The Strugatskys are classics of Soviet science and social fiction
This October is packed with film premieres!
You have likely seen or at least heard of series such as "Hard to Be a God," directed by Dmitry Tyurin, and "Noon," by Klim Kozinsky. But did you know that these works are based on the writings of Arkady and Boris Strugatsky?
The Strugatskys are classics of Soviet science and social fiction—brothers and co-authors whose creative partnership spanned more than 30 years. Their works are republished year after year, adding new, cherished volumes to our bookshelves. Their complex, compelling narratives are infused with profound reflections on the human being and our purpose in life.
The generation whose youth coincided with the years of the Great Patriotic War matured very quickly. The Strugatskys, as residents of Leningrad, had to endure many hardships. In June 1941, the brothers' father, Nathan Zalmanovich Strugatsky, joined the volunteer militia alongside his 14-year-old son, Arkady. They took part in the fighting on the Pulkovo Heights and were evacuated in early 1942. The father died during the journey, while the son fell severely ill but managed to survive. His mother, Alexandra Ivanovna, remained in the besieged city with little Boris. In August 1942, the family was able to reunite in the village of Tashla, in the Orenburg region.
Like many Soviet science fiction writers of the 20th century, the Strugatsky brothers—before becoming authors—received a scientific education and worked in their respective professional fields. Arkady graduated from the Military Institute of Foreign Languages, while Boris graduated from Leningrad University, having studied astrophysics in the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics.
The brothers did not begin working together immediately, but they exchanged many ideas through their correspondence. The first novella, "The Land of Crimson Clouds," was written in 1956. In their collaborative process, they divided their roles: Arkady often provided the ideas and concepts for the plot, while Boris helped flesh out the details and added a scientific foundation to their works. Their collaboration came to an end in 1991 with the passing of Arkady.
To mark the recent 100th anniversary of the birth of Arkady Strugatsky (1925–1991), the Information and Bibliographic Department of the NSU Scientific Library has prepared a bibliographic index dedicated to the authors. In it, you can find many interesting facts about the brothers and about the books available in our library.
It is worth noting that the most popular book among NSU students has been, and remains, the novella "Monday Begins on Saturday." The authors have captured, with great precision, the ideal of young scientists—people who are genuinely in love with their work, bold, and full of inspiration. In this ideal, the writers also embedded their own credo: creative labor is one of the fundamental values of life. "A human being is an animal that can become a magician."
And although the image of the scientific laboratory (NIICHAVO) is based on the realities of the Pulkovo Observatory, many readers from Akademgorodok will also recognize our own Siberian Branch in it. And around New Year’s, we enjoy watching the film "Magician".
Continuing the discussion about screen adaptations of beloved works, one cannot fail to mention the masterpiece "Stalker" by director Andrei Tarkovsky, which has become a fine, independent work of cinematic art. It is based on the Strugatsky brothers' novella "Roadside Picnic."
In 2008, Fyodor Bondarchuk’s film "The Inhabited Island" — based on the novella of the same name — was released.
And the final premiere of 2026, "Hard to Be a God," is one of the best-known and most beloved novellas in Russian science fiction. The story of the life, love, and adventures of Don Rumata from the kingdom of Arkanar on a distant planet — a knight who wields two swords, and whose true identity is Anton, an operative from the planet Earth.
The series "Noon," also from that same year, is based on the "Noon Universe" cycle of novellas:
«Noon, 22nd Century» (1962)
«Attempt to escape» (1962)
«Distant Rainbow» (1963)
«It’s Hard to Be a God» (1964)
«The Snail on the Slope» (1965)
«Inhabited Island» (1969)
«Baby» (1971)
«Guy from the Underworld» (1974)
«A Beetle in an Anthill» (1979—1980)
«Waves dampen the wind» (1985—1986)
All these works can be read at the NSU Scientific Library.
Watch the film – read the books. Or vice versa.
Volodikhin Dmitry Mikhailovich«The Strugatsky Brothers»
«The Worlds of the Strugatsky Brothers: An Encyclopedia»
Material prepared by Sofya Kibardina.