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145
Novel • Fiction
Harman • Near Future
1972
Adult
18+ years
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
76,525 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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
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
Richard Noonan
An engineer and equipment supplier secretly working as a covert operative, whose involvement with Redrick and his family adds layers to the tensions surrounding the Zone.
The Vulture Burbridge
An infamous and untrustworthy stalker known for his ruthless tactics, who transitions from smuggling to organizing tourism-related activities after an accident.
Dr. Valentine Pillman
A Nobel Prize-winning physicist and pioneer in xenology, who offers philosophical insights into the implications of the alien Visit and the limitations of science.
Arthur Burbridge
The handsome, ambitious son of the Vulture Burbridge with aspirations for a political career, motivated by his father's formidable plans.
Guta Schuhart
Redrick's girlfriend and later wife, known for her resilience and beauty, who faces the challenges of raising their daughter Maria despite difficult circumstances.
Kirill Panov
Redrick's boss at the Institute, a brilliant scientist whose tragic fate impacts Redrick's choices and haunts the narrative.
The Monkey
Maria Schuhart, Redrick and Guta's daughter, who is born with physical mutations and whose struggle with her identity is central to the story.
145
Novel • Fiction
Harman • Near Future
1972
Adult
18+ years
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