{"title":"Arkady Strugatsky","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the fascinating world of Arkady Strugatsky, one of the most influential authors in the realm of science fiction and fantasy. Together with his brother Boris, Arkady has crafted some of the most thought-provoking and imaginative tales in the genre. This collection includes iconic works that continue to captivate readers with their visionary storytelling and profound philosophical questions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the remarkable titles in this collection is \u003cem\u003eHard To Be A God\u003c\/em\u003e, a gripping exploration of power, morality, and civilisation set on a medieval planet. \u003cem\u003eMonday Starts on Saturday\u003c\/em\u003e offers a whimsical yet insightful satirical look at magic and bureaucracy. Dive into the cosmic wonder and existential intrigue of \u003cem\u003eOne Billion Years to the End of the World\u003c\/em\u003e, where scientists confront the nature of scientific endeavour itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe groundbreaking \u003cem\u003eRoadside Picnic\u003c\/em\u003e, acclaimed for its deep influence on modern science fiction, introduces readers to a post-apocalyptic world shaped by alien visitation, raising questions about humanity's place in the universe. In \u003cem\u003eThe Doomed City\u003c\/em\u003e, experience a surreal experiment on an artificial city that challenges its inhabitants with bizarre and philosophical conundrums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Inhabited Island\u003c\/em\u003e transports you to a dystopian planet where one man's quest for freedom unfolds amidst a society steeped in oppression and conformity. Meanwhile, \u003cem\u003eThe Snail on the Slope\u003c\/em\u003e offers a dual narrative of intrigue and philosophical reflection, blending surrealism with sharp societal critique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis collection by Arkady Strugatsky is not just a reading experience but an invitation to contemplate the deeper questions of human existence and societal structures, all within richly imagined worlds. Perfect for fans of science fiction and fantasy looking for works that challenge the mind and inspire the imagination.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"one-billion-years-to-the-end-of-the-world-by-boris-strugatsky-9780241472477","title":"One Billion Years to the End of the World","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA darkly funny satire from the most acclaimed and popular Russian science-fiction writers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAstrophysicist Dmitri Malianov is on the precipice of a major discovery - a Nobel Prize-worthy breakthrough. Yet, home alone in his Leningrad apartment, his work is beginning to be stymied. Strange and improbable distractions are mounting around him - and he is not alone. Across the city, his scientific colleagues, all close to their own eureka moments, keep finding themselves subject to countless mysterious interruptions. Are they paranoid, or is a malign authority conspiring against them?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA science fiction classic from two Russian masters, \u003cem\u003eOne Billion Years to the End of the World\u003c\/em\u003e is at turns both hilarious and suspenseful, while at its heart hides a quiet yet biting critique of Soviet totalitarianism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46336530743532,"sku":"9780241472477","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/26524103482273.jpg?v=1743684071"},{"product_id":"hard-to-be-a-god-by-boris-strugatsky-9781473208292","title":"Hard To Be A God","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHard To Be A God\u003c\/em\u003e follows the story of Anton, an undercover operative from future Earth, who journeys to an alien world where the culture remains entrenched in the Middle Ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDespite possessing knowledge far more advanced than the society that surrounds him, Anton is bound by strict orders to refrain from interfering with the natural progression of history. His role is to observe rather than engage with the world around him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, remaining a mere spectator becomes increasingly challenging as Anton confronts the pervasive cruelty and injustice of this primitive society. Can he truly remain aloof in such dire circumstances?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46418885214444,"sku":"9781473208292","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14220443482712.jpg?v=1746502323"},{"product_id":"monday-starts-on-saturday-by-boris-strugatsky-9781473202214","title":"Monday Starts on Saturday","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen young programmer Alexander Ivanovich Privalov picks up two hitchhikers while driving in Karelia, he is drawn into the mysterious world of the National Institute for the Technology of Witchcraft and Thaumaturgy, where research into magic is serious business.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd where science, sorcery, and socialism meet, can chaos be far behind?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMonday Starts on Saturday\u003c\/em\u003e is a captivating exploration of a world where the lines between the magical and the mundane blur, inviting readers to ponder the intriguing interplay between different realms of knowledge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gardners Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46704037658860,"sku":"9781473202214","price":24.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14159663482712.jpg?v=1753969614"},{"product_id":"roadside-picnic-by-boris-strugatsky-9780575093133","title":"Roadside Picnic","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRoadside Picnic\u003c\/em\u003e follows Red Schuhart, a stalker, one of those strange misfits compelled by an unknown force to venture illegally into the Zone. Despite the extreme danger, he collects mysterious artefacts left scattered by alien visitors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis life is dominated by the Zone and the thriving black market in alien products. Even the nature of his daughter has been determined by the Zone. It is for her that Red makes his last, tragic foray into the hazardous and hostile depths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46704866853100,"sku":"9780575093133","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20521653482392.jpg?v=1753988394"},{"product_id":"roadside-picnic-by-boris-strugatsky-9781399617208","title":"Roadside Picnic","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Strugatsky brothers' poignant and introspective novel of first contact that inspired the classic film \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eStalker\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRed