39 pages • 1 hour read
Roadside Picnic
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Book Brief
145
Novel • Fiction
Harman • Near Future
1972
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky follows Redrick Schuhart, a lab assistant and stalker, who scavenges mysterious and dangerous alien artifacts left in the Zones on Earth after an extraterrestrial visit. The story explores his struggles and moral dilemmas as he navigates the hazards of the Zone, seeking a better life for his mutated daughter. Involves themes of psychological distress and violence.
Mysterious
Dark
Suspenseful
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
76,525 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Roadside Picnic, by Arkady Strugatsky, receives high praise for its thought-provoking concept and unique take on first contact with aliens. Readers appreciate its philosophical depth and the bleak, atmospheric setting. Some critiques mention slow pacing and underdeveloped characters. Overall, it's lauded for its originality and influence on the sci-fi genre. - Academic Web Editor
Who Should Read Roadside Picnic?
Readers who appreciate intellectually stimulating science fiction with philosophical undertones would enjoy Arkady Strugatsky's Roadside Picnic. Fans of Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky or Solaris by Stanisław Lem would find similar themes of existential inquiry and the human condition.
76,525 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
145
Novel • Fiction
Harman • Near Future
1972
Adult
18+ years
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