What do you think?
Rate this book
The Noon Universe #1
Полдень, XXII век
«Полдень, XXII век» является переработкой более ранней повести Аркадия и Бориса Стругацких «Возвращение». В 1967 году авторы расширили и дополнили её, начав повествование не с «возвращения звездолёта», а с предшествующих событий. Это т. н. «повесть в рассказах» — сборник коротких историй — зарисовок мира будущего. Стартовавший в 2017 году космический корабль с возможностью разгона до субсветовых скоростей возвращается на Землю в 2119 году. Его экипаж — Сергей Кондратьев и Евгений Славин, едва не погибшие в космосе, заново знакомятся с новой планетой. Люди теперь передвигаются с помощью летающих птерокаров, собирают роботов-садовников и роботов-пастухов, раскрывают секре
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1961
59 people are currently reading
3017 people want to read
About the author
Arkady Strugatsky
493 books1,858 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 9, 2013
Eastern Block/Soviet Sci-Fi is so utterly different from western Sci-Fi that it nearly defies explanation, but heck I'll give it a shot. Certainly the major element of the writing is that science (at times very strange science) is a means to get into the emotional conflicts that technology creates. The writers have a certain Bradburyesque way with sentences but less wistful. Instead there's a strange disconnect to the events and characters that define the weird desolation that permeates the works. One can almost envision an alternate reality of the time period that they wrote (1960-1966) much less the future they create. Regardless the stories point to man's relationship or struggling relationship with the future and the technology existing. Quite interesting is how these seemingly short stories appear almost as chapters, yet they aren't. The stories roughly and subtly follow several characters literally through their lives - one born in the first story and appearing numerous times as he ages. The "science" is really secondary, much different western Sci-Fi. One certainly won't ponder the feasibility of the future in these stories, but their emotions, the lost displaced feeling is very much something that one can ponder and relate to. Despite the age and quaintness of these tales I think they still very much resonate and while the authors aren't in the same masterful league as Stanislav Lem nonetheless these stories have a powerful pull and haunt.
September 26, 2024
This is a communist utopia from the early 1960s. It is an early work of Strugatsky brothers, from a period when they saw a Soviet system quite salvageable and it is different from their later works. I read it as a part of the monthly reading for September 2024 at Speculative Fiction in Translation group.
Often this book is called a novel made of novellas, even if we use current Hugo guidelines, they are more short stories in size. The stories are quite different in style, but several recurring characters exist. The goal was to present different aspects of the future – how they work, have fun, love and argue. The collection looks quite free of politics – no one discusses that that’s world communism, except a bit here and there. The propaganda is more insidious, from ‘cultivating’ a better next generation from school pupils (who never mention their families) and the World Council “was sixty percent composed of teachers and doctors” to human superiority to other Earth species (who are either ‘good’ i.e. suitable for exploitation like cows or whales, or ‘bad’ and elimination of them is perfectly fine (from mosquitos to giant whale-hunting octopuses). And everyone is eager to work, people volunteer to do dangerous and not momently beneficial stuff, like terraforming, a clear allusion to the actively backed by the Soviet propaganda the Virgin Lands campaign (literally 'reclamation of tselina') - 1953 plan to dramatically boost the Soviet Union's agricultural production in order to alleviate the food shortages plaguing the Soviet populace, or the Komsomol shock construction projects.
A short review of several stories, just for a taste:
the first is ‘A Night on Mars’ – two medics harry up to a family, where the first human on Mars is to be born. They are afraid of native ‘flying leech’, but continue to go even when their vehicle drowns. They meet two more guys, who are local patrollers/hunters. Readers follow the thoughts of each of the characters, which creates a 3D picture of the situation. Already readers can see such thing as a communist Manifest Destiny – everywhere, where a human reached everything should serve him or be destroyed, like the abovementioned leech – they never assume that it should be saved as a native form, even bearing in mind that there was a techno-civilization on Mars lie 10mn years ago. Another thing is that everyone should do their best – these medics risk their lives but never question if they should go. The third thing is (as is usual for most SF of the time) almost all characters are male.
‘The Conspirators’– a group of 14-year-old boys plan to run away from the school to become a spaceship crew. They train hard to be adequate for the goal, but their teacher (who quickly guesses what they are up to) studies even harder just to show them they know too little and therefore should continue to study. Once again, the teacher endangers his own health by overstudying only to give the right example to the boys.
‘Deep Search’ – a former cosmonaut from the past (due to the time dilation) found a new job – a whale shepherd (the authors were quite affected by a recent book by Arthur C. Clarke The Deep Range) – and he dives in a submarine with two apprentices in order to find a giant squid that attacks whales. While one of the apprentices – a young Japanese girl in love with the cosmonaut says that maybe it isn’t correct to kill the giant squid, for it is unique and maybe even sentient. The cosmonaut not only kills it but plans to return and kill all its possible offspring, once again – everything should serve a human.
The stories are interesting, readers can clearly see that the authors are talented even if the final product is still partially Soviet propaganda. One more thing to note, the modern Western SF actively tries to increase its diversity and in some respect this (and quite a few other Soviet SF of the time) has it in spades in respect to race and nations (there are not only people of the USSR, or the USCR (C for communist)) but Germans, Americans, Japanese, Congolese and even a pigmy from Africa. And while men clearly dominate, there are definitely more women than say in early Isaac Asimov. Of course, no LGBTQ+ (there was still a criminal term for ‘sodomy’) or even sex for in the USSR SF was viewed primarily as a fiction for children and youth, so texts are extremely chaste.
