothers, Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky who were the great stars of Soviet science fiction.
March 5, 2016
Bilimkurgu bambaşka bir dünyadır. Fantastik romanlara göre algılanması ve kabullenilmesinin biraz daha zor olduğunu düşünürüm. Zira olmayan gerçekliği hayal etmek çok zor değildir ve hayal gücünüzün yardımı ile sıfırdan inşa edersiniz. Eşsiz bir özgürlük sağlar. Ama bilim kurgu, geçmişten yani geçmişte ya da şuan içinde bulunduğumuz gerçeklikten bağımsız düşünülemez. Şartlı bir hayal kurma özgürlüğü tanır. Haliyle bilim kurguda biraz daha hassas bir okuyucuyum.
Strugatski'nin bu kitabı da beni bu anlamda tam olarak içine alamadı. Çok ciddi sayısal bir kitap "Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl". Hayatı boyunca her alanda sanatsal ve sözel zekasını geliştirmiş benim için çok zor oldu. Beynimin bütün çakralarını açmış olmama rağmen, tamami ile kavradığımı söyleyemem. Bunu okuduğunuzda anlayacaksınızdır. Entropi kavramının derinde sorgulandığı çalışma; parçalar halinde yazılmış olması ile sizi ya çok rahatsız edecektir ya da ilginizi çekecektir diye düşünüyorum.
Benim bu metinle ilgili en büyük sıkıntım ise; zaten olayın ve anlatılanın çok zor, karmaşık olduğu bir kitapta neden isimler sadeleştirilmemiş. Bilindiği üzere Rusya'da isimler kısaltmalarla, değişmelerle çok çeşitli haller alabiliyor. Bir tane ismin 5 farklı versiyonu olması sürekli olarak 'bu kimdi' sorunsalı yaşamama sebep oldu. Bu da kitabı anlama serüvenimi daha da zorlaştırdı. Türk okurlar düşünülerek bence sadeleştirme yapılabilirdi. Kitabın kendinden çok bir şey kaybedeceğini düşünmüyorum bununla.
Diğer ilgi çekici bir durum ise; kitabın uzun süre yasaklanmış olması. Elbette bu okuduğunuzda fark edebileceğiniz bir şey değil. Zira merkez öykü de yasaklanmayı gerektirecek bir şey yok gibi gözüküyor. Ancak altmetne siyasi bir bakış açısı ile inince o zaman taşlar yerine oturuyor. Rusya'nın müthiş teşvikçi ama ondan da çok baskıcı yönetiminin altında; ideolojik sebeplerle ezilmiş bir kitap.
Stalker gibi bir filme kaynak olan bu yazarların diğer eserlerini merak etmek çok normal ama benim çok sevmediğim bir okuma tecrübesi oldu. Ancak kitabın düşünsel derinliğinden ve öneminden dolayı 4 puan verdim. Yoksa benim için 3 puan daha doğru bir puanlamadır.
3/5
Strugatski'nin bu kitabı da beni bu anlamda tam olarak içine alamadı. Çok ciddi sayısal bir kitap "Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl". Hayatı boyunca her alanda sanatsal ve sözel zekasını geliştirmiş benim için çok zor oldu. Beynimin bütün çakralarını açmış olmama rağmen, tamami ile kavradığımı söyleyemem. Bunu okuduğunuzda anlayacaksınızdır. Entropi kavramının derinde sorgulandığı çalışma; parçalar halinde yazılmış olması ile sizi ya çok rahatsız edecektir ya da ilginizi çekecektir diye düşünüyorum.
Benim bu metinle ilgili en büyük sıkıntım ise; zaten olayın ve anlatılanın çok zor, karmaşık olduğu bir kitapta neden isimler sadeleştirilmemiş. Bilindiği üzere Rusya'da isimler kısaltmalarla, değişmelerle çok çeşitli haller alabiliyor. Bir tane ismin 5 farklı versiyonu olması sürekli olarak 'bu kimdi' sorunsalı yaşamama sebep oldu. Bu da kitabı anlama serüvenimi daha da zorlaştırdı. Türk okurlar düşünülerek bence sadeleştirme yapılabilirdi. Kitabın kendinden çok bir şey kaybedeceğini düşünmüyorum bununla.
Diğer ilgi çekici bir durum ise; kitabın uzun süre yasaklanmış olması. Elbette bu okuduğunuzda fark edebileceğiniz bir şey değil. Zira merkez öykü de yasaklanmayı gerektirecek bir şey yok gibi gözüküyor. Ancak altmetne siyasi bir bakış açısı ile inince o zaman taşlar yerine oturuyor. Rusya'nın müthiş teşvikçi ama ondan da çok baskıcı yönetiminin altında; ideolojik sebeplerle ezilmiş bir kitap.
Stalker gibi bir filme kaynak olan bu yazarların diğer eserlerini merak etmek çok normal ama benim çok sevmediğim bir okuma tecrübesi oldu. Ancak kitabın düşünsel derinliğinden ve öneminden dolayı 4 puan verdim. Yoksa benim için 3 puan daha doğru bir puanlamadır.
3/5
June 11, 2017
"Στον κίτρινο, ελαφρώς καμπυλωμένο χώρο, οι αξονικά συμμετρικές κοιλότητες εμφανίζονταν αργά σαν γιγάντιες φουσκάλες. Η ύλη έρρεε γύρω τους, προσπαθώντας να διαρρεύσει ανάμεσά τους αλλά ήταν αδύνατο. Η ύλη συμπιεζόταν τόσο πολύ μέσα στα όρια τέτοιων πυκνοτήτων, ώστε στο τέλος οι φουσκάλες άρχιζαν να εκπέμπουν φως. Ένας θεός ξέρει τί θα συμβεί μετά, αλλά θα τη βρούμε την άκρη. Πρώτα από όλα πρέπει να ασχοληθούμε με τη δομή των ινών. Μετά με τις καμπύλες του Ragozinsky. Και μετά με τα πλανητικά νεφελώματα. Και τί νομίζετε φίλοι μου, πως όλα αυτά είναι τίποτε διαστελλόμενα σωματίδια; Σιγά τα σωματίδια! Πρόκειται για ακριβώς το αντίθετο".
