A review by neven
Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky

5.0

A rushed, hot-blooded, feverish, noir-soaked sci-fi tale of a humanity beaten into complete self-pity and nihilism by the realization (prompted by a disappointingly impersonal alien visit) that they just don't add up to much. It's fast-moving stuff, smart and sharp, and even though there is nearly no "beauty" in the whole book, it's at least an unforgettable story and an interesting philosophical perspective.