Often this book is called a novel made of novellas, even if we use current Hugo guidelines, they are more short stories in size. The stories are quite different in style, but several recurring characters exist. The goal was to present different aspects of the future – how they work, have fun, love and argue. The collection looks quite free of politics – no one discusses that that’s world communism, except a bit here and there. The propaganda is more insidious, from ‘cultivating’ a better next generation from school pupils (who never mention their families) and the World Council “was sixty percent composed of teachers and doctors” to human superiority to other Earth species (who are either ‘good’ i.e. suitable for exploitation like cows or whales, or ‘bad’ and elimination of them is perfectly fine (from mosquitos to giant whale-hunting octopuses). And everyone is eager to work, people volunteer to do dangerous and not momently beneficial stuff, like terraforming, a clear allusion to the actively backed by the Soviet propaganda the Virgin Lands campaign (literally 'reclamation of tselina') - 1953 plan to dramatically boost the Soviet Union's agricultural production in order to alleviate the food shortages plaguing the Soviet populace, or the Komsomol shock construction projects.
A short review of several stories, just for a taste:
the first is ‘A Night on Mars’ – two medics harry up to a family, where the first human on Mars is to be born. They are afraid of native ‘flying leech’, but continue to go even when their vehicle drowns. They meet two more guys, who are local patrollers/hunters. Readers follow the thoughts of each of the characters, which creates a 3D picture of the situation. Already readers can see such thing as a communist Manifest Destiny – everywhere, where a human reached everything should serve him or be destroyed, like the abovementioned leech – they never assume that it should be saved as a native form, even bearing in mind that there was a techno-civilization on Mars lie 10mn years ago. Another thing is that everyone should do their best – these medics risk their lives but never question if they should go. The third thing is (as is usual for most SF of the time) almost all characters are male.
‘The Conspirators’– a group of 14-year-old boys plan to run away from the school to become a spaceship crew. They train hard to be adequate for the goal, but their teacher (who quickly guesses what they are up to) studies even harder just to show them they know too little and therefore should continue to study. Once again, the teacher endangers his own health by overstudying only to give the right example to the boys.
‘Deep Search’ – a former cosmonaut from the past (due to the time dilation) found a new job – a whale shepherd (the authors were quite affected by a recent book by Arthur C. Clarke The Deep Range) – and he dives in a submarine with two apprentices in order to find a giant squid that attacks whales. While one of the apprentices – a young Japanese girl in love with the cosmonaut says that maybe it isn’t correct to kill the giant squid, for it is unique and maybe even sentient. The cosmonaut not only kills it but plans to return and kill all its possible offspring, once again – everything should serve a human.
The stories are interesting, readers can clearly see that the authors are talented even if the final product is still partially Soviet propaganda. One more thing to note, the modern Western SF actively tries to increase its diversity and in some respect this (and quite a few other Soviet SF of the time) has it in spades in respect to race and nations (there are not only people of the USSR, or the USCR (C for communist)) but Germans, Americans, Japanese, Congolese and even a pigmy from Africa. And while men clearly dominate, there are definitely more women than say in early Isaac Asimov. Of course, no LGBTQ+ (there was still a criminal term for ‘sodomy’) or even sex for in the USSR SF was viewed primarily as a fiction for children and youth, so texts are extremely chaste.
June 26, 2022
Not a bad book at all but the worst one by Strugatsky's I have read so far. I think one thing that made it harder for me to like is that it is a collection of short stories loosely connected. I this case I can tell that I absolutely loved a couple of them but then there were many where I just wasn't getting into the story. Again great imaginations by the authors presenting to us the future world after the victory of communism and exploring space but their usual wit and writing style is missing. In some parts it comes out and this were the best of the stories but one can see that they aren't at their greatness yet.
December 12, 2020
This is a communist utopia from the early 1960s, English translation is x. It is an early work of Strugatsky brothers, from a period when they saw a Soviet system quite salvageable and it is different from their later works.
Often this book is called a novel made of novellas, even if we use current Hugo guidelines, they are more short stories in size. The goal was to present different aspects of future – how they work, having fun, love and argue. While in initial drafts (which can be read in Noon: 22nd Century), the final collection looks quite free of politics – no one discuss that that’s a world communism, no more than we discuss that we breathe air.
A short review of several stories, just for a taste:
the first is ‘A Night on Mars’ – two medics harry up to a family, where the first human on Mars is to be born. They are afraid of native ‘flying leech’, but continue to go even when their vehicle drowns. They meet two more guys, who are local patrollers/hunters. Readers follow thoughts of each of the characters, which creates a 3D picture of the situation. Already readers can see such thing as a communist Manifest destiny – everywhere, where a human reached everything should serve him or be destroyed, like the abovementioned leech – they never assume that it should be saved as a native form, even bearing in mind that there was a techno-civilization on Mars lie 10mn years ago. Another thing is that everyone should do their best – these medics risk their lives but never question if they should go. The third thing is (as is usual for most SF of the time) almost all characters are male.
‘Daredevils’ – a group of 14 year old boys plan to run away from the school to became a spaceship crew. They train hard to be adequate for the goal, but their teacher (who quickly guesses what they are up to) studies even harder just to show them they know too little and therefore should continue to study. Once again, the teacher endanger own health by overstudying only to give a right example to the boys.
