Publication details
Ke kritice tvorby bratrů Strugackých
| Title in English | A contribution to the critique of Strugatski brothers' works |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | This article contributes to the debate regarding qualities of Arkady and Boris Strugatski’s literary works and reacts to the most common objections being raised to the books of these writers, founders of modern Soviet science fiction. The critics often claim that Strugatski brothers propagate communism, that they have no own characteristic style and that their works are only products of their epoch, lacking timelessness. As for the first objection, the author of the present article comes to the conclusion that Strugatski brothers definitely don’t praise the communism of Soviet, totalitarian type; their ideal is the world of happy labor, populated by so called "poetical protagonists": fearless, selfless, moral, but surprisingly realistic, easy enough to identify with. The author also disproves that Strugatski brothers works are short of distinctive style - it’s just that the writers (mainly in their first creative period) viewed the language not as some original microcosm, but as a system of symbols meant purely for accurate transfer of information. And finally, the author considers the last objection futile, for in his opinion the Strugatski brothers used the events of their time only as foundations to create really timeless works, touching a great number of ethical and philosophical issues that will always and under all circumstances remain topical. |
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