A review by wattsfinn
The Doomed City by Boris Strugatsky, Arkady Strugatsky, Andrew Bromfield, Dmitry Glukhovsky

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The Doomed City is the Strugatsky Brothers at their absolute best. The concept is, of course, brilliant, and is executed with ease. It is easy to see why the brothers had to keep the novel such a closely guarded secret - it is an incendiary critique of the Soviet regime, and asks ideological questions that are still relevant to this day. The story alone is a masterpiece - the characters diverse and flawed, endearing to the last. The plot is labyrinthine and enthralling, and the denoument is a staggering revelation, worthy of two of the keenest political philosophers of their generation.