‘Deep Search’ – a former cosmonaut from the past (due to the time dilation) found a new job – a whales’ shepherd (the authors where quite affected by a recent book by Arthur C. Clarke The Deep Range) – and he dives in a submarine with two apprentices in order to find a giant squid that attacks whales. While one of the apprentices – a young Japanese girl in love with the cosmonaut says that maybe it isn’t correct to kill the giant squid, for it is unique and maybe even sentient. The cosmonaut not only kills it but plans to return and kill all its possible offspring, once again – everything should serve a human.
The stories are interesting, readers can clearly see that the authors are talented even if the final product is partially Soviet propaganda.
Often this book is called a novel made of novellas, even if we use current Hugo guidelines, they are more short stories in size. The goal was to present different aspects of future – how they work, having fun, love and argue. While in initial drafts (which can be read in Noon: 22nd Century), the final collection looks quite free of politics – no one discuss that that’s a world communism, no more than we discuss that we breathe air.
A short review of several stories, just for a taste:
the first is ‘A Night on Mars’ – two medics harry up to a family, where the first human on Mars is to be born. They are afraid of native ‘flying leech’, but continue to go even when their vehicle drowns. They meet two more guys, who are local patrollers/hunters. Readers follow thoughts of each of the characters, which creates a 3D picture of the situation. Already readers can see such thing as a communist Manifest destiny – everywhere, where a human reached everything should serve him or be destroyed, like the abovementioned leech – they never assume that it should be saved as a native form, even bearing in mind that there was a techno-civilization on Mars lie 10mn years ago. Another thing is that everyone should do their best – these medics risk their lives but never question if they should go. The third thing is (as is usual for most SF of the time) almost all characters are male.
‘Daredevils’ – a group of 14 year old boys plan to run away from the school to became a spaceship crew. They train hard to be adequate for the goal, but their teacher (who quickly guesses what they are up to) studies even harder just to show them they know too little and therefore should continue to study. Once again, the teacher endanger own health by overstudying only to give a right example to the boys.
‘Deep Search’ – a former cosmonaut from the past (due to the time dilation) found a new job – a whales’ shepherd (the authors where quite affected by a recent book by Arthur C. Clarke The Deep Range) – and he dives in a submarine with two apprentices in order to find a giant squid that attacks whales. While one of the apprentices – a young Japanese girl in love with the cosmonaut says that maybe it isn’t correct to kill the giant squid, for it is unique and maybe even sentient. The cosmonaut not only kills it but plans to return and kill all its possible offspring, once again – everything should serve a human.
The stories are interesting, readers can clearly see that the authors are talented even if the final product is partially Soviet propaganda.
December 23, 2020
Elfogultsági 4 csillag, mert hiába olvastam még tőlük keveset, nagyon megszerettem a szerzőpárost.
Ezzel a könyvvel megkínlódtam, pedig igényes a szerkesztés, érdekesek a lábjegyzetek.
Egy-két rész igen csak érdekes volt, némelyik viszont erősen unalmas, sajnos.
Ezzel a könyvvel megkínlódtam, pedig igényes a szerkesztés, érdekesek a lábjegyzetek.
Egy-két rész igen csak érdekes volt, némelyik viszont erősen unalmas, sajnos.
December 25, 2016
Сборник рассказов, знакомящих читателя с героями и миром "полудня". Рассказы разные по наполнению, по смыслу и не всегда между собой напрямую связаны.
Читать было любопытно, не более, слишком много показалось проходным и наивным - во многом такой подход пронизывает книгу.
немного впечатлений о каждом из рассказов.
1. Ночь на Марсе
Первый рассказ сборника и сразу говорит нам что человечество шагнуло вперед, оно уже на Марсе. Происходит некоторое знакомство с героями – и с теми кто непосредственно в центре событий и теми, кто далеко на базе. Рассказ, полный ожидания, саспенса.
2. Почти такие же
Рассказ о мечтателях, учащихся в институте по подготовке к межзвездным перелетам. Страхи, надежды, текущая жизнь - затронуто много тем, но главное – зачем все это?
3. Перестарок
Короткий рассказ с одним из реализовавшихся опасений. Чуть-чуть пищи для размышлений и затравкой на будущие события.
4. Злоумышленники
Рассказ про психологическую игру Учителя с учениками, как заставить сделать что-то помимо воли? Лично меня как-то передернуло от этого манипуляторства, так что не мой рассказ.
5. Хроника
Просто хроника, раскрывающая персонажей предыдущего рассказа.
6. Двое с «Таймыра»
Что чувствуют люди пропустившие сто лет и попавшие по сути в новый мир. Кто-то морально готов, кто-то нет. Кому-о легко понять новые взаимоотношения, кому-то нет.
7. Самодвижущиеся дороги
Что готовит нам мир будущего? Герой гуляет и познает окружающий мир, его новые грани.
8. Скатерть-самобранка
Смешная зарисовка о трудностях быта в высокотехнологичном обществе.
9. Возвращение
Герою многих предыдущих рассказов пришли пора двигаться дальше и в моральном и в физическом смысле. он получает новый вызов и он принимает его.
10. Томление духа
Довольно вялый рассказ о поиске себя в этом ми��е.
11. Десантники
Романтичный, но как-то сильно неглубокий рассказ о высадке на негостеприимную в метеорологическом смысле планету.
12. Глубокий поиск
С современных позиций удивляет такое отношение к неизведанным морским глубинам :) Казалось бы с покорением космоса можно было бы и родную планету освоить.
13. О странствующих и путешествующих
Небольшая философкая зарисовка о смысле всего происходящего и необходимости в этом смысле.
14. Благоустроенная планета
Очень хорошая планета, благоустроенная, а вы кто такие? - есть ли у вас достаточно компетенции для встречи с новой цивилизацией - интересная постановка вопросаи довольно любопытный рассказ.
