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The Strugatsky brothers (Бра́тья Струга́цкие), as they are usually called, became the best-known Soviet science fiction writers with a well developed fan base. Their early work was influenced by Ivan Yefremov. Their most famous novel Piknik na obochine has been translated into English as Roadside Picnic in 1977 and was filmed by Andrei Tarkovsky under the title Stalker.
Several other works have been translated into English, but did not receive even a fraction of the critical acclaim of Russian audiences. This can be attributed primarily due to failings that inevitably arise when an attempt is made to translate colloquial Russian into a language that does not very well support its grammatical structure; the second reason is that a basic understanding of the rigid mindset promoted by the Stalinist regime is an absolute prerequisite to being able to see the contrast and rejection of uniformity that is evident in every one of Strugatskys' works.
It should be noted, however, that the Strugatsky brothers were and still are popular in many countries, including PolandThe Republic of Poland a country in Central Europe, lies between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and Russia (in the form of the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave) t and GermanyThe Federal Republic of Germany ( German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland is one of the world's leading industrialized countries, located in the middle of the European Union. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea, to the east, where most of their works were available in both East and West Germany during the division.
The brothers were Guests of Honour at the 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train World Science Fiction Convention, held in BrightonThis article is about the English town; Brighton is also the name of several other places. Brighton in East Sussex is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in England. Brighton and Hove form a single conurbation but Brighton's lively atmosphe, EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England.
Several of the books written by Strugaccy take part in the same universe, unofficialy known as the Wanderers universe (Russian: мир Странников, English transliteration: mir Strannikov) or The World of NoonThe Noon Universe is a fictional alternate future universe that serves as a setting for a large book series written by Strugatsky brothers. The universe is named after "Noon, XXII Century", one of the novels from the above-mentioned series. While the Noon (Russian: Мир Полдня, English transliteration: Mir Poldnya), which is another, perhaps better known, name for the fictional universe serving as a base for many of Strugatsky's texts. The name is due to the title of one of their texts, Полдень, XXII век (English transliteration: Polden', XXII vek; literal translation: Noon, XXII century), which relates several stories from the universe in question, while providing the background "feel" for its style of life. Among the main characteristics of Noon Universe are a very high level of social, scientific, and technological development, high creativity of the general population, and very significant increase in the level of societal maturity compared to either the modern world, or any of those known to exist. For instance, this world knows no monetary stimulation (indeed, money does not exist), yet every person is engaged in a profession that interests him or her. The Earth of Noon Universe is a governed by a global technocratic council composed of the world's leading scientists, philosophers.
One of the important story arcs of those books is how the advanced human civilisation covertly steers the development of those considered less advanced. Agents of humans are known as The Progressors . At the same time, some humans suspect that a very advanced spacefaring race called The Wanderers exists and is 'progressing' humanity itself.
The idea of Progressors is similar to the idea of Special CircumstancesIn the science fiction novels of Iain M. Banks, Special Circumstances (SC) comprises the military/espionage arm of the notionally pacifist civilisation The Culture. It forms part of Contact. Most of Banks' Culture novels concern themselves directly or ind organisation in The Culture set of novel by Iain M. Banks.
Not all of Strugatsky's stories occur in the World of Noon; few (most notably Понедельник начинается в субботу (Ponedel'nik nachinaetsya v subbotu / Monday Begins on Saturday) and its continuation, Сказка о Тройке (Skazka o Troyke / The Tale about the Three)) take place in the Soviet times, presumably those (or close to those) during which they were written, and some occur in unspecified realms.