by Strugatski
This is the novel on which the movie “Stalker” by Andrej Tarkovsky is loosely based on. The movie is my all time favorite.
Actually it is good to read the book to understand the movie better even that Tarkovsky worked only with the basic idea of the original. He mystified the “zones” even more than in the book. The “zones” ore areas where an extraterrestrial civilization left some artifacts. Nobody can explain what happens there. One of the many explanations is that aliens had a picnic on their way through the galaxy and left their waste behind. Like us in the forrest not caring about those insignificant ants. We might also leave carelessly bags, some food etc.
The zones are under UN control but thieves go in on their own risk to steal certain objects to sell them on the black market. It is every time a very dangerous undertaking since there are some many deadly traps there. It is science fiction, but explores ourselves and how we acted as humankind so far.
If you want to watch the movie I recommend to read the book. But be aware that the movie is in this case much, much better. Do not be discouraged. Watch it in a home theatre, never on a TV set. It requires a really big screen.
Actually it is good to read the book to understand the movie better even that Tarkovsky worked only with the basic idea of the original. He mystified the “zones” even more than in the book. The “zones” ore areas where an extraterrestrial civilization left some artifacts. Nobody can explain what happens there. One of the many explanations is that aliens had a picnic on their way through the galaxy and left their waste behind. Like us in the forrest not caring about those insignificant ants. We might also leave carelessly bags, some food etc.
The zones are under UN control but thieves go in on their own risk to steal certain objects to sell them on the black market. It is every time a very dangerous undertaking since there are some many deadly traps there. It is science fiction, but explores ourselves and how we acted as humankind so far.
If you want to watch the movie I recommend to read the book. But be aware that the movie is in this case much, much better. Do not be discouraged. Watch it in a home theatre, never on a TV set. It requires a really big screen.
Facts:
English title: Roadside Picnic
Original title: Пикник на обочине
Published: 1972