15. Загадка задней ноги
Опять же смешная зарисовка о том к чему приводит юношеский максимализм и пытливость :)
16. Естествознание в мире духов
Очень грустный рассказ о самопожертовании в интересах науки.
17. Свечи перед пультом
Человечество приблизилось к реализации своей главной мечты - к вечной жизни. Ведь что такое человек - в первую очередь это мысли и стремления, а не физическое тело.
18. Поражение
Еще долго человечество не сможет обходиться только машинами - смекалка наше все! А также наш опыт.
19. Свидание
Свидание с прошлым и спорным. Сильный рассказ о пережитом воспоминании и мучащем вопросе.
20. Какими вы будете
Явно не такими :) Стругацкие сильно ошиблись))
21. Моби Дик
(Исключенный рассказ)
довольно стандартная история про ловлю белого кита. Понятно почему убрали, никакой новизны от слова совсем.
Читать было любопытно, не более, слишком много показалось проходным и наивным - во многом такой подход пронизывает книгу.
немного впечатлений о каждом из рассказов.
1. Ночь на Марсе
Первый рассказ сборника и сразу говорит нам что человечество шагнуло вперед, оно уже на Марсе. Происходит некоторое знакомство с героями – и с теми кто непосредственно в центре событий и теми, кто далеко на базе. Рассказ, полный ожидания, саспенса.
2. Почти такие же
Рассказ о мечтателях, учащихся в институте по подготовке к межзвездным перелетам. Страхи, надежды, текущая жизнь - затронуто много тем, но главное – зачем все это?
3. Перестарок
Короткий рассказ с одним из реализовавшихся опасений. Чуть-чуть пищи для размышлений и затравкой на будущие события.
4. Злоумышленники
Рассказ про психологическую игру Учителя с учениками, как заставить сделать что-то помимо воли? Лично меня как-то передернуло от этого манипуляторства, так что не мой рассказ.
5. Хроника
Просто хроника, раскрывающая персонажей предыдущего рассказа.
6. Двое с «Таймыра»
Что чувствуют люди пропустившие сто лет и попавшие по сути в новый мир. Кто-то морально готов, кто-то нет. Кому-о легко понять новые взаимоотношения, кому-то нет.
7. Самодвижущиеся дороги
Что готовит нам мир будущего? Герой гуляет и познает окружающий мир, его новые грани.
8. Скатерть-самобранка
Смешная зарисовка о трудностях быта в высокотехнологичном обществе.
9. Возвращение
Герою многих предыдущих рассказов пришли пора двигаться дальше и в моральном и в физическом смысле. он получает новый вызов и он принимает его.
10. Томление духа
Довольно вялый рассказ о поиске себя в этом ми��е.
11. Десантники
Романтичный, но как-то сильно неглубокий рассказ о высадке на негостеприимную в метеорологическом смысле планету.
12. Глубокий поиск
С современных позиций удивляет такое отношение к неизведанным морским глубинам :) Казалось бы с покорением космоса можно было бы и родную планету освоить.
13. О странствующих и путешествующих
Небольшая философкая зарисовка о смысле всего происходящего и необходимости в этом смысле.
14. Благоустроенная планета
Очень хорошая планета, благоустроенная, а вы кто такие? - есть ли у вас достаточно компетенции для встречи с новой цивилизацией - интересная постановка вопросаи довольно любопытный рассказ.
15. Загадка задней ноги
Опять же смешная зарисовка о том к чему приводит юношеский максимализм и пытливость :)
16. Естествознание в мире духов
Очень грустный рассказ о самопожертовании в интересах науки.
17. Свечи перед пультом
Человечество приблизилось к реализации своей главной мечты - к вечной жизни. Ведь что такое человек - в первую очередь это мысли и стремления, а не физическое тело.
18. Поражение
Еще долго человечество не сможет обходиться только машинами - смекалка наше все! А также наш опыт.
19. Свидание
Свидание с прошлым и спорным. Сильный рассказ о пережитом воспоминании и мучащем вопросе.
20. Какими вы будете
Явно не такими :) Стругацкие сильно ошиблись))
21. Моби Дик
(Исключенный рассказ)
довольно стандартная история про ловлю белого кита. Понятно почему убрали, никакой новизны от слова совсем.
September 20, 2021
Chock full of fascinating ideas and boasting an unusual narrative structure, the book is essentially a collection of short stories that bounce around between various character groups and story arcs over a progressive time span. While it was at times difficult to remember who was who, the collection certainly rewards the reader that puts in the effort. There are some marvelous sci-fi concepts on display here, and the stories are written with a tone that is both inviting and quietly contemplative. I sometimes lost track of who was who, but I never tired or grew bored of their conversations.
That being said, it sometimes felt that the authors went half way in trying to marry all of these stories together into one, cohesive universe. The narrative structure could lead to some confusion, as I've said, but even when it wasn't confusing, it still felt somehow unfocused. Still a great collection, but I feel if they had written this as a true novel instead of later fusing a collection of stories into a single narrative, it would have flowed much better.
Overall a good introduction to the Noon Universe and, despite its flaws, I'm hungry for more.
That being said, it sometimes felt that the authors went half way in trying to marry all of these stories together into one, cohesive universe. The narrative structure could lead to some confusion, as I've said, but even when it wasn't confusing, it still felt somehow unfocused. Still a great collection, but I feel if they had written this as a true novel instead of later fusing a collection of stories into a single narrative, it would have flowed much better.