Έτσι ξεκινάει η ιστορία, με τον ήρωα, κάπου στα μέσα προς τέλη της δεκαετίας του '60 στο Λένινγκραντ της Σοβιετικής Ένωσης, μια πολύ ζεστή μέρα. Οι συγγραφείς χωρίζουν τη νουβέλα τους σε 11 κεφάλαια τα οποία περιέχουν μικρότερα υποκεφάλαια τα οποία χαρακτηρίζουν ως "Αποσπάσματα", 21 συνολικά. Από το απόσπασμα 16 κι εξής η αρχικά τριτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση αλλάζει σε πρωτοπρόσωπη και πλέον βλέπουμε τα γεγονότα απευθείας από την πλευρά του πρωταγωνιστή, του αστροφυσικού Dimitri Malianov.
Το έργο μοιάζει περισσότερο με φιλοσοφική πραγματεία, είναι (χρησιμοποιώ τον όρο καταχρηστικά) ένα δράμα δωματίου, ωστόσο η δράση δεν σταματάει στιγμή, η τεχνική της αποσπασματικότητας καταφέρνει να μεγαλώνει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη, εντείνοντας την προσοχή του, στην προσπάθεια να συνθέσει με τη φαντασία του τα όσα παραλείπονται και η αποκάλυψη της μυστηριώδους αιτίας που πυροδοτεί μια αλυσίδα γεγονότων είναι δοσμένη με τρόπο αριστοτεχνικό. Διαβάζοντας, θέλουμε να μάθουμε περισσότερα, ενώ παράλληλα, οι χαρακτήρες των ηρώων είναι τόσο συμπαθητικοί, μέσα στις αδυναμίες και τις αβεβαιότητές τους, τόσο σύνθετοι και απλοί συνάμα, που καταφέρνουν να δημιουργήσουν, καίτοι επινοημένοι, τη ρεαλιστική βάση αυτής της απίθανης ιστορίας.
Δεν είναι τυχαίο αυτό που γράφει ο Boris Strugatsky στον επίλογο του έργου:
'Ισως γι' αυτό ο αδερφός μου κι εγώ, θεωρούσαμε πάντα πως αυτή ήταν μια από τις πιο αγαπημένες μας νουβέλες, ήταν κομμάτι από τη ζωή μας, μιας ζωής ατόφιας και ιδιωτικής, γεμάτης από απολύτως αληθινούς ανθρώπους και πραγματικά γεγονότα. Και όπως ξέρουμε όλοι δεν υπάρχει πιο ευχάριστο πράγμα από το να αναπολείς περασμένες δυσκολίες, όταν έχεις καταφέρει να τις ξεπεράσεις επιτυχώς".
Ο τίτλος που δημοσιεύτηκε το έργο στα ρώσικα (η έκδοση που διάβασα είναι η τελική και αλογόκριτη, αλλά δεν τον χρησιμοποιεί ωστόσο) είναι "Ένα δισεκατομμύριο χρόνια πριν από το τέλος του κόσμου". Η αιτία που με έκανε να ψάχνω για χρόνια αυτό το έργο μέχρι που ανακάλυψα ετούτη την εξαιρετική μετάφραση της Antonina W. Bouis είναι ένα άλλο έργο. Μια ταινία για την ακρίβεια. Η οποία στο 37o Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Θεσσαλονίκης κέρδισε τρία βραβεία μουσικής, σκηνογραφίας και φωτογραφίας, (ωστόσο δεν πήγε καλά εισπρακτικά, όταν προβλήθηκε στους κινηματογράφους) με τίτλο "Πριν το Τέλος του Κόσμου" σε σενάριο και σκηνοθεσία του Παναγιώτη Μαρούλη. Με αυτήν την ταινία με συνδέει μια αλλόκοτη ιστορία:
Εκείνα τα χρόνια ζούσα στην επαρχία, η ταινία φυσικά δεν προβλήθηκε ποτέ στους κινηματογράφους της μικρής μου πόλης. Ωστόσο κάποια χρόνια αργότερα προβλήθηκε στην τηλεόραση και από το πρώτο λεπτό με μαγνήτισε η ατμόσφαιρά της, ο φωτισμός της, μια μυστηριώδης αίσθηση που έβγαινε από την οθόνη, η οποία κατάφερε να με συνεπάρει ολοκληρωτικά. Κι εκεί, στο πιο κρίσιμο σημείο - αν είναι δυνατόν - χάλασε η τηλεόρασή μου, μαύρισε η οθόνη και μετά από λίγο χάθηκε και ο ήχος! Και δεν μπόρεσα να δω το τέλος "Πριν το τέλος". Συναισθάνομαι την ειρωνεία του πράγματος αλλά υπάρχει κάτι που με θλίβει ακόμα περισσότερο.
Ο Παναγιώτης Μαρούλης έχει εγκαταλείψει οριστικά τον κινηματογράφο (ίσως να είναι αυτός ο Αμοργιανός μελισσοκόμος, αν τα αποτελέσματα της διαδικτυακής αν��ζήτησής μου είναι σωστά). Τίποτα δεν μου βγάζει από το μυαλό, δεν τον ξέρω προσωπικά, δεν έχω ιδέα καν πώς μοιάζει το πρόσωπό του, πως το έργο του δεν εκτιμήθηκε σωστά. Ίσως ήταν η εποχή, οι διαφορετικές ανάγκες του κοινού, ωστόσο θυμάμαι ξεκάθαρα πως υπήρχε κάτι πολύ ιδιαίτερο στην αφήγησή του. Κάτι μοναδικό, πρωτότυπο και οικείο ταυτόχρονα (τώρα είμαι σε θέση να κατανοήσω πως είχε καταφέρει να αποδώσει το πνεύμα του βιβλίου). Και αυτό το λέω με το ένστικτο του ανθρώπου που βλέποντας ένα έργο αποσπασματικά, πήρε μόνο μια γεύση από εκείνο, χωρίς να είναι σε θέση να βάλει μια τελεία και να καταλήξει σε ένα οριστικό συμπέρασμα.
