Roadside Picnic

The Strugatsky Brothers

1972

January, 2023

7.5/10

Good story with very expressive writing that expertly switches between action and drama which are both equally engaging.

The translation feels very Soviet which is good for the authentic reading experience, but does cause some minor difficulties (jokes, etc.). Character names were also occasionally confusing with everyone being referred to by their nickname, first name, and last name by different people and at different times in the narration, making it awkward to pick up on who's who (overall, this wasn't too disconcerting).

There was nothing truly thought-provoking, and I would have liked to know more about the Zone while the story focused only on the characters. This does create a sense of mystery, but the ending left me wanting to know more about what was going on.