The Republic of the Southern Cross and Other Stories

by Valery Bryusov

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. ...like crystal. I read such a clear answer in her countenance that I got up without another word and wanted to go off straight away. But she stopped me. " That's enough 1 Where are you going? Don't behave like a little boy. Sit down." She made me sit down near her and began to speak to me as if she had been an elder sister talking to a wayward child. " You are too young yet, and love is something new to you. If another woman were in my place you would fall in love with her. In a month's time you would begin to love a third. But there is another kind of love which drains the depths of the soul. Such a love I had for Sergey, my husband, who is dead. I have given to him all I can ever feel. However much you may speak to me of love, I shall hear you no more than if I were dead. You must understand that I have no longer any capacity to attach any meaning to such words. It's just as if you spoke to someone who could not hear you. Reconcile yourself to this. You can no more be offended than if you were unable to make a dead woman love you." Elena Grigorievna spoke with a slight smile. This appeared to me to be almost insulting. I imagined that she was laughing at me, in thus putting forward her own love for her dead husband. I felt myself grow pale. I remember the tears springing to my eyes. My agitation was not unobserved by Elena Grigori-evna. I saw the expression of her cold eyes begin to change. She understood that I was suffering. Restraining me with her hand, as she saw I wanted to get up without replying, she drew her chair nearer mine. I felt her breath on my face. Then lowering her voice, although we were alone in the room, she said to me, with a real frankness and tender " Forgive me, if I've offended you. Perhaps I am mistaken about...

Genres: Short Stories, Russia, Science Fiction, Fiction, Horror

162 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov (Russian: Валерий Яковлевич Брюсов; December 13, 1873 – October 9, 1924) was a Russian poet, prose writer, dramatist, translator, critic and historian. He was one of the principal members of the Russian Symbolist movement.

Russian profile here Валерий Яковлевич Брюсов

Reviews

[Janne Wass · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a futuristic domed-in city built at the South Pole, The Republic of the Southern Cross, mankind's rationalism, secularism and science had reached their ultimate peak, doing away with religions, ideologies and moral dictates. Life was comfortable, streamlined and micro-managed by the factory trusts. But at its peak, its citizens were beset by the most befuddling malady of contradiction. The illness, christened "mania contradiceon", made people behave in the exact opposite way to how they meant to. They said "yes" when they meant "no" and turned left when they meant to turn right. Soon all norms and habits which made industrial and social life possible disappeared, trains halted, factories stopped, and finally electricity broke down. In the darkness, the logical and scientific marvel that was once The Republic of the Southern Cross fell into chaos and anarchy as mankind regressed to his lowest animalistic form. Flocks of wild men and women roamed the street, looted, murdered and raped, and finally became cannibals. The world outside tried to find a cure without success, but relief efforts ceased as all transportation in the city broke down. Finally the raging city had consumed itself, and and the once proud marvel of progress now stands as a ghost city. ⁠

Russian poet, artist and writer Valery Bryusov was inspired by the Symbolist movement as well as authors like Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells and Camille Flammarion. His short story "The Republic of the Southern Cross" is one of a small selection of SF stories he gathered in an anthology with the same title. The story is told, in the style of some of Poe's stories, from the point of a newspaper article outlining the fall of the city. Like Dostoyevsky, Bryusov was sceptical of rationalism and his story outlines the dangers of moral codes and religion in favour of a technological worldview. It can also be read as a prophetical warning about Stalinist realpolitik. ⁠

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a “print on demand” book that I’m glad I was able to get ahold of.

The main story (and title story) was a bizarre dystopian vision of an isolated city in a hostile environment ravaged by disease and madness.

So - very timely :)

The disease of contradiction is something we all hope never happens!

[arity · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line is very weak and reads as news digest report. On the other hand it was written in 1903 which is impressive.

[Giallo Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Republic of the Southern Cross’ — Gives ‘Savageland’ vibes (the found footage movie), which I’m all for.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished THE REPUBLIC OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS And Other Stories (~1916), a collection of nine short stories by Valerii Briusov (1873-1924), a popular poet, novelist, translator, and literary critic. He joined the Communists after the 1917 revolution and became a literature instructor, presumably to train young writers in promoting Communist ideology. His pre-revolution short stories, however, are mostly psychological fantasies. And in true Russian fashion, they never end happily ever after. The title story, “The Republic of the Southern Cross,” is a terrifying futuristic dystopia about an ideal totalitarian country established in Antarctica. The citizens of the capital city, Zvezdny, are infected with a deadly virus, “mania contradicens,” which makes them behave violently, zombie-like. The most noted story, “Rhea Silvia,” is a tragic love story between Maria, a delusional young woman in 6th century Rome who believes she is destined to be the mother of the founders of Rome, and a young Goth she meets in underground ruins. Regret and the questioning of reality are key themes in all the stories.

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the first distopia story; Russian of course.