Hard to Be a God

Arkady Strugatsky · Boris Strugatsky · Hari Kunzru · Olena Bormashenko

Jun 2014 · Chicago Review Press

About this ebook

Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are widely known as the greatest Russian writers of science fiction, and their 1964 novel Hard to Be a God is considered one of the greatest of their works.

It tells the story of Don Rumata, who is sent from Earth to the medieval kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to influence, but never to directly interfere. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a dueler and a brawler, Don Rumata is never defeated but can never kill. With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don Reba, the First Minister to the king. But given his orders, what role can he play?

Hard to Be a God has inspired a computer role-playing game and two movies, including Aleksei German's long-awaited swan song. Yet until now the only English version (out of print for over thirty years) was based on a German translation, and was full of errors, infelicities, and misunderstandings. This new edition—translated by Olena Bormashenko, whose translation of the authors' Roadside Picnic has received widespread acclaim, and supplemented with a new foreword by Hari Kunzru and an afterword by Boris Strugatsky, both of which supply much-needed context—reintroduces one of the most profound Soviet-era novels to an eager audience.

Ratings and reviews

The description of this book sounds like an original series Star Trek concept: A man from future Earth lives on a planet that has only developed to the middle ages. While there are some ‘prime directive’ like concepts it isn’t as straight forward as that. Anton, disguised as don Rumata, struggles to tolerate the primitive conditions while working to push society towards a more enlightened path one small step at a time. Yet lately, local thugs have started to round up poets, dreamers, and natural philosophers threatening to undo his work. Anton’s internal struggle as an enlightened man fighting against the tide of history is engrossing.

It's like reading a Russian folklore sci-fi while dreaming. Sucks you in and puts you in a different reality. Love the siding style.

The setting, characters, plot, and theme all meld together perfectly!

About the author

Arkady and Boris Strugatsky were famous and popular Russian writers of science fiction, with more than 25 novels and novellas to their names, including The Doomed City, The Inhabited Island, and Roadside Picnic. Their books have been widely translated and made into a number of films. Hari Kunzru is the author of several highly praised novels, including Gods Without Men and The Impressionist. Olena Bormashenko is the acclaimed translator of the Strugatskys' Roadside Picnic.