a picnic for stalkers

[wytchcroft]

 

and so now i am reading again
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, which was the basis of the Andrei Tarkovsky film Stalker.

Stalker, like Solaris, is one of my very favourite movies.



However, unlike the source novel for Solaris, by Stanislaw Lem, which i love and have read many times - i have only read a section of 'Picnic' and that was many years ago.

The film of Stalker is sometimes known as Zone (and often the use of the concept of 'Zone' is remarked upon in critics' writings) which for me immediately calls to mind the poem Zone by Apollinaire - an extraordinary work in itself. (A very crude translation of which can be found on-line here.)



You are weary at last of this ancient world
Shepherdess O Eiffel tower whose flock of bridges bleats at the morning - zone.

So, maybe in a couple of days, i might have a bash at reviewing Picnic and talking a bit about my love for Stalker and for Zone. 

Comments

[eugenebo.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested to hear your opinion. That book is a wonderful mix of concepts originating from very different grounds, ranging from "depressing existentialism" to "ramping communism". I [hopefully] have no trouble separating them in the book, but would be interested to know if that obsructs a view of a person with a different cultural background :)

Nvertheless, I believe you made a right choice -- that's one of the best pieces of Soviet literature. Hope you'll enjoy it :)

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

thank you:) and yes, so far i am enjoying it very much!:)

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

what i didn't expect - is how funny the book is, a very dry humour but also laugh out loud. I read some out today on a train and many people were laughing. It is that sort of dark Russsian humour, and very well done.