"Roadside Picnic” (1971) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

BOOK: "Roadside Picnic” (1971) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

"Roadside Picnic" by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky is a short science fiction novel written in 1971. By 1998, 38 editions of the novel were published in 20 countries. The film "Stalker" directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, is loosely based on the novel - the screenplay was written by the Strugatskys. 

Whilst perusing Writers No One Reads Keith was struck by one title, Roadside Picnic.   Keith loves roads and loves picnics.  Keith discovered this book coined the word Stalker.  Keith was pleasantly surprised by this book.  

"Roadside Picnic" tells the story of a Stalker, one of the few who dare to enter a zone of an alien visitation. Stalkers venture into the deadly realm for artifacts, which are sometimes useful, sometimes enigmatic, sometimes life-threatening, whilst surviving in the oppressive, broken community adjacent to the zone.  6/10

Tristan likes Sci-Fi and he liked this book.  First contact is usually mutual love or war, not so here, where the humans are inconsequential.  It's genius.  As is Stanislaw Lem's "The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age" 7/10

Tristan & Robin: Loved the unusual treatment of first contact

Nigel recalled whilst reading this splendid book that some of his favourite books are genre books, specifically crime, noir and science fiction. These books are almost always ignored by prestigious mainstream awards despite containing some of the most compelling, imaginative and provocative ideas in fiction. Roadside Picnic is full of ideas about humanity, philosophy, greed, sustainability, community and more, and it's also a gripping yarn with Red Schuhart - a classic dysfunctional anti-hero - at its heart. 8/10

Robin also enjoyed the unusual treatment of first contact, with the alien technology way beyond humanity's understanding meanwhile the stream of consciousness narration was a surprisingly easy read. The drunken conversation with a scientist provided Robin with some tantalising ideas. However the lack of detail maintained the mystery.  An excellent read and worthy of its classic status. 7/10

Hamish "mercifully short'

Hamish spent much of his time thinking that the book had been badly translated.  Perhaps this is the work of the censors?  He was not sure, but it did not make for a convincing read.  The dialogue seemed very stilted with the journalist simply a device to reveal key facts in a very clunky way.  Hamish didn't really care why the Zone was like it was. Mercifully short, unconvincing and with a lack of detail.  Hamish wished he could have read it in Russian as the story was probably lost in translation.  3/10

Nick was most fascinated by the Soviet aspect which is an ongoing obsession.  Comrade Nick cannot get enough.  The writing is terse and superbly descriptive, shifting from first-person narrative to third and expertly handled by the Strugatsky brothers, the undisputed masters of the enigmatic hard man personality that frequently appears in Soviet fiction. "Roadside Picnic" is a beautifully written, inspiring read, with strong, desperate characters and a thrilling premise.  The only downside is that it is too short with so much unrealised potential in its premise. 9/10

So overall a very positive response for the Strugatsky brothers with just Hamish remaining unconvinced.

MUSIC: "The Best Of ? And The Mysterians: Cameo Parkway 1966-1967” (2005) by ? And The Mysterians

? and the Mysterians are an American rock and roll band formed in Bay City, Michigan, in 1962. The group took its name from the 1957 Japanese science fiction film The Mysterians, in which aliens from the destroyed planet Mysteroid arrive to conquer Earth, and may have been the first group to be described as punk rock

They were also the first American rock band of Mexican descent to have a mainstream hit record in the United States with 1966's "96 Tears", which sold over one million copies and won a BMI award for over three million airplays.

It's official.  Hove Book Group loves "96 Tears" even the slow version.  Loves it.  We does.

FILM:  Nightmare Alley (1947) dir by Edmund Goulding

Keith thinks the book is even better - and both are brilliant.

Nick thought Stalker was the film and promised he'd pay more attention to official HBG missives in future.

Nigel liked it.

Robin was bewitched.

Tristan less so.









ENDORSE IT

Latest endorsements from Hove's finest...

Nick - http://tuebl.ca/
Tristan - Michael Marshall Smith "Spares"
Robin - County Donegal
Nigel - Four films - Foxcatcher, Whiplash, Paddington, Gone Girl