Overall a good introduction to the Noon Universe and, despite its flaws, I'm hungry for more.
April 4, 2021
Some parts of this book read as naive and idealistic these days. Still, it's impossible to deny that authors - brothers Strugatsky - had a unique and comprehensive vision for the future of humanity, powered by the passion for science and exploration, and it's worth immersing yourself into that vision for a while.
October 19, 2024
Noon: 22nd Century by Strugatsky Brothers
This one was good.
So, here comes the start of The Noon Universe--communist utopia, where people, managing to unite under the red flag, went on to explore space, opening and colonizing new planets.
I rarely find utopias enjoyable, but this one was definitely a treat. It doesn't limit itself to explaining all the achievements unlocked by the new generations. It also deals with personal problems of those who inhabit the new world, focusing on their dilemmas and questions, their inability to integrate into this new society (be it a person transported from the 20th century, or the native 22nd century citizen), their doubts on whether the things being done are correct.
The novel, if it can be called so, is divided into several short stories with a strong continuity and chronology. Despite that, one can enjoy the stories separately without too much worrying--the approach I really love in such anthologies. My personal favorite is "The Meeting"--a story of a once cheerful man forever crushed by his conscience.
I can't call Noon great. As it always happens with these collections, some stories were good, some not so. Still, it's a book worthy of giving it a shot.
I'm looking forward to seeing the evolution of this universe, considering it getting more grim during the following years. Recommended.
This one was good.
So, here comes the start of The Noon Universe--communist utopia, where people, managing to unite under the red flag, went on to explore space, opening and colonizing new planets.
I rarely find utopias enjoyable, but this one was definitely a treat. It doesn't limit itself to explaining all the achievements unlocked by the new generations. It also deals with personal problems of those who inhabit the new world, focusing on their dilemmas and questions, their inability to integrate into this new society (be it a person transported from the 20th century, or the native 22nd century citizen), their doubts on whether the things being done are correct.
The novel, if it can be called so, is divided into several short stories with a strong continuity and chronology. Despite that, one can enjoy the stories separately without too much worrying--the approach I really love in such anthologies. My personal favorite is "The Meeting"--a story of a once cheerful man forever crushed by his conscience.
I can't call Noon great. As it always happens with these collections, some stories were good, some not so. Still, it's a book worthy of giving it a shot.
I'm looking forward to seeing the evolution of this universe, considering it getting more grim during the following years. Recommended.
March 28, 2014
Понравилась атмосфера того мира, в котором жили персонажи. На пьедестал поставлена наука, жажда познания - несмотря на то, что это детская жадность всё пощупать, попробовать, - это почти всегда хорошо. Во времена повального отупения масс и возведения спорта как высшей ценности, я бы уж лучше жил в том мире. Книга отражает мечты того поколения.
Не понравилось мельтешение персонажей, из-за чего и не произошло эмоциональной привязки к ним, банально не смог запомнить, кто есть кто. Кроме Горбовского, конечно. Впрочем, задача писателей была сделать зарисовку времени, мира. Как-то не очень удалось.
PS. Понравилась идея Учителей-наставников для каждого человека, направляющих и наставляющих их так, чтобы они полностью раскрылись.
Не понравилось мельтешение персонажей, из-за чего и не произошло эмоциональной привязки к ним, банально не смог запомнить, кто есть кто. Кроме Горбовского, конечно. Впрочем, задача писателей была сделать зарисовку времени, мира. Как-то не очень удалось.
PS. Понравилась идея Учителей-наставников для каждого человека, направляющих и наставляющих их так, чтобы они полностью раскрылись.
April 25, 2019
Скучная книга об унылом будущем.
Когда же я доберусь до интересных книг Arkady Strugatsky и Boris Strugatsky??!!! Здесь же стандартная советская научная фантастика: безостановочная работа, трудовые подвиги, самопожертвования ради науки!!! Не понравилась также структура книги и то как авторы представляют героев: то называют их по имени-отчеству, то по фамилии, то используют прозвища. Так что просто понять о ком идёт речь бывало нелегко!!!
Плюс есть, но очень маленький: было немного (очень немного) юмора и даже сатиры, но всё остальное - сплошная идеология, не потревоженная ни приключениями, ни тайнами!!!
Когда же я доберусь до интересных книг Arkady Strugatsky и Boris Strugatsky??!!! Здесь же стандартная советская научная фантастика: безостановочная работа, трудовые подвиги, самопожертвования ради науки!!! Не понравилась также структура книги и то как авторы представляют героев: то называют их по имени-отчеству, то по фамилии, то используют прозвища. Так что просто понять о ком идёт речь бывало нелегко!!!
Плюс есть, но очень маленький: было немного (очень немного) юмора и даже сатиры, но всё остальное - сплошная идеология, не потревоженная ни приключениями, ни тайнами!!!
xx-dnf-skim-reference
September 4, 2021Interconnected stories, more than chapters, says David. He also says read 17 first, because it's good and because it's a good sample/trial.
---
Not for me. 17 is good, but I have read the theme before in several iterations, some of which are better. 1-5 didn't work for me. Sturgeon's intro. says, basically, that good SF has to literary, *not* about ideas & inventions, and I totally disagree.
Still, I'm not dis-recommending it. If you're interested, even if just because of by whom & when it was written, give it a shot.
---
Review to read: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
---
Sept. 2021
---
Not for me. 17 is good, but I have read the theme before in several iterations, some of which are better. 1-5 didn't work for me. Sturgeon's intro. says, basically, that good SF has to literary, *not* about ideas & inventions, and I totally disagree.
