For some reason, it is generally accepted that science fiction as a genre remained in the 20th century, unable to withstand competition at the beginning of the century with the fantasy genre that rapidly soared to the top of the tops. This is probably what happened in the post-Soviet space. And other branches of science fiction strongly pressed on in the new millennium - urban fantasy, teenage dystopias and love zombie novels have concentrated most of the reader's attention on themselves. But thanks to new writers (Vernor Vinge, Alastair Reynolds, Peter Watts), NF is alive, well, and even more intellectual, artsy, and deep overseas than ever. Fortunately, domestic publishing houses are gradually beginning to translate new foreign classics of science fiction. This top will introduce you to the best SF novels already translated and published in Ukraine.
For some reason, it is generally accepted in our country that science fiction as a genre remained in the 20th century, unable to withstand the competition with the fantasy genre that soared to the top of the tops at the beginning of the century. This is probably what happened in the post-Soviet space. And other branches of science fiction strongly pressed on in the new millennium - urban fantasy, teenage dystopias and love zombie novels have concentrated most of the reader's attention on themselves. But thanks to new writers (Vernor Vinge, Alastair Reynolds, Peter Watts), NF is alive, well, and even more intellectual, artsy, and deep overseas than ever. Fortunately, domestic publishing houses are gradually beginning to translate new foreign classics of science fiction. This top will introduce you to the best SF novels already translated and published in Ukraine.
Robert Ibatullin "The Rose and the Worm" (2015)
The year of publishing: 2016
Publisher: Celado
Who will like: fans of Robert Wilson's trilogy "Spin" and fans of "Foundation" Asimov
Why read: meticulous scientific reliability of what was happening and a really possible, well-thought-out future of humanity
Earth was attacked by an alien race of Aquilians. After long and fierce battles, mankind managed to win back their homeland, but the planet is becoming uninhabitable. Meanwhile, the Space Fleet, created by humans on Venus, is successfully mastering the solar system, and the superweapon Swarm of Fireflies, which has repulsed enemy attacks, is being prepared by the military for war with the already independent earthly colonies. In a short-lived civil brawl, the Space Fleet loses, and the former colonies of the Earth gain official independence. While people by hook or by hook are fighting for the remnants of power, mankind begins to face a danger a hundred times more terrible than the attack of the Aquilians and the civil war.
The author of the novel, Robert Ibatullin, is a physicist by education. As he himself admits, the beautiful transmission of words is not his strong point, but as for scientific reliability, in this book all assumptions and facts are proved by the calculations of the writer. Yes, critics scold the work for places poor language, but this deficiency is compensated by the author's meticulousness in scientific trifles, as well as the real, bright and living world of the possible future of the Earth. This is the same classic "hard" science fiction that modern readers for some unknown reason have buried and refuse to believe in its existence. Read to all non-believers in the living and living NF. Take in small portions to avoid scientific overdose.
Peter Watts "False Blindness"
The year of publishing: 2006
Translation: 2009
Publisher: AST
Who will like: fans of Stanislav Lem, in particular the works of "Fiasco"
Why read: deep, well-thought-out plot, an ideal fantasy world in which you want to visit
On one day in 2082, thousands of millions of lights lit up in the sky of our planet. People called them fireflies, and later discovered alien activity on the edge of the solar system. For reconnaissance of the situation and possible first contact with aliens, people send the spaceship "Theseus". Only a completely unusual crew ventured into such a trip - the team's list includes a complete schizophrenic-linguist, a vampire and it is not clear why there is a person without emotions here.
The name of Peter Watts has long thundered among foreign space fiction fans. The novel "False Blindness" was published in the West back in 2006. The translation into Russian was published in 2009, and last year the book was republished and the novel found a new life. And yes, Watts writes in a complex, twisted and deepest possible way. But along with this, the author chews on his large-scale knowledge in the exact sciences and puts the quintessence of an ideal fantastic book into the reader's mouth, which one wants to read to the end even if it is already daylight outside the window.
