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A review by oleksandr
Страна багровых туч by Boris Strugatsky, Arkady Strugatsky, Борис Стругацкий, Аркадий Стругацкий
4.0
This is a debut novel (originally published in 1959) by the most prominent duo of Soviet SF [a:Arkady Strugatsky|1159886|Arkady Strugatsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1519335066p2/1159886.jpg] and [a:Boris Strugatsky|7170730|Boris Strugatsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1373635599p2/7170730.jpg]. The brothers themselves later called it too formal, ideologized over the top and full of propaganda clichés but it is still much better that other Soviet SF at the time.
This is a story of Venus exploration by the team on the newest ‘photon’ (nuclear fusion) starship. The protagonist, Alexey Bykov is a ‘desert environment’ specialist and driver/mechanic. This maybe one of the first interesting twists: usually old SF depicts Venus as a wet jungle planet; here we have quite hot (about water boiling point) low-oxygen arid environment, that nevertheless supports life. Venus is a dangerous planet, multiple expeditions died there. The constant cloud cover and ionizing radiation make all efforts to scan the surface from space impossible and most automated system even if landed, are unable to send or receive signals. The abovementioned ionizing radiation is linked to the extremely rich with radioactive elements ores. The main objective of the mission is to setup radio-lighthouses, which with extremely broad range and strong signal will allow setting a landing port for others, who’ll extract riches of “Uranium Golconda”. It is very interesting, how often there is a talk about conquering and taming Venus, “pulling her teeth out” to make it safe for people. It contrasts with more modern SF, which cares much more about protection planets from people.
Despite many flaws that are often present is debut novels and usual for the times heroization of Soviet cosmonauts, there are still diverse characters – a stable, down-to-earth Bykov; a poet and popinjay Yurkovsky (geologist) are opposites, who hate each other guts; a friend of both, who tries to keep them in a team Dauge (also geologist); a rotund older family man Kutikov (astrogator)…
Overall, an interesting read, a bit reminiscent of [a:Robert A. Heinlein|205|Robert A. Heinlein|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1192826560p2/205.jpg] juveniles, but without teenagers and with a lot more deaths.
This is a story of Venus exploration by the team on the newest ‘photon’ (nuclear fusion) starship. The protagonist, Alexey Bykov is a ‘desert environment’ specialist and driver/mechanic. This maybe one of the first interesting twists: usually old SF depicts Venus as a wet jungle planet; here we have quite hot (about water boiling point) low-oxygen arid environment, that nevertheless supports life. Venus is a dangerous planet, multiple expeditions died there. The constant cloud cover and ionizing radiation make all efforts to scan the surface from space impossible and most automated system even if landed, are unable to send or receive signals. The abovementioned ionizing radiation is linked to the extremely rich with radioactive elements ores. The main objective of the mission is to setup radio-lighthouses, which with extremely broad range and strong signal will allow setting a landing port for others, who’ll extract riches of “Uranium Golconda”. It is very interesting, how often there is a talk about conquering and taming Venus, “pulling her teeth out” to make it safe for people. It contrasts with more modern SF, which cares much more about protection planets from people.
Despite many flaws that are often present is debut novels and usual for the times heroization of Soviet cosmonauts, there are still diverse characters – a stable, down-to-earth Bykov; a poet and popinjay Yurkovsky (geologist) are opposites, who hate each other guts; a friend of both, who tries to keep them in a team Dauge (also geologist); a rotund older family man Kutikov (astrogator)…
Overall, an interesting read, a bit reminiscent of [a:Robert A. Heinlein|205|Robert A. Heinlein|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1192826560p2/205.jpg] juveniles, but without teenagers and with a lot more deaths.