Still, I'm not dis-recommending it. If you're interested, even if just because of by whom & when it was written, give it a shot.
---
Review to read: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
---
Sept. 2021
December 19, 2018
Центральное произведение Стругацкие, населенное коммунистами. Интересно, что авторов даже за это розовое произведение успели поругать критики - мол, у вас коммунисты неправильные, они ругаются, а не маркса цитируют. Разгадка проста - Стругацкие долго пытались выдумать образ коммуниста будущего, но так и не смогли. Поэтому населили его, по сути, своими положительными современниками и просто предположили, что в будущем из таких будет состоять большая часть общества. Современники их, судя по книге, были преимущественно стахановцами.
March 23, 2012
Замечательный утопический роман. Испытывал жуткую зависть к персонажам книги, а особенно к студентам Кондратьеву и Панину сотоварищи, а уж тем более к обитателям 18-ой комнаты. Жаль только, что предсказания, озвученные в этой книге, вряд ли сбудутся. По крайней мере, вряд ли мы получим тот самый "мир, в котором было бы уютно и интересно жить".
June 4, 2020
Мрії про космічний комунізм. Позитивна фантастика. Рідко таку зустрінеш
Read
April 23, 2017I read a much different version many years ago. I think this is the first uncensored Hungarian edition, it was released last year. It was interesting to revisit, and quite amusing to see that some of the predictions came true in the intervening time! Yes, it totally has Amazon Prime - including the part where from time to time it sends you some random weird thing that maybe should have been addressed to your neighbor or G-d knows who. (Once I got a box full of insecticide!)
This is a surprisingly relaxing book. Very dudebro and... well, straight and cis, but international and racially/ethnically diverse, though also kind of "well, international, but everyone is somewhat Russian, because it is the Communist future." I was very surprised that one character berated another for mocking an Indigenous person's accent. I totally did not remember that, but maybe it got censored too.
There is an earnestness and utopian aspect to this book that I really appreciate, but also emotional dynamism instead of a flat "everything is nice". There are some real dilemmas in there even though there is no warfare (characters do have to deal with the aftermath of past warfare though, and there is also some violence). I kind of see this approach/attitude come full circle in very recent solarpunk.
The characters are very real, the afterword explains that they were based on the authors' friends. Can someone write me in the cheerful Communist future?
It's probably worth an entire essay that even in the future that is supposedly post-scarcity and post-oppression and post-all the bad things, some people still get a quite bad deal from life.
Now I want to reread Lukyanenko's The Stars Are Cold Toys duology because it not only engages with this book, but I think it also engages with some of the parts that were missing from the version I'd previously read. (The thing where fiction is censored differently in different countries...)
Source of the book: Gift from my mom
This is a surprisingly relaxing book. Very dudebro and... well, straight and cis, but international and racially/ethnically diverse, though also kind of "well, international, but everyone is somewhat Russian, because it is the Communist future." I was very surprised that one character berated another for mocking an Indigenous person's accent. I totally did not remember that, but maybe it got censored too.
There is an earnestness and utopian aspect to this book that I really appreciate, but also emotional dynamism instead of a flat "everything is nice". There are some real dilemmas in there even though there is no warfare (characters do have to deal with the aftermath of past warfare though, and there is also some violence). I kind of see this approach/attitude come full circle in very recent solarpunk.
The characters are very real, the afterword explains that they were based on the authors' friends. Can someone write me in the cheerful Communist future?
It's probably worth an entire essay that even in the future that is supposedly post-scarcity and post-oppression and post-all the bad things, some people still get a quite bad deal from life.
Now I want to reread Lukyanenko's The Stars Are Cold Toys duology because it not only engages with this book, but I think it also engages with some of the parts that were missing from the version I'd previously read. (The thing where fiction is censored differently in different countries...)
Source of the book: Gift from my mom
September 30, 2024
A collection of short stories that tie together to paint a picture of the glorious communist future of 22nd century. You seldom encounter giant statues of Lenin in your SF books, but here, the Strugatskys got you covered.
And it's a beautiful vision. This is the utopia that the Communists promised, inhabited by real people instead of the massively-jawed muscular workers and their beautiful farmer wives seen in the Soviet Realist statues and paintings. Here, the people are still people, all doing their best but sometimes being fallible, irritable, annoying, or guilt-ridden.
It's a shame real Communist stated never tried to make this vision a reality, but instead they decided to follow the common authoritarian/totalitarian playbook. Sigh.
The book is somewhat uneven, with the weakest stories concentrated in the first half. It was hard to see how the different stories fit together at first, and many stories seemed to stop just when they were getting interesting. But in the latter half of the book, the stories were much more complete and engaging. So, the first half get something like two stars and the second half four. If you start reading this book, and feel lost or bemused, fear not: it'll get better.
And it's a beautiful vision. This is the utopia that the Communists promised, inhabited by real people instead of the massively-jawed muscular workers and their beautiful farmer wives seen in the Soviet Realist statues and paintings. Here, the people are still people, all doing their best but sometimes being fallible, irritable, annoying, or guilt-ridden.
It's a shame real Communist stated never tried to make this vision a reality, but instead they decided to follow the common authoritarian/totalitarian playbook. Sigh.
The book is somewhat uneven, with the weakest stories concentrated in the first half. It was hard to see how the different stories fit together at first, and many stories seemed to stop just when they were getting interesting. But in the latter half of the book, the stories were much more complete and engaging. So, the first half get something like two stars and the second half four. If you start reading this book, and feel lost or bemused, fear not: it'll get better.