Για εμένα αυτή η ταινία ήταν, είναι και θα παραμείνει ένα διπλά χαμένο αριστούργημα...
Την θεωρία πάνω στην οποία βασίστηκαν οι αδελφοί Strugatsky θα την παραθέσω μεταφράζοντας ένα μικρό απόσπασμα το οποίο ωστόσο αποκαλύπτει τα πάντα γύρω από τον πυρήνα της υπόθεσης, γι' αυτό θα το κρύψω:
Έτσι ξεκινάει η ιστορία, με τον ήρωα, κάπου στα μέσα προς τέλη της δεκαετίας του '60 στο Λένινγκραντ της Σοβιετικής Ένωσης, μια πολύ ζεστή μέρα. Οι συγγραφείς χωρίζουν τη νουβέλα τους σε 11 κεφάλαια τα οποία περιέχουν μικρότερα υποκεφάλαια τα οποία χαρακτηρίζουν ως "Αποσπάσματα", 21 συνολικά. Από το απόσπασμα 16 κι εξής η αρχικά τριτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση αλλάζει σε πρωτοπρόσωπη και πλέον βλέπουμε τα γεγονότα απευθείας από την πλευρά του πρωταγωνιστή, του αστροφυσικού Dimitri Malianov.
Το έργο μοιάζει περισσότερο με φιλοσοφική πραγματεία, είναι (χρησιμοποιώ τον όρο καταχρηστικά) ένα δράμα δωματίου, ωστόσο η δράση δεν σταματάει στιγμή, η τεχνική της αποσπασματικότητας καταφέρνει να μεγαλώνει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη, εντείνοντας την προσοχή του, στην προσπάθεια να συνθέσει με τη φαντασία του τα όσα παραλείπονται και η αποκάλυψη της μυστηριώδους αιτίας που πυροδοτεί μια αλυσίδα γεγονότων είναι δοσμένη με τρόπο αριστοτεχνικό. Διαβάζοντας, θέλουμε να μάθουμε περισσότερα, ενώ παράλληλα, οι χαρακτήρες των ηρώων είναι τόσο συμπαθητικοί, μέσα στις αδυναμίες και τις αβεβαιότητές τους, τόσο σύνθετοι και απλοί συνάμα, που καταφέρνουν να δημιουργήσουν, καίτοι επινοημένοι, τη ρεαλιστική βάση αυτής της απίθανης ιστορίας.
Δεν είναι τυχαίο αυτό που γράφει ο Boris Strugatsky στον επίλογο του έργου:
'Ισως γι' αυτό ο αδερφός μου κι εγώ, θεωρούσαμε πάντα πως αυτή ήταν μια από τις πιο αγαπημένες μας νουβέλες, ήταν κομμάτι από τη ζωή μας, μιας ζωής ατόφιας και ιδιωτικής, γεμάτης από απολύτως αληθινούς ανθρώπους και πραγματικά γεγονότα. Και όπως ξέρουμε όλοι δεν υπάρχει πιο ευχάριστο πράγμα από το να αναπολείς περασμένες δυσκολίες, όταν έχεις καταφέρει να τις ξεπεράσεις επιτυχώς".
Ο τίτλος που δημοσιεύτηκε το έργο στα ρώσικα (η έκδοση που διάβασα είναι η τελική και αλογόκριτη, αλλά δεν τον χρησιμοποιεί ωστόσο) είναι "Ένα δισεκατομμύριο χρόνια πριν από το τέλος του κόσμου". Η αιτία που με έκανε να ψάχνω για χρόνια αυτό το έργο μέχρι που ανακάλυψα ετούτη την εξαιρετική μετάφραση της Antonina W. Bouis είναι ένα άλλο έργο. Μια ταινία για την ακρίβεια. Η οποία στο 37o Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Θεσσαλονίκης κέρδισε τρία βραβεία μουσικής, σκηνογραφίας και φωτογραφίας, (ωστόσο δεν πήγε καλά εισπρακτικά, όταν προβλήθηκε στους κινηματογράφους) με τίτλο "Πριν το Τέλος του Κόσμου" σε σενάριο και σκηνοθεσία του Παναγιώτη Μαρούλη. Με αυτήν την ταινία με συνδέει μια αλλόκοτη ιστορία:
Εκείνα τα χρόνια ζούσα στην επαρχία, η ταινία φυσικά δεν προβλήθηκε ποτέ στους κινηματογράφους της μικρής μου πόλης. Ωστόσο κάποια χρόνια αργότερα προβλήθηκε στην τηλεόραση και από το πρώτο λεπτό με μαγνήτισε η ατμόσφαιρά της, ο φωτισμός της, μια μυστηριώδης αίσθηση που έβγαινε από την οθόνη, η οποία κατάφερε να με συνεπάρει ολοκληρωτικά. Κι εκεί, στο πιο κρίσιμο σημείο - αν είναι δυνατόν - χάλασε η τηλεόρασή μου, μαύρισε η οθόνη και μετά από λίγο χάθηκε και ο ήχος! Και δεν μπόρεσα να δω το τέλος "Πριν το τέλος". Συναισθάνομαι την ειρωνεία του πράγματος αλλά υπάρχει κάτι που με θλίβει ακόμα περισσότερο.
Ο Παναγιώτης Μαρούλης έχει εγκαταλείψει οριστικά τον κινηματογράφο (ίσως να είναι αυτός ο Αμοργιανός μελισσοκόμος, αν τα αποτελέσματα της διαδικτυακής αν��ζήτησής μου είναι σωστά). Τίποτα δεν μου βγάζει από το μυαλό, δεν τον ξέρω προσωπικά, δεν έχω ιδέα καν πώς μοιάζει το πρόσωπό του, πως το έργο του δεν εκτιμήθηκε σωστά. Ίσως ήταν η εποχή, οι διαφορετικές ανάγκες του κοινού, ωστόσο θυμάμαι ξεκάθαρα πως υπήρχε κάτι πολύ ιδιαίτερο στην αφήγησή του. Κάτι μοναδικό, πρωτότυπο και οικείο ταυτόχρονα (τώρα είμαι σε θέση να κατανοήσω πως είχε καταφέρει να αποδώσει το πνεύμα του βιβλίου). Και αυτό το λέω με το ένστικτο του ανθρώπου που βλέποντας ένα έργο αποσπασματικά, πήρε μόνο μια γεύση από εκείνο, χωρίς να είναι σε θέση να βάλει μια τελεία και να καταλήξει σε ένα οριστικό συμπέρασμα.