Chris Beckett "In the Darkness of Eden"
The year of publishing: 2012
Translation: 2016
Publisher: AST
Who will like: those who like "The Settlement" by Kir Bulychev and "Stepsons of the Universe" by Robert Heinlein
Why read: indescribable and cozy atmosphere of old and "Golden" science fiction,
John Krasnosvet is fifteen years old. He and his relatives live on the unknown planet Eden. The fact is that John and his relatives, the long-term descendants of earthlings who were once in this system, founded a base here, left the settlers and never returned. And the heirs of these people are still waiting for the return of their ancestors and with varying degrees of success master the unfriendly world called Eden.
Despite the fact that the main character of the book is a teenager, this is a classic SF work that has received many awards, including the Arthur Clarke Award. "In the Darkness of Eden" returns the reader to the days of the "Golden Era" of science fiction, when aliens were always terrible six-eyed creatures with teeth in their hands, and telepathic monkeys hid on unknown planets with acid vegetation. Despite the seeming banality, Chris Beckett created a bright and amazingly detailed world based on hundreds of genre clichés, which you definitely want to visit. And it seems that behind the nearest tree you will definitely meet Alisa Selezneva and her famous team. Recommended for everyone who misses the good old fiction.
Adam Roberts "Glass Jack"
The year of publishing: 2006
Translation: 2015
Publisher: AST
Who will like: lovers of Alfred Bester's works “Tiger! Tiger!" and Arthur Conan Doyle "The Sign of Four"
Why read: strong philosophical overtones, confusing detective line, ambiguous and charismatic main character
Seven notorious criminals are sent to a distant asteroid - they will serve their sentences and mine ore for eleven years. The prisoners know that as soon as they are left alone, a fierce and bloody power struggle will begin. Six of them look like natural born killers and dominant males, and the seventh is frail, downtrodden and, moreover, legless. The zeks think that he will die first, but they do not even suspect that the disabled goner will turn out to be the most dangerous person on this cursed asteroid.
British writer Adam Roberts is known abroad as a researcher of the history of fiction, and his collection of articles on this topic was awarded the British Science Fiction Association in 2016. And Mr. Roberts is a professor of philology at the University of Cambridge and a lecturer at the University of London.
Therefore, despite the seeming simplicity of the tie with convicts, his novel "Glass Jack" is a complex and often philosophical work, filled with references to the classics of world literature - Shakespeare, Kipling, Dickens, Salinger and others. In addition, this novel, like the collection of articles, also earned Professor Roberst the British Science Fiction Association Prize and the John Campbell Memorial Prize. The novel "Glass Jack" is most likely not suitable for easy and comfortable reading. The book covers many ethical, philosophical and scientific issues, and also has a detective component. Tell me, isn't that supposed to be the perfect example of a real, intellectual science fiction novel?
Daniel Suarez "Stream"
The year of publishing: 2015
Translation: 2015
Publisher: AST
Who will like: those who liked "A Billion Years Before the End of the World" by the Strugatsky Brothers
Why read: vigorous space action, with elements of cyber-punk, technologies in the book are created on the basis of real-life inventions
John Grady is a physicist. He and his team came up with a device that subdues gravity. It would seem that scientists are waiting for fame, success, money and entry into the annals of history. But the Bureau of Technical Control operates on Earth, which is designed to hide from humanity the truth about the actual technical progress of people. They close Grady's laboratory, and he is offered to work for them and become one of the many chosen ones who rule the history of the planet. And when John refuses, he is sent to the secret prison of the highest class "Hibernity", where all the scientists are kept, who at one time made incredible discoveries. Now the forced prisoner and his new genius friends must find out the truth about the Bureau of Technical Control and tell the world the real state of affairs.
Writer Daniel Suarez has recently burst onto the sci-fi scene. However, his third work, Stream, won the Prometheus Award for Best Science Fiction in 2015. This is not "hard" SF, but rather cyberpunk SF. It is also a dizzying action game set against the backdrop of massive conspiracy theories, organically woven into the technologies of the future. And yet the author thinks through every detail of a realistic continuation of the history of mankind, and the technologies in the book are invented on the basis of existing developments, from which reading "Stream" will be interesting to any modern gadget lover and fan of serious science fiction.