August 6, 2022
Полдень 22 век читается лучше, если рассматривать каждую часть книги, как отдельную. Но сделать это трудно, так как часть героев перетекает из истории в историю. Именно поэтому Полдень понравился меньше других ‘космических’ произведений.
June 15, 2024
Ну і як тепер втриматися від наступної книги циклу?
March 6, 2022
The science fiction short stories gathered here share a common thread of reappearing characters and a shared universe. It's a uniquely Strugatskian universe. Noticeably influenced by their Russian background, with a positive socialism reflected in the interaction of the characters while believing in the good in man to further progress of humanity.
There is science but it's not in the foreground which makes this story a pleasant read today. Too many SF stories from the past suffer from science now looking only ridiculous. The focus is on motivations, decisions and interactions.
Due to this, I already purchased the next Strugatsky book and put it on my to-read list.
There is science but it's not in the foreground which makes this story a pleasant read today. Too many SF stories from the past suffer from science now looking only ridiculous. The focus is on motivations, decisions and interactions.
Due to this, I already purchased the next Strugatsky book and put it on my to-read list.
December 20, 2019
3.5... პირველი სერიოზული ნამუშეარია და მოუხედავად იმისა, რომ კომუნისტური ფანტასტიკის კლასიკური შემთხვევაა, უკვე მაინც ჩანს ის სტილი, იდეები და ხასიათები, რასაც 70-იანებში უკვე სულ სხვა დონეზე მიუდგნენ სტრუგაცკები!
May 17, 2019
The writers of this book also wrote Roadside Picnic, one of my favourite novels that I've read in one sitting. I went in with high expectations, and was not disappointed.
The basic premise of the book is that astronauts that have been away from Eart for a long time return, to find themselves in a completely different world. Apparently perfect communism was achieved, everyone lives in abundance of food, technology, etc. Basically the opposite of actual communism, but this was the idealised version, and the Strugatsky brothers admitted that they later realized the error of their thinking of communism, but thankfully the whole ideology is not a central motif, more like a background or explanation how humanity got there.
The book is a collection of short stories set in the universe the brothers created. There aren't really any great conflicts, more like novellas built around ideas of this future world. Some almost feel like story hooks, like when they've found intelligent life on another planet, and then just...leave, end of story. The ideas are interesting, but these stories would probably not have enough to built an entire novel or a longer story, so I'd say they are fine as it is.
As I've learned there are more books in the same universe, and I will try to obtain and read them. Not the wildest ride I've read so far, but still a highly enjoyable book I don't regret reading unlike the previous two scifi books...
The basic premise of the book is that astronauts that have been away from Eart for a long time return, to find themselves in a completely different world. Apparently perfect communism was achieved, everyone lives in abundance of food, technology, etc. Basically the opposite of actual communism, but this was the idealised version, and the Strugatsky brothers admitted that they later realized the error of their thinking of communism, but thankfully the whole ideology is not a central motif, more like a background or explanation how humanity got there.
The book is a collection of short stories set in the universe the brothers created. There aren't really any great conflicts, more like novellas built around ideas of this future world. Some almost feel like story hooks, like when they've found intelligent life on another planet, and then just...leave, end of story. The ideas are interesting, but these stories would probably not have enough to built an entire novel or a longer story, so I'd say they are fine as it is.
As I've learned there are more books in the same universe, and I will try to obtain and read them. Not the wildest ride I've read so far, but still a highly enjoyable book I don't regret reading unlike the previous two scifi books...
April 30, 2022
There is something fascinating to me about Soviet sci-fi. For one thing, I generally find 20th century speculation about future fascinating: it is always interesting to see which predictions came true, which didn’t, and trying to figure out what it all means or us is a fun exercise. But Soviet sci-fi has another interesting aspect to it - the censorship. How does this particular depiction of progress fit the ideology? If the book was banned or heavily censored at the time, then why?
This particular book - a collection of short stores, loosely connected by a set of recurring characters and the time period - did not invoke the same wrath of the censorship board that some of the authors’ later works did, even if it did stray from the approved communist utopias of the time. To me the utopia of the book is not about the technological progress, space exploration and extraterrestrial contact (all very interesting themes in their own right), but about the people. What is it about the people of the future that created all this technological progress? What is the future of the human race? For Strugatskys the communist utopia meant a world where it is interesting to live and work. The world which produces all-round educated and creative people, honest and ready to take on the responsibility. The perfect scientists, because when all manual labour is done by machines, what else can you do but turn your gaze towards exploring the unknown?
This particular book - a collection of short stores, loosely connected by a set of recurring characters and the time period - did not invoke the same wrath of the censorship board that some of the authors’ later works did, even if it did stray from the approved communist utopias of the time. To me the utopia of the book is not about the technological progress, space exploration and extraterrestrial contact (all very interesting themes in their own right), but about the people. What is it about the people of the future that created all this technological progress? What is the future of the human race? For Strugatskys the communist utopia meant a world where it is interesting to live and work. The world which produces all-round educated and creative people, honest and ready to take on the responsibility. The perfect scientists, because when all manual labour is done by machines, what else can you do but turn your gaze towards exploring the unknown?
January 6, 2019
Имало едно време едно светло бъдеще...
Утопията на братя Стругацки за развитото комунистическо общество определено не е най-добрата им книга. Безбожно наивна и неправдоподобна, особено в светлината на настоящето. И все пак, как да не му се прииска на човек да живее в такова общество на идеалисти, хора с високи стремежи и мечти, вместо в днешната затънала в простотия консуматорска кочина? Ето затова са тези пет звезди - за светлия идеал, за струящата от всяка страница доброта, за мечтата, загубена някъде в суровия ход на времето.