Για εμένα αυτή η ταινία ήταν, είναι και θα παραμείνει ένα διπλά χαμένο αριστούργημα...
Την θεωρία πάνω στην οποία βασίστηκαν οι αδελφοί Strugatsky θα την παραθέσω μεταφράζοντας ένα μικρό απόσπασμα το οποίο ωστόσο αποκαλύπτει τα πάντα γύρω από τον πυρήνα της υπόθεσης, γι' αυτό θα το κρύψω:
August 1, 2017
Alacakaranlık Kuşağı hikayelerinden biri gibi. Uzun diyaloglar ve bazı teknik terimler anlaşılmasını ve hikayeye odaklanmayı zorlaştırıyor. Ama okumak için zaman ayırmaya değer kesinlikle (belki).
It's like one of the Twilight Zone stories. Long dialogues and some technical terms make it difficult to understand and to focus to the main theme. But it worths to spend time to read definitely (maybe).
It's like one of the Twilight Zone stories. Long dialogues and some technical terms make it difficult to understand and to focus to the main theme. But it worths to spend time to read definitely (maybe).
July 8, 2013
One of my favorite books. I have no idea why but best memories of my life are connected with abnormal heat, that's one of the reasons I loved the atmosphere of the book. The technique the authors used here makes a book captivating. Messy diary pages describing messy lives of the characters.
I can draw a parallel between the idea of the story and things that are happening in the world right now. Several decades ago people eagerly wanted to explore outer space with the help of new technologies, now they want a new iphone. the difference is: I highly doubt that the reason why bright minds turned to jelly is the defensive reaction of the universe.
I can draw a parallel between the idea of the story and things that are happening in the world right now. Several decades ago people eagerly wanted to explore outer space with the help of new technologies, now they want a new iphone. the difference is: I highly doubt that the reason why bright minds turned to jelly is the defensive reaction of the universe.
November 1, 2015
Çok ilginç, absürt ve komik bir BK. Okuduğum ise ilk Strugatski (ki elimde zor bulunan kitapları da mevcutken!). Özellikle sonsözde de belirttikleri üzere bir hayli kişisel de bir romanmış bu; kitaptaki garip fantastik olaylara, birkaç kişiyi engellemeye çalışan mistik güçlere falan bu bilgiyi de ekleyince, PKDick'in Albemuth Özgür Radyosu'yla da bir hayli benzeştirdim. Okurken ise Fringevari bir tat aldım sürekli, nedense.
Kitaptaki biliminsanları içinde en haklısı şüphesiz ki Veçerovski bence de; her şeyin rastlantı olduğunu, rastlantı olmasa dahi kişiye özgü bir güdü benimsemediğini, kısacası olan ve olacak olan her şeyin halihazırda olmakta olan ve olmaya devam edecek olan olaylar olduğunu, her şeyin sıradan olduğunu vurguluyor. Olsun!
Neyse, yine sonsözden bir laf alayım buraya:
"...Ve hepimizin de bildiği gibi, başarıyla atlattığımız tatsız bir durumu hatırlamaktan daha keyifli bir şey yoktur."
Kitaptaki biliminsanları içinde en haklısı şüphesiz ki Veçerovski bence de; her şeyin rastlantı olduğunu, rastlantı olmasa dahi kişiye özgü bir güdü benimsemediğini, kısacası olan ve olacak olan her şeyin halihazırda olmakta olan ve olmaya devam edecek olan olaylar olduğunu, her şeyin sıradan olduğunu vurguluyor. Olsun!
Neyse, yine sonsözden bir laf alayım buraya:
"...Ve hepimizin de bildiği gibi, başarıyla atlattığımız tatsız bir durumu hatırlamaktan daha keyifli bir şey yoktur."
March 26, 2014
I rarely read something and think to myself "I need to read everything they've ever written" but that's how I felt after reading Definitely Maybe by the Strugatskys.
The book is a funny and often frightening look at the powers of distraction and the lengths some will go to stop progress. The narrative moves at a very quick place and drops off at integral points only to pick up a bit later leaving the reader almost disoriented. It's as if you become a part of the chaos of the plot. I don't want to give too much away because it's very suspenseful and surprising and I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
The edition I was reading was the new 2014 translation that is the first uncensored version to come out in English. It has an interesting afterword from one of the brothers that cannot be missed. The afterword explains what the brothers were going through when they were writing and how the censors went about editing the book when they were finished. It gives kind of an insight into exactly what was so anti-Soviet about this book that made it "dangerous." I would highly recommend reading this new translation over the older ones.
The book is a funny and often frightening look at the powers of distraction and the lengths some will go to stop progress. The narrative moves at a very quick place and drops off at integral points only to pick up a bit later leaving the reader almost disoriented. It's as if you become a part of the chaos of the plot. I don't want to give too much away because it's very suspenseful and surprising and I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
The edition I was reading was the new 2014 translation that is the first uncensored version to come out in English. It has an interesting afterword from one of the brothers that cannot be missed. The afterword explains what the brothers were going through when they were writing and how the censors went about editing the book when they were finished. It gives kind of an insight into exactly what was so anti-Soviet about this book that made it "dangerous." I would highly recommend reading this new translation over the older ones.