Schuhart is a stalker, one of those strange misfits who are compelled by some unknown force to venture illegally into the Zone and, in spite of the extreme danger, collect the mysterious artefacts that the alien visitors left scattered around. His life is dominated by the Zone and the thriving black market in the alien products. Even the nature of his daughter has been determined by the Zone. And it is for her that Red makes his last, tragic foray into the hazardous and hostile depths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eReaders can't stop thinking about \u003ci\u003eRoadside Picnic\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A story of a horrific yet fascinating place, a story of an ordinary and unlikable man just trying to get by, \u003cb\u003ea philosophical interlude on humanity and its significance or lack thereof\u003c\/b\u003e, of greed and wonder, and the fever dream of the soul scream. \u003cb\u003eIt still speaks to me\u003c\/b\u003e' - Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Such an intriguing setting for me, such \u003cb\u003ean unusual take on alien interaction\u003c\/b\u003e' - Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'It is \u003cb\u003ea thought-provoking, hard-to-put down masterpiece\u003c\/b\u003e, most probably the best introduction to Soviet science fiction. A must-read for any sci-fi fan' - Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A \u003cb\u003efantastic and creative\u003c\/b\u003e exploration of what first contact might be like' - Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'The tone of the book is \u003cb\u003eakin to that of some noir works, dark, gritty,\u003c\/b\u003e getting darker and grittier as the tale wears on... Like many great books, the meaning of the ending is left up to the reader' - Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A beautifully depressive and \u003cb\u003ewonderfully atmospheric science fiction novel\u003c\/b\u003e about life on Earth after an alien \"Visitation\" that leaves humans with more questions than answers... \u003cb\u003eOnce I started reading it today, I couldn't stop.\u003c\/b\u003e The story captured my heart and held my attention' - Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This is the sort of book that you read and then immediately feel the need to lend it to someone you know so that they can experience and enjoy it themselves... \u003cb\u003eI was truly astonished\u003c\/b\u003e - by both the \u003cb\u003epoignancy and the deceptive(?) simplicity\u003c\/b\u003e of this relatively short novel' - Goodreads reviewer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46704868622572,"sku":"9781399617208","price":23.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8540143482686.jpg?v=1753988492"},{"product_id":"the-doomed-city-by-boris-strugatsky-9781473222281","title":"The Doomed City","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a mysterious city whose sun is switched on in the morning and switched off at night, bordered by an abyss on one side and an impossibly high wall on the other. Its inhabitants are people who were plucked from twentieth-century history at various times and places and left to govern themselves, advised by Mentors whose purpose seems inscrutable. This is life in the Experiment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAndrei Voronin, a young astronomer plucked from Leningrad in the 1950s, is a die-hard believer in the Experiment, even though his first job in the city is as a garbage collector. As increasingly nightmarish scenarios begin to affect the city, he rises through the political hierarchy, with devastating effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46707152847084,"sku":"9781473222281","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14360333482712.jpg?v=1754037053"},{"product_id":"the-inhabited-island-by-boris-strugatsky-9781473232440","title":"The Inhabited Island","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Maxim Kammerer, a young space explorer from twenty-second-century Earth, crash-lands on an uncharted world, he thinks of himself as a latter-day Robinson Crusoe. Eager to establish first contact with the planet's humanlike inhabitants, he finds himself increasingly entangled in their primitive way of life. After his experiences in their nightmarish military, criminal justice, and mental health systems, Maxim begins to realise that his sojourn on this radioactive and war-scarred world will not be a walk in the park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Inhabited Island\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the Strugatsky brothers' most popular and acclaimed novels, yet the only previous English-language edition, \u003cem\u003ePrisoners of Power\u003c\/em\u003e, was based on a version heavily censored by Soviet authorities. Now, in a sparkling new edition by award-winning translator Andrew Bromfield, this landmark novel can be newly appreciated by both longtime Strugatsky fans and new explorers of the Russian science fiction masters' astonishingly rich body of work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46708379549932,"sku":"9781473232440","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14461923482712.jpg?v=1754056744"},{"product_id":"the-snail-on-the-slope-by-boris-strugatsky-9781473228283","title":"The Snail on the Slope","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eENTER THE ADMINISTRATION\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePeretz spends his days navigating the bureaucracy of the Administration, the institute tasked with governing the Forest below. Except no one ever seems to go there, and his attempts only trap him further within the workings of this strange organisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eENTER THE FOREST\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCandide cannot remember how he got to the Forest, and he is certain he belongs somewhere else. Determined to escape, he finds that all paths lead him round strange bends and into encounters with bizarre creatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis classic SF novel sees Boris and Arkady Strugatsky meditate on how little man can understand of the wider world, and in doing so produce one of the great literary works to come out of Soviet Russia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Snail on the Slope\u003c\/i\u003e explores the paradoxes and complexities of human understanding against a backdrop of an enigmatic world. It challenges readers to dive into a cerebral and philosophical journey that transcends conventional storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46708909572332,"sku":"9781473228283","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14420353482712.jpg?v=1754081435"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/arkady-strugatsky.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}