If you're like me and wondered what the hell Stalker was all about, I would suggest reading Roadside Picnic , the book on which it was nominally based. Tarkovsky took his idea from the character, Redrick Schuhart, a laboratory assistant and Harmont Branch of the International Institute of Extraterrestrial Cultures, leaving the rest up to the imagination. The names were changed to protect the innocent. While Tarkovsky chose to shroud the story in mystery, the Strugatsky Brothers lay it out pretty clearly in their science fiction classic. Redrick, the Stalker, has gone into the zone countless times but each time represents a new set of challenges, especially with the Harmont Branch cracking down on the plundering of alien objects left behind by a visitation to a small rural town in Canada. I suppose setting the story in a place outside Russia, allowed the Strugatsky brothers more room to explore new ideas and avoid heavy censhorship, but according to Boris in t...
What a great photo. I used to be a huge Chekhov fan but haven't read or seen a play in a long time. I should.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you, av. Chekhov is one of my favorites. Némirovsky, who wrote Suite française, also wrote a wonderful short bio on Chekhov. Everyman's Library also has some great collections of his stories and plays.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just saw your other photo above. Another great one. I remember when the reading group read her book -- I guess I should try that book at some point.
ReplyDeleteVery good book if sadly unfinished.
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