A Martian Stranded on Earth: Alexander Bogdanov, Blood Transfusions, and Proletarian Science

by Nikolai Krementsov

Much like Vladimir Lenin, his onetime rival for the leadership of the Bolshevik party during its formative years, Alexander Bogdanov (1873–1928) was a visionary. In two science fiction novels set on Mars, Bogdanov imagined a future in which the workers of the world, liberated from capitalist exploitation, create a “physiological collective” that rejuvenates and unites its members through regular blood exchanges. But Bogdanov was not merely a dreamer. He worked tirelessly to popularize and realize his vision, founding the first research institute devoted to the science of blood transfusion.

           

In A Martian Stranded on Earth, the first broad-based book on Bogdanov in English, Nikolai Krementsov examines Bogdanov’s roles as revolutionary, novelist, and scientist, presenting his protagonist as a coherent thinker who pursued his ideas in a wide range of venues. Through the lens of Bogdanov’s involvement with blood studies on one hand, and of his fictional and philosophical writings on the other, Krementsov offers a nuanced analysis of the interactions between scientific ideas and societal values. 

 

Genres: History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2011

Reviews

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

well, this was an absolutely wild ride. anyone wanna get blood transfusions to achieve communism? sounds pretty romantic, huh? ... anyone? ... nobody?

[AHW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serviceable book by a historian of medicine & science trained in the USSR, focusing on Bogdanov’s work in blood transfusion Mostly useful in that it shows the gap between Bogdanov’s framework and the state of blood science at the time, demonstrating that he didn’t escape from the difficulties that were also encountered when trying to schematically apply the dominant, “dialectical materialist” view to science. This is significant in that Bogdanov was an influence on the creation of the USSR’s “proletarian science.”

[Jooseppi Räikkönen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tää oli kohtuu sekava kokemus. Upea ajoittain, mutta myös vähän kiireinen monissa johtopäätöksissään. Nautin aina lukea Neuvostoliiton toisinajattelijoista ja tietenkin myös aina surullinen kokemus lukea mitä kaikkea siellä jouduttiin kärsimään. 1900-luvun tieteelliset ja etenkin lääketieteelliset vallankumoukset on aina äärimmäisen mielenkiintoisia läheltä tarkasteltuina, etenkin institutionaalinen vakiintuminen ja kontingenssi upeita teemoja. Keskeinen yritys nivoa Bogdanovin ajattelun ja toiminnan eri säikeet yhdeksi nipuksi epäonnistui useasti, mutta nautin kyllä tosi paljon lähes koko opuksesta.

[RYD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexander Bogdanov was a well-known rival of Lenin's who, believe it or not, wrote science-fiction novels and believed that humanity would be served if everyone just shared their blood. This book is a scholarly look at how cultural forces shaped Bogdanov's approach to blood exchanges and blood transfusions. I was hoping for something a little more tongue in cheek, given the storyline.

[McKenzie Wark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fresh account of neglected figure in the history of Marxism. Good on his attempt as science, not so good on his philosophy and writing.