Read
February 2, 2016“Bütün günlük hayatımız, birbirini takip eden bir alış-veriş zinciri! Karsız bir alış-veriş yapmak için tamamen aptal olmak gerek! Bunu on dokuzuncu yüzyılda bile biliyorlardı…” -Vayngarten
Her şeyden önce, Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl’ın alışıldık tarzda bir bilimkurgu olmadığını söylemek mümkün. Arkadi ve Boris Ştrugatski, kaleme aldıkları bu eserlelerinde birçok bilimkurgu kitabından hatırımızda kalan bir “uzaylı” söyleminin dışına çıkıyorlar. Kitapta bahsi geçen “onlar” okura hiçbir şekilde tasvir edilmiyor, var olduklarının bile kesin kanıtı yok. Peki bu kitabı bilimkurgu yapan nedir, diye soracak olursanız, işte o kitabın içinde bir yerlerde gizli.
Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl, temelde okuruna onlarca soru soran ve bu soruların birçoğunu da yanıtlamayan bir kurguya sahip. Bu yüzden, kolay hazmedilemeyen bir kitap olduğunu söylemek pekala mümkün. Fakat sürükleyici bir yapıya sahip olduğunu da belirtmek gerekiyor. Hızlı okunan ve keyifli saatler geçirmemizi sağlayan roman sona erdiğinde aslında yeteri kadar tatmin olmadığımız sonucuna varılabilir.
Söylenmesi gereken en önemli noktalardan birininse hiç kuşkusuz bu romanda aksiyona dair bir olgunun yer almaması. 70’ler Rusya’sında, Leningrad’da bir araya gelip fikir alış-verişinde bulunan 5 adet bilim adamının gerilim dolu ama aynı zamanda sakin öyküsü anlatılıyor.
Sovyet bilimkurgusuyla tanışmak isteyenlere…
- Bahri Doğukan ŞAHİN
İncelemenin tamamı için: http://www.kayiprihtim.org/portal/inc...
Her şeyden önce, Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl’ın alışıldık tarzda bir bilimkurgu olmadığını söylemek mümkün. Arkadi ve Boris Ştrugatski, kaleme aldıkları bu eserlelerinde birçok bilimkurgu kitabından hatırımızda kalan bir “uzaylı” söyleminin dışına çıkıyorlar. Kitapta bahsi geçen “onlar” okura hiçbir şekilde tasvir edilmiyor, var olduklarının bile kesin kanıtı yok. Peki bu kitabı bilimkurgu yapan nedir, diye soracak olursanız, işte o kitabın içinde bir yerlerde gizli.
Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl, temelde okuruna onlarca soru soran ve bu soruların birçoğunu da yanıtlamayan bir kurguya sahip. Bu yüzden, kolay hazmedilemeyen bir kitap olduğunu söylemek pekala mümkün. Fakat sürükleyici bir yapıya sahip olduğunu da belirtmek gerekiyor. Hızlı okunan ve keyifli saatler geçirmemizi sağlayan roman sona erdiğinde aslında yeteri kadar tatmin olmadığımız sonucuna varılabilir.
Söylenmesi gereken en önemli noktalardan birininse hiç kuşkusuz bu romanda aksiyona dair bir olgunun yer almaması. 70’ler Rusya’sında, Leningrad’da bir araya gelip fikir alış-verişinde bulunan 5 adet bilim adamının gerilim dolu ama aynı zamanda sakin öyküsü anlatılıyor.
Sovyet bilimkurgusuyla tanışmak isteyenlere…
- Bahri Doğukan ŞAHİN
İncelemenin tamamı için: http://www.kayiprihtim.org/portal/inc...
December 9, 2016
Completely bizarre...so just like Roadside Picnic, then...except, no, bizarre in a totally different way...
I feel a bit dense because it took until near the end for me to figure out what the allegorical/satirical point behind it all was. Having done so, I'm surprised it got published at all in the USSR.
Also, does that darned integral equal zero or not?!
I feel a bit dense because it took until near the end for me to figure out what the allegorical/satirical point behind it all was. Having done so, I'm surprised it got published at all in the USSR.
Also, does that darned integral equal zero or not?!
October 29, 2022
SON OF A FUCKING BITCH IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN THE STRUGATSKY BROTHERS ? I SWEAR I WILL SPEND MY LAST FUCKING CENT AND END UP HOMELESS IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THE REST OF THEIR EXPENSIVE OUT-OF-PRINT NOVELS. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE LEFT UNTRANSLATED, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO LEARN RUSSIAN.
September 29, 2020
Il libro è bello. Certo, non ci si deve aspettare l'azione qui. Anzi, credo che il protagonista non esca mai dal proprio palazzo... E' l'idea a essere intrigante e originale: forze oscure sovrannaturali cercano in tutti i modi di ostacolare una scoperta scientifica. Una vera e propria escalation, dai semplici guasti alla linea telefonica, a persone e visitatori inaspettati che disturbano, fino a un caso di suicidio (?), assurdi interrogatori di un poliziotto ottuso e squinternato e minacce ai famigliari di Maljanov, il protagonista. Che dire? A ben vedere, se non ci si limita a una lettura superficiale, è uno dei testi più profondi e, per certi versi, spaventosi dei fratelli Strugatskij. Una vera e propria cosmologia infernale. L'Universo Omeostatico, è "vivo" e vuole mantenere l'equilibrio delle proprie leggi. Interviene direttamente nelle vicende umane per distruggere e neutralizzare tutto ciò che lo minaccia. Non c'è un nemico ben identificabile contro cui combattere, ma il pericolo è assolutamente reale e ciò lascia lo scienziato (lo scienziato che è consapevole di questo stato di cose) in uno stato di assoluta impotenza e angoscia. Coloro che non sono nel mirino, diventano dei fantocci inconsapevoli al servizio delle supreme leggi dell'universo e si prestano loro malgrado a ostacolare la scienza o a eliminarne i più illustri rappresentanti. Alla luce di questa agghiacciante scoperta e verità, si può rileggere il passato e si possono trovare numerose e altre prove: come mai è morto Archimede? E perché i Curie sono sempre stati ostacolati nelle loro ricerche? ecc. ecc. ecc.
September 18, 2016
Hikayenin kendisi pek ilgi çekici değil bence ve çok yüzeysel anlatılmış ama esas ilgi çekici olan kitabın yayımlanma hikayesi, sansür ve yasaklanma aşamaları.
Hikaye, romanın yazıldığı zamanda ve mekanda, 70'lerin Sovyetler Birliği'nde geçiyor. Farklı konularda çalışan dört bilim adamı arkadaş çalışmalarının sabote edilmeye çalışıldığını hissediyor ve bu hislerini haklı çıkaracak gizemli olaylarla karşılaşıyorlar. Şüphelerini paylaştıkça gerilim artıyor, uzaylılar, gizli örgütler... birileri insanlığın bilimsel gelişimini yavaşlatmaya çalışıyor. Kim olduğu değil nasıl karşılık verileceği önemli. Geri çekilip çalışmalarını durdurma veya mücadele etme arasında yaşadıkları ikilem ve çay demleme, çay içme, çaya methiyeler düzme üzerine bir roman. Yazarı bir bilim kurgu yazarı olduğu için bu roman da öyle sınıflandırılmış sanırım yoksa kimin yazdığına bakmadan okunsa, kimsenin aklına bu romanı bilim kurgu kategorisine almak gelmez.
Romanın yazılması sırasında destek veren yayınevi Aurora, roman tamamlandıktan sonra romandaki eylemlerin kapitalist bir ülkeye (örneğin ABD) yöneltilmesini talep ediyor. Yazarlar buna karşı çıkınca roman reddediliyor. Ardından ahlaki bazı sansürleri, örneğin bir kadın ajanın bilim adamının evinde sütyenini unutması gibi ahlaka mugayir iç giyim hadiselerinin sansürlenmesini kabul ederek bir başka dergide yayımlatmayı deniyorlar. Hikayedeki gizli güçlerin yarattığı belirsizlik, bilim adamlarından birinin yürüttüğü uzay çalışmalarının kim bilir neyi sembolize ediyor oluşu ve homeopatik kainat, homeostatis gibi şaibeli ifadelerle romanda devlet düzeninin gizlice eleştiriliyor olma ihtimali sansür komitelerini rahatsız ediyor. Sovyetlerin gerçek karanlığı, romanın mistik karanlık güçlerinde kendilerini görüp kendilerini gerçekleştiriyor ve toplam 130 sayfalık kitap (ki bunun en az 30 sayfası çayla ilgilidir) onlarca sansüre maruz kalıyor ve dönem dönem yasaklanıyor. Edebiyattan, sanattan devletin elinin tamamen çekildiği; sanatın özgürleşip sansürün tarihe karıştığı memleketimizden bakınca hepsi çok tuhaf ve enteresan geliyor tabii.
Sovyet dönemi bilim kurgusuna politik bakış ve sansür konularına ilgi duyanlara aşağıdaki makaleyi de okumalarını öneririm:
The Strugatskys in Political Context
Hikaye, romanın yazıldığı zamanda ve mekanda, 70'lerin Sovyetler Birliği'nde geçiyor. Farklı konularda çalışan dört bilim adamı arkadaş çalışmalarının sabote edilmeye çalışıldığını hissediyor ve bu hislerini haklı çıkaracak gizemli olaylarla karşılaşıyorlar. Şüphelerini paylaştıkça gerilim artıyor, uzaylılar, gizli örgütler... birileri insanlığın bilimsel gelişimini yavaşlatmaya çalışıyor. Kim olduğu değil nasıl karşılık verileceği önemli. Geri çekilip çalışmalarını durdurma veya mücadele etme arasında yaşadıkları ikilem ve çay demleme, çay içme, çaya methiyeler düzme üzerine bir roman. Yazarı bir bilim kurgu yazarı olduğu için bu roman da öyle sınıflandırılmış sanırım yoksa kimin yazdığına bakmadan okunsa, kimsenin aklına bu romanı bilim kurgu kategorisine almak gelmez.
Romanın yazılması sırasında destek veren yayınevi Aurora, roman tamamlandıktan sonra romandaki eylemlerin kapitalist bir ülkeye (örneğin ABD) yöneltilmesini talep ediyor. Yazarlar buna karşı çıkınca roman reddediliyor. Ardından ahlaki bazı sansürleri, örneğin bir kadın ajanın bilim adamının evinde sütyenini unutması gibi ahlaka mugayir iç giyim hadiselerinin sansürlenmesini kabul ederek bir başka dergide yayımlatmayı deniyorlar. Hikayedeki gizli güçlerin yarattığı belirsizlik, bilim adamlarından birinin yürüttüğü uzay çalışmalarının kim bilir neyi sembolize ediyor oluşu ve homeopatik kainat, homeostatis gibi şaibeli ifadelerle romanda devlet düzeninin gizlice eleştiriliyor olma ihtimali sansür komitelerini rahatsız ediyor. Sovyetlerin gerçek karanlığı, romanın mistik karanlık güçlerinde kendilerini görüp kendilerini gerçekleştiriyor ve toplam 130 sayfalık kitap (ki bunun en az 30 sayfası çayla ilgilidir) onlarca sansüre maruz kalıyor ve dönem dönem yasaklanıyor. Edebiyattan, sanattan devletin elinin tamamen çekildiği; sanatın özgürleşip sansürün tarihe karıştığı memleketimizden bakınca hepsi çok tuhaf ve enteresan geliyor tabii.
Sovyet dönemi bilim kurgusuna politik bakış ve sansür konularına ilgi duyanlara aşağıdaki makaleyi de okumalarını öneririm:
The Strugatskys in Political Context
August 14, 2023
Bilim kurgu ya da fantastik türünde kitaplarla hiçbir ilginiz yoksa ya da bu türlerle yeni tanışıyorsanız Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl'ı okumanızı önermem.
Absürt tiyatro tadında başlayan metin uzaylılar, yüksek uygarlıklar, evrenin yapısı gibi konularda karakterler arasında geçen felsefi tartışmaya döndü. Ana hikaye de şu; çeşitli konularda bilimsel çalışmalar yürüten dört bilim insanı başlarına gelen garip olaylar sebebiyle araştırmalarına bir türlü devam edemeyince üstün bir güç tarafından engellendiklerini düşünüyorlar.