Утопията на братя Стругацки за развитото комунистическо общество определено не е най-добрата им книга. Безбожно наивна и неправдоподобна, особено в светлината на настоящето. И все пак, как да не му се прииска на човек да живее в такова общество на идеалисти, хора с високи стремежи и мечти, вместо в днешната затънала в простотия консуматорска кочина? Ето затова са тези пет звезди - за светлия идеал, за струящата от всяка страница доброта, за мечтата, загубена някъде в суровия ход на времето.
July 28, 2020
Махровий комунізм, до білої кості. Жахливе припущення, що головна етична цінність це робота.
Педагогічна система, яку формують Стругацькі, врешті дає пояснення створеному ними багатому й загадковому світу. Як же я колись ним захоплювався! Дотепер. Це пояснення виявилося напрочуд банальним і вбило всяку філософську інтригу їхніх знакових творів.
Ця книга пояснює, як у ХХІ столітті може існувати окремий підвид Homo Sovieticus. Нічого загадкового, якщо він, виявляється, комфортно себе почуватиме і в XXII i XXIII століттях. Нажаль...
Педагогічна система, яку формують Стругацькі, врешті дає пояснення створеному ними багатому й загадковому світу. Як же я колись ним захоплювався! Дотепер. Це пояснення виявилося напрочуд банальним і вбило всяку філософську інтригу їхніх знакових творів.
Ця книга пояснює, як у ХХІ столітті може існувати окремий підвид Homo Sovieticus. Нічого загадкового, якщо він, виявляється, комфортно себе почуватиме і в XXII i XXIII століттях. Нажаль...
January 3, 2013
probably the weakest of the brothers that I read so far. it was caused by too idealistic concept that was fueled by the young age, childish hopes and Soviet silly ideas. glad this utopia actually stayed an utopia. cannot imagine the word where the purpose of life for human bring is to explore space.
Read
March 22, 2017նյաա, տակ սեբե
February 19, 2023
Dated, naive, but so much trust in the future of mankind
March 31, 2024
Некоторые идеи были интересные. Но в целом скучно.
Стоило прочитать разве что ради Горбовского. Жаль, его линия не сильно раскрывается
Стоило прочитать разве что ради Горбовского. Жаль, его линия не сильно раскрывается
October 21, 2021
Când se întoarse ajutorul, dispecerul stătea ca şi mai înainte în faţa ecranului, cu capul aplecat şi cu mâinile vârâte până la cot în buzunare. În adâncul ecranului, brăzdat în lung şi-n lat de liniile coordonatelor, se deplasa încet un punct luminos.
― Unde e acum? întrebă ajutorul.
Dispecerul răspunse scurt, fără a întoarce capul:
― A trecut pe deasupra Madagascarului. Nouă megametri.
― Nouă megametri… repetă ajutorul. Ce viteză are?
― Aproape să atingă viteza circulară… Ce te frămânţi aşa? Ce mai vrei? urmă dispecerul, întorcându-se.
― Fii calm, te rog, spuse ajutorul. N-ai ce să-i faci… A atins Oglinda Principală.
Dispecerul trase adânc aer în piept şi se aşeză pe unul din braţele fotoliului, fără a-şi scoate mâinile din buzunare.
― Ne-mer-ni-cul! bombăni.
― De ce vorbeşti aşa?… replică ajutorul, cu un glas care trăda îndoiala. S-o fi întâmplat ceva… Comenzile defecte…
Rămaseră o vreme tăcuţi. Punctul alb înainta mereu, traversând oblic ecranul.
― Cum a îndrăznit să intre în zona staţiilor dacă avea comenzile defecte! spuse dispecerul. Ce ticăloşie!… De ce nu comunică indicativele?
― Comunică totuşi ceva…
― Astea nu-s indicative. Aiureală!
― Sunt, totuşi, spuse încet ajutorul. E o anumită frecvenţă…
― „Frecvenţă, frecvenţă”!… şuieră printre dinţi dispecerul.
― Unde e acum? întrebă ajutorul.
Dispecerul răspunse scurt, fără a întoarce capul:
― A trecut pe deasupra Madagascarului. Nouă megametri.
― Nouă megametri… repetă ajutorul. Ce viteză are?
― Aproape să atingă viteza circulară… Ce te frămânţi aşa? Ce mai vrei? urmă dispecerul, întorcându-se.
― Fii calm, te rog, spuse ajutorul. N-ai ce să-i faci… A atins Oglinda Principală.
Dispecerul trase adânc aer în piept şi se aşeză pe unul din braţele fotoliului, fără a-şi scoate mâinile din buzunare.
― Ne-mer-ni-cul! bombăni.
― De ce vorbeşti aşa?… replică ajutorul, cu un glas care trăda îndoiala. S-o fi întâmplat ceva… Comenzile defecte…
Rămaseră o vreme tăcuţi. Punctul alb înainta mereu, traversând oblic ecranul.
― Cum a îndrăznit să intre în zona staţiilor dacă avea comenzile defecte! spuse dispecerul. Ce ticăloşie!… De ce nu comunică indicativele?
― Comunică totuşi ceva…
― Astea nu-s indicative. Aiureală!
― Sunt, totuşi, spuse încet ajutorul. E o anumită frecvenţă…
― „Frecvenţă, frecvenţă”!… şuieră printre dinţi dispecerul.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews