Topic: STALKER(s)

[tarascon]

This is a threefold thread which can discuss any of the following:

1. Roadside Picnic, the great science fiction novel by the Russian brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. I recently reread a new translation--I originally read the book around 1979.
http://io9.com/5908702/a-new-translation-of-the-one-russian-science-fiction-novel-you-absolutely-must-read

2. The film Stalker by Andrei Tartovsky which is based on the novel mentioned above. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalker_%281979_film%29

3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The game which is based on both the book and the film. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.T.A.L.K.E.R.:_Shadow_of_Chernobyl

I've included the links in the likelihood that no one's heard of any of the three listings and in the hopes it will prompt a response. Anyone who is familiar with the material should, I trust, have something to say about it.

Yes, another boring tarascon thread!  

[Beatrix]

NIce , I'll let you know when I know anything about any of the above, my friend.

[tarascon]

The book stands along the best of Philip K D-ick and is probably the best "contemporary" Russian science fiction. I hope that the brothers' other books are reprinted again; I read a number of them in the late 1970's.

Spoiler (hover to show)

The film doesn't follow the novel too closely and mainly focuses on the wish-fulfilling "Golden Sphere." Tartovsky's version is much more philosophical in approach than the book and is still an excellent adaptation of a great story

The game does a nice job of blending the plots of both the novel and the film and is a pretty good RP FPS.

[smokester]

I can't say I've paid this much attention during my life, although I have heard it discussed in the past.

I'll try and read this when I'm on holiday later this year as it looks like solid material.

Your threads are the opposite of boring, tarascon, they're always quite stimulating.

[xtopave]

2. The film Stalker by Andrei Tartovsky which is based on the novel mentioned above.

“I am only interested in the views of two people: one is called Bresson and one called Bergman.”

And I don't find your threads boring at all, tarascon.

[6pairsofshoes]

I haven't read this book, nor have I heard of the Russian brother authors.  Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.  I know little of Russian science fiction.  Mikail Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog, is about as far as I've gotten into that genre, although I've seen both versions of Solaris.

Anything worthy of a comparison with D-ick, one of my favorite sci-fi authors, deserves a place in the queue.  Thanks for the suggestion.  Maybe I can find it in epub and read it on the iPad.

[8ullfrog]

Game punishes you for being a capitalist. Be forewarned.

Also bugged as golly. GET OUT OF HERE STALKER GET OUT OF HERE STALKER.

[goldshirt*9]

Yes, another boring tarascon thread!  

please don't be hard on your self. that's our job 
No really, as stated your threads are less that boring.
Stimulating and educational in my own opinion.
Have  the ebook for my kindle and will start reading today.Always up for a new book to read.
Many of their books are available for e readers

Spoiler (hover to show)

http://www.ebook3600.com/?s=Strugatsky

just in case i cannot post the link 

I am looking for a book in this genre, was posted on Demonoid by Frank Capri about a detective in a modern word, drugs / robots were involved.A family (rich) were the culprits.
A little thin i know but its all i can remember, quite a famous book in the genre, written in the 70 / 80's maybe.
He started a thread about it but i cannot find the title.
 Have or had a audiobook about it (till pc went bang)Any help would be appreciated.

[tarascon]

“I am only interested in the views of two people: one is called Bresson and one called Bergman.”

Bresson is another of my favorite directors, btw.

I haven't read this book, nor have I heard of the Russian brother authors.  Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.  I know little of Russian science fiction.  Mikail Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog, is about as far as I've gotten into that genre, although I've seen both versions of Solaris.

Steven Soderbergh's version of Tartovsky's classic is a good film... it went completely against my expectations. But then it's Soderbergh who, even on a bad day, knows how to make movies.

I am looking for a book in this genre, was posted on Demonoid by Frank Capri about a detective in a modern word, drugs / robots were involved.A family (rich) were the culprits.
A little thin i know but its all i can remember, quite a famous book in the genre, written in the 70 / 80's maybe.
He started a thread about it but i cannot find the title.
 Have or had a audiobook about it (till pc went bang)Any help would be appreciated.

Just a guess because the publishing date is later than the 1980's, but might it be by Richard K. Morgan?

[Autumn]

Downloading now. Will read after my current book.

[tarascon]

Downloading now. Will read after my current book.

Nice.
The things that the brothers have most in common with PKD is the use of a "common" person as a protagonist. That and their great imagination. It also reminds me of some of Ursula LeGuin's style (think Lathe of Heaven). I would be interesting to find out if the Strugatsky's ever read PKD but--considering the Soviet Union at that time--I doubt it. PKD would've been way too subversive.
Also, on the use of the Chernobyl disaster in the game version:

Spoiler (hover to show)

The book came out way before the catastrophe; I guess the game designers wanted to avoid another alien invasion game. But it does add atmosphere to the game which it wouldn't have had otherwise. Likewise for the film by Tartovsky--that came out in 1979--though the cause of the Zone is relatively glossed over quickly at the film's start.

[goldshirt*9]

I think i found the author
William Gibson and the book is  Neuromancer
have to get hold of a ebook now

[tarascon]

Props to Gibson for writing that book.
I don't recall a detective in it though. The plot tropes you mentioned sure do sound familiar.

[6pairsofshoes]

Neuromancer.  I remember reading it many years ago.  I don't remember detectives either.  Rather a young woman with remarkable computer skills.  It's been a long time, though.

[goldshirt*9]

Possibly I remember a mixture of books 
An age thing