Sonsözde yazarlardan Boris Strugatsky hikayenin ilham kaynağını, metnin ana temalarını, kitabın yayımlanma sürecini ve uğradıkları sansür baskısını açıklamış. Burayı okuyunca kitabı daha iyi kavramış oldum. Üstün güç, iktidar meselesinin neyi temsil ettiği bu kısımda açık bir şekilde yazılmış.
Ben kitabı sevdim. Bilim kurgu ile ilgili düşündürücü kitaplara denk gelmiyordum uzun zamandır, benim için bir değişiklik oldu. Fakat karakterlerin daha derinlikli ele alınmasını dilerdim. Hikaye biraz daha süslenebilirdi. Yine de okuduğum için memnunum.
İthaki Yayınlarının başına taş düşmüş olacak ki çeviriyi yetkin birine emanet etmişler. Hazal Yalın Rus isimlerinin kısaltılmasıyla ilgili notundan başlayarak özendiği belli olan güzel bir işe imza atmış. Emeğine sağlık kendisinin.
Absürt tiyatro tadında başlayan metin uzaylılar, yüksek uygarlıklar, evrenin yapısı gibi konularda karakterler arasında geçen felsefi tartışmaya döndü. Ana hikaye de şu; çeşitli konularda bilimsel çalışmalar yürüten dört bilim insanı başlarına gelen garip olaylar sebebiyle araştırmalarına bir türlü devam edemeyince üstün bir güç tarafından engellendiklerini düşünüyorlar.
Sonsözde yazarlardan Boris Strugatsky hikayenin ilham kaynağını, metnin ana temalarını, kitabın yayımlanma sürecini ve uğradıkları sansür baskısını açıklamış. Burayı okuyunca kitabı daha iyi kavramış oldum. Üstün güç, iktidar meselesinin neyi temsil ettiği bu kısımda açık bir şekilde yazılmış.
Ben kitabı sevdim. Bilim kurgu ile ilgili düşündürücü kitaplara denk gelmiyordum uzun zamandır, benim için bir değişiklik oldu. Fakat karakterlerin daha derinlikli ele alınmasını dilerdim. Hikaye biraz daha süslenebilirdi. Yine de okuduğum için memnunum.
İthaki Yayınlarının başına taş düşmüş olacak ki çeviriyi yetkin birine emanet etmişler. Hazal Yalın Rus isimlerinin kısaltılmasıyla ilgili notundan başlayarak özendiği belli olan güzel bir işe imza atmış. Emeğine sağlık kendisinin.
June 15, 2014
Easy to read, hard to follow.
While I really enjoyed the book, I confess that I spent most of the time wondering whether I truly understood what was happening, and whether or not any of it was real.
An astrophysicist trying to finish work on his theory is repeatedly thwarted by: unexplained alcohol, a random woman in a short skirt, strange men, and the potential visitation of (for want of a better word) aliens.
"I can't say that I didn't understand his theory, but I can't say that I fully grasped it either. I can't say that this theory convinced me fully, but on the other hand everything that had happened to us fit into it nicely. More than that, everything that ever happened, was happening, and will ever happen in the entire universe fit into it - that was the theory's weakness. It smacked of the statement that rope was simply rope."
Question nothing, question everything.
The cat is real.
While I really enjoyed the book, I confess that I spent most of the time wondering whether I truly understood what was happening, and whether or not any of it was real.
An astrophysicist trying to finish work on his theory is repeatedly thwarted by: unexplained alcohol, a random woman in a short skirt, strange men, and the potential visitation of (for want of a better word) aliens.
"I can't say that I didn't understand his theory, but I can't say that I fully grasped it either. I can't say that this theory convinced me fully, but on the other hand everything that had happened to us fit into it nicely. More than that, everything that ever happened, was happening, and will ever happen in the entire universe fit into it - that was the theory's weakness. It smacked of the statement that rope was simply rope."
Question nothing, question everything.
The cat is real.
March 6, 2018
Curiosa, y nada velada, crítica a la represión sufrida por los intelectuales rusos durante el periodo de dominación soviética. Aunque se vende como un libro de "ciencia-ficción" la verdad es que la misma brilla por su ausencia, ¿o quizá no?
La verdad, por lo menos personalmente, he disfrutado bastante con la lectura de esta historia distópica y de corte autorregulado, la cual alcanza en algunos momentos unos sesgos kafkianos bastante notables.
La verdad, por lo menos personalmente, he disfrutado bastante con la lectura de esta historia distópica y de corte autorregulado, la cual alcanza en algunos momentos unos sesgos kafkianos bastante notables.
October 26, 2017
Klasik bir klasik. Okuyunuz. :)
March 25, 2022
È fantascienza che non sembra fantascienza. Gli autori sono russi e scrivono quando la Russia si chiamava URSS. Insomma: un oggetto così raro, strano e speciale che lascio la parola all’esperto (e pure traduttore) Paolo Nori.
https://www.paolonori.it/argomenti/un...
(merita almeno 4 stelle, per l’originalità e la scrittura…io però ho faticato un po’)
https://www.paolonori.it/argomenti/un...
(merita almeno 4 stelle, per l’originalità e la scrittura…io però ho faticato un po’)
June 19, 2021
dsgsertsetsgsdvcvxbxfhfshrssgdasa
April 10, 2023
Dmitri Alekseevich Malianov is a scientist left to his own devices in his Leningrad apartment, with his wife and child away for the summer. Its just him and the cat.
With so much time to work he is convinced he has made a major breakthrough, despite the various distractions around him, his wife’s attractive friend who comes to stay, fine food and vodka being delivered without request or payment, and his neighbour’s suicide. With all this going on he is unable to conclude his work.
He discovers that there are other scientists, similarly on the verge of discoveries, and similarly thwarted. It seems that there is some sort of greater power that is preventing technological advance, perhaps because of their destructive potential.
It’s a bold piece of speculative fiction that survives the test of time without a problem. Though not my favourite from the brothers, (The Dead Mountaineer's Inn) it carries there trademarks of being in turn dryly humorous and eerily unsettling.
With so much time to work he is convinced he has made a major breakthrough, despite the various distractions around him, his wife’s attractive friend who comes to stay, fine food and vodka being delivered without request or payment, and his neighbour’s suicide. With all this going on he is unable to conclude his work.
He discovers that there are other scientists, similarly on the verge of discoveries, and similarly thwarted. It seems that there is some sort of greater power that is preventing technological advance, perhaps because of their destructive potential.
It’s a bold piece of speculative fiction that survives the test of time without a problem. Though not my favourite from the brothers, (The Dead Mountaineer's Inn) it carries there trademarks of being in turn dryly humorous and eerily unsettling.
November 24, 2019
A different kind of SF. Less action more of thinkings.
My review: https://bookimov.blogspot.com/2019/11...
My review: https://bookimov.blogspot.com/2019/11...
April 29, 2022
Disappointing!
Did not live to the promise apparent from the title. The action takes place in just one flat in a residential complex over a couple of days - no where near the 'billion years.'
Some funny bits
Did not live to the promise apparent from the title. The action takes place in just one flat in a residential complex over a couple of days - no where near the 'billion years.'
Some funny bits
He was always jolly, fat, carnivorous, and always collecting something or other – stamps, coins, postmarks, bottle labels. Once, this was when he was already a biologist, he decided to collect excrement because Zhenka Sidortsev brought him whale excrement from the Antarctic and Sanya Zhitniuk brought back some human excrement from Penjekent, not regular of course, but fossilized, from the ninth century.and
What is the expediency of building a bridge over a river from the point of view of a trout?’
November 14, 2015
Bilimkurgu mu? Evet. Gelecekte geçmiyor, lazer tabancaları yok, ama sapına kadar bilim-kurgu.
İyi bilimkurgu iyi edebiyattır!
April 18, 2023
Okunacak yüzlerce eser varken, bu kitap tam bir vakit kaybı. Yerel kanallarda yayınlan B sınıfı film senaryosu olabilir ancak.
June 12, 2023
“You can’t lose your sense of humor, that’s the ticket”
Ridiculous, thrilling, original, profound.
Those are the words that come to mind when I think of the creations of the Soviet stars of Sci-Fi. This is the fourth book by the Strugatsky brothers I have read within a month but until now I had failed to notice that besides engaging and multilayered their writing can also be quite beautiful. "Definitely Maybe" or directly translated from Russian "A Billion Years Before the End of the World" is a short and easy read that covers a variety of topics - the significance and dangers of scientific discoveries, censorship and professional integrity, the importance of work in our lives. I loved the interactions between the characters, as they ranged from brutally honest to heartfelt and humorous. I could not put the book down, and wanted to reread it as soon as I had finished.
Undisputable five stars.
"I was told that this road would take me to the ocean of death, and turned back halfway. Since then crooked, round-about, godforsaken paths stretch out before me."
(Сказали мне, что эта дорога меня приведет к океану смерти, и я с полпути повернул обратно. С тех пор всё тянутся передо мною кривые глухие окольные тропы...)
Ridiculous, thrilling, original, profound.
Those are the words that come to mind when I think of the creations of the Soviet stars of Sci-Fi. This is the fourth book by the Strugatsky brothers I have read within a month but until now I had failed to notice that besides engaging and multilayered their writing can also be quite beautiful. "Definitely Maybe" or directly translated from Russian "A Billion Years Before the End of the World" is a short and easy read that covers a variety of topics - the significance and dangers of scientific discoveries, censorship and professional integrity, the importance of work in our lives. I loved the interactions between the characters, as they ranged from brutally honest to heartfelt and humorous. I could not put the book down, and wanted to reread it as soon as I had finished.
Undisputable five stars.
"I was told that this road would take me to the ocean of death, and turned back halfway. Since then crooked, round-about, godforsaken paths stretch out before me."
(Сказали мне, что эта дорога меня приведет к океану смерти, и я с полпути повернул обратно. С тех пор всё тянутся передо мною кривые глухие окольные тропы...)
December 29, 2018
Kıyamete Bir Milyar Yıl Strugatsky kardeşlerin okuduğum ilk romanı. Romana hayran kaldım. Romanın neredeyse yarısına kadar, bir yandan 'bu kitabın neresi bilimkurgu' derken ve 'acaba bu kitabı bilimkurgu diye kazıkladılar mı?' diye giderek artan bir endişe duyarken diğer yandan son derece eğlenceli ve zekice yazılmış karakterler arası diyalogların tadını çıkardım. Romanın ikinci yarısını her okuyucu kendisi keşfetmeli.
İthaki Bilimkurgu Klasikleri'nden, henüz yeni tanıştığım Strugatsky kardeşlerin başka kitaplarının da şimdiye kadar yayınlanmış olması, okunacak başka kitaplarının bulunuyor olması mutluluk verici.
İthaki Bilimkurgu Klasikleri'nden, henüz yeni tanıştığım Strugatsky kardeşlerin başka kitaplarının da şimdiye kadar yayınlanmış olması, okunacak başka kitaplarının bulunuyor olması mutluluk verici.
March 20, 2018
Es muy bueno que hayan traducido este libro al español, es un libro increíble, aunque no es precisamente ciencia ficción, aunque algo tiene de eso, me parece puede ser bastante interesante para alguien que incluso no gusta mucho de la ciencia ficción. Una serie de sucesos bastante extraños meten en problemas a nuestro protagonista, para empezar, que es lo que está sucediendo y que hay detrás de todo. Disfruté mucho su lectura, lo recomiendo mucho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2016
Alışılmışın dışında bir bilim-kurgu kitabı. Belki bilim-kurgu yanı yok bile diyebiliriz. Aslında birazda bilim-kurgu var gibi. Benim kafa gitti... Karmaşık bir kurgusu olan, olaylara bodoslama daldığımız ve genel olarak 5 kişinin beyin fırtınası yapmasının üzerinden anlatılan enteresan bir roman. Vakit kaybı değildi. Kitabı genel olarak beğendim. Ancak hazmedilmesi zor bir kitap.
July 27, 2017
Aylarca elimde süründükten sonra yeniden başlayayım dedim ve neden aylarca elimde süründüğünü anlayıverdim. Rus bilim kurgusu ve ben bir araya gelmesek iyi olacak galiba.
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