Alastair Reynolds "The Doomed World"
The year of publishing: 2010
Translation: 2016
Publisher: ABC-Atticus
Who will like: fans of Jan Weiss and the novel "A House of a Thousand Floors" and fans of Vernor Winge's book "Flame Over the Abyss"
Why read: the perfect fusion of science fiction, thriller and space opera
In the distant future, at the end of Earth's history, there is a huge skyscraper called the Blade that stretches through the layers of the atmosphere. Inside, the building is divided into districts, which, in addition to enmity with each other, differ in the level of technological development - somewhere people have access to the latest modern biotechnology, and in some areas residents use steam engines. On the upper floors, which almost touch space, there are posthuman angels who want to subjugate the entire skyscraper. Killon works in a morgue in one of the lower districts. Concurrently, he is a secret agent of these inhabitants of the Heavenly Floors, and one day he learns that the owners want to liquidate him, for the unusual information he received and transferred to the "top" turns out to be secret information. He realizes that if he does not leave the Blade, the angels will get to him, so Killon decides to go on a mad journey across the already dying and deadly planet Earth.
Alastair Reynolds' name is known to fans of science fiction and space opera. In addition to his incredible writing talent, Mr. Reynolds also has a couple of trump cards up his sleeve - he is an astrophysicist by training and at one time worked for the European Space Research Center. Therefore, Alastair knows how and what to write about. However, The Doomed World is the most unusual work of the author. It is more of a planetary fantasy with elements of action, thriller and space opera. However, the hand of the master reigns here, too, so we have a novel that can be advised to absolutely all fans of science fiction. How and what Alastair Reynolds writes about cannot but please the sane reader. The book is definitely worth reading.
John Love "Faith"
The year of publishing: 2012
Translation: 2015
Publisher: Science Fiction Book Club
Who will like: for those who like Herman Melville "Moby Dick and the White Whale" and Scott Westerfeld's "Sequence" cycle
Why read: SF with elements of a classic parable and philosophical overtones, the main characters are spaceships
"Vera" is an alien spaceship that helped the human Commonwealth to destroy the warlike Shahran empire. After three hundred years of oblivion, the wonderful alien ship returns, but only now it confronts people. To answer the super-powerful "Vera" people create new and super-powerful space cruisers of the "outsider" class - their teams are the most dangerous criminals and thugs in the system, who now need to destroy the "Vera" and its owners and prevent humanity from perishing again. One of these ships called "Charles Manson" engages in battle with aliens. He even has scanty chances of winning, but what the cruiser will face after makes the Vera's attack child's play.
The debut novel by British science fiction writer John Love made a lot of noise in the circles of fans of the genre. And although the work did not receive any awards, critics and readers noted the first creation of the Englishman and even put it on a par with modern classics of the genre Reynolds, Watts and Hamilton. The novel "Vera" is a space opera with elements of a parable, where the main characters are not people, but two warring and extraordinary ships "Vera" and "Charles Manson".
Naturally, these are not all the books of modern science fiction that we would like to talk about. There are still a lot of novels that are already being translated or have been translated into Russian (with the Ukrainian science fiction book publishing it is still quite a problem). Most likely, we will tell about them in the following articles, but for now, share your impressions, read books and further wishes. What from SF hooked you and what we didn’t talk about?
Of great importance for literature, foreign fiction undoubtedly has this genre reflecting something that does not exist in reality and this complements the general genre. The science fiction of the 50s is the main ancestor of modern foreign science fiction. Here, naturally, there were calculations and oppositions. Today there are many creators who also create works of various sizes.
Books of the genre foreign fiction and its features
The first book of these years is "The Chronicles of Narnia", based on which a film was shot, the title of which coincides with the literary edition. Here we come across the story of four children, they were evacuated during the Second World War, they were taken from the city of England to a remote place in the country. Here the children found a magic wardrobe that transported them to the magical world. These children were declared the chosen one, but they were not happy about this event. This circumstance pushed them to certain events, and this proved their unique personality.
In 1962, Leiber wrote the story "A Little World of Darkness" - a book of foreign fiction, you can read it online today on the Internet. It tells about three creatures who constantly see something incredible, all of this has terrible forms of nature. They decided that they have the opportunity to observe a kind of second world of existence. This story ends with the death of one of these creatures, the other two did not save him and fled. There is very little fiction in this work, and there is nothing to say about the meaning of the plot.
Today, foreign fiction is very multifaceted; reading online will bring sheer pleasure thanks to a wide selection of literature on the Internet. The cycle of foreign fiction is very multifaceted, everyone can choose exactly what will be the most interesting and exciting. After all, science fiction, like no other genre, allows the reader to plunge into the world of incredible events and adventures. It is science fiction that is the freest, unrestricted genre.
In foreign fiction, there are social fiction, humor, military operations, and historical events. All this makes certain contributions to the history of states. We have the opportunity to learn a lot of new and interesting things from the history of different countries, study different traditions and preferences. In different peoples, they manifest themselves in different ways, depending on the date of writing a particular literary work.
A collection of foreign fiction, translated and published by the All-Union Creative Association of Young Science Fiction Writers at the IPO Central Committee of the Komsomol "Young Guard". On the 1st cover page: Pamela LEE (USA). Searches and finds. Cover page 4: Rise Station.
OTHER WORLDS, OTHER TIMES. Collection of Foreign ... Paul Anderson
Pictures of worlds that are somewhat similar to the familiar one, our world, but somewhat different from it, fantasies about a parallel history, stories about unusual human abilities that may arise in the process of human evolution - all this is in the collection. The rich invention, the author's skill and the humanistic orientation of the works will surely attract the sympathy of the widest circle of readers to the collection. Compilation, introductory article by V. Kahn.
Heavenly Sanctuary. Foreign Hall of Fame ... Mike Kurland
CONTENTS: Chester Anderson, Mike Kurland. Ten years before the doomsday. Novel. Translated by A. Barkov ... 5. John Brunner. Heavenly Sanctuary. Novel. Translated by I. Ivanov ... 143. Robert Muur Williams. Star wasps. Novel. Translated by P. Pronischev ... 261. Terry Carr. Warlord Cor. Novel. Translated by A. Barkov ... 361. Alan Schwartz. Wandering Tellurian. Novel. Translated by P. Petrov ... 463.
Tunnel under the world. Collection of Anglo-American ... Isaac Asimov
Series of the Moscow publishing house "Mir". At first, the titles of the series were not put on the books, since only a few collections of foreign fiction were thought of, continuing each other. The first was "Expedition to Earth", the second was "The Tunnel Under the World." They were a two-volume edition of Anglo-American fiction. It is no coincidence that the preface to the first collection covered the works of both books. But then it was decided to continue the series, which stretched for more than thirty years.
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 1 (1964) Kobo Abe
A great idea to publish science fiction almanacs, whose content reflected the best works of Soviet and foreign prose, criticism and popular science materials. The first edition included the works of such famous Soviet science fiction writers as Eremey Parnov, Mikhail Yemtsev, Gennady Gor, Sever Gansovsky. Foreign fiction is represented by A. Clarke, Kobo Abe, and Anne Griffith. CONTENTS: Foreword / All this allows you to dream. (1964) // Author: K. Andreev. - 3-5 pp. STORIES AND STORIES: The Riot of Thirty Trillion (1964) // Authors: Eremey Parnov, Mikhail Yemtsev. ...
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 5 (1966) Mikhail Emtsev
A wonderful collection that has absorbed the breathtaking "Black Box of Ceres" by M. Emtsev and E. Parnov, the original "Rare Manuscripts" by Alexander Sharov, the first stories by Vladimir Firsov, as well as a number of other works of Soviet and foreign science fiction writers. The collection concludes with the brilliant story "New Dimensions" by Walter Teavis, Jr. CONTENTS: Ceres's Black Box (1966) // Authors: Mikhail Emtsev, Eremey Parnov. - 3 pages. Evening at the hotel (1966) // Author: Igor Guberman. - 170 pp. Remember me? (1966) //
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 4 (1966) Fred Hoyle
The fourth issue of the Science Fiction Almanac is thematic. Here are the fantastic works of non-science fiction writers. CONTENTS: FOREIGN SCIENCE: The Black Cloud (1957) // Author: Fred Hoyle. - 3 pages. SOVIET SCIENCE: Lilith (1966) //
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 3 (1965) Arthur Clarke
The third issue of the Almanac of Science Fiction is composed exclusively of the works of Leningrad authors. Foreign science fiction is also given in the translations of the Leningraders. CONTENTS: SOVIET SCIENCE: Leopard from the top of Kilimanjaro (1965) // Author: Olga Larionova - 3 pp. Olga Nsu (1965) // Author: Gennady Gor - 162 pp. Preliminary surveys (1965) // Author: Ilya Varshavsky - 181 p. Concentrator of gravity (1965) // Author: Alexander Shalimov - 197 pp. FOREIGN SCIENCE: Music-maker / The Tunesmith (1957) //
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 9 (1970) Mikhail Emtsev
CONTENTS: SOVIET SCIENCE: Knocking at the door of immortality (1970) // Author: Alexander Gorbovsky. - 5 pp. Tidiness of mind (1970) // Author: Georgy Gurevich. - 41 pages. The riddle of the manuscript № 700 (1970) // Author: Alexander Sharov. - 79 pages. And the day has disappeared (1970) // Authors: Mikhail Emtsev, Eremey Parnov. - 97 pp. FOREIGN SCIENCE: The World Exhibition is Coming (1970) //
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 1 Kobo Abe
The first in a series of annual collections "NF" by the publishing house "Knowledge" has incorporated the works of such famous Soviet science fiction writers as Eremey Parnov, Mikhail Yemtsev, Gennady Gor, Sever Gansovsky. Foreign fiction is represented by A. Clarke, Kobo Abe, and Ann Griffith.
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 7 Alexander Abramov
In addition to the magnificent short story "The Weapon of Your Eyes" by M. Emtsev and E. Parnov, the anthology includes works by famous Soviet science fiction writers O. Larionova, V. Shcherbakov, A. Mirer, V. Grigoriev and others. Foreign fiction is presented by two Grand Masters Hugo - stories by Paul Anderson and Robert Heinlein will not leave the reader indifferent.
Undefined Undefined
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 22 Heinrich Altov
The main subject of research in science fiction, like any other fiction, is a person. Only in her works is this a person who finds himself in unprecedented, unprecedented conditions. "Man in the face of the incredible" is the theme of this collection. Famous Soviet science fiction writers G. Altov, V. Zhuravleva, O. Larionova, E. Parnov and others appear in the collection with stories and stories, publicistic articles. Among the budding science fiction writers are E. Filimonov, A. Kubatiev, B. Rudenko. Foreign fiction is represented by the American writer Ursula ...
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 6 Heinrich Altov
The almanac has incorporated the works of famous Soviet science fiction writers, among which we will note "Minotaur" by G. Gore and "Wings of the Harpy" by G. Gurevich. Foreign fiction is represented by four diverse and magnificent novels for every taste of such luminaries of fiction as Robert Heinlein, Eric F. Russell (his Abracadabra won the Hugo Prize), Alfred Bester and master of thriller Robert Bloch.
NF: Almanac of Science Fiction. Issue 24 Paul Anderson
The moral search for a person who finds himself in incredible conditions, the responsibility of a creative person to time and society, to his talent - these and other problems are raised by the authors of this collection. It involves both recognized masters of Soviet science fiction (Kir Bulychev, R. Podolny, G. Prashkevich) and novice authors (G. Panizovskaya, G. Ugarov). Foreign fiction is represented by the stories of P. Anderson, R. Bradbury, R. Silverberg. In the section of journalism Eug. Brandis and E. Parnov talk about the work of an outstanding science fiction writer ...
Ardent book fans are at a loss when asked whether they read the works of Russian or foreign fiction. Contemporary American writers create distinctive stories, acquaintance with which is filled with a lot of delight. Domestic authors are also not far behind. They write high-quality masterpieces that are well received by their compatriots, become bestsellers and arouse the interest of filmmakers.
Both novelties and classic works of the fantasy genre have always conquered those people who wanted to learn something new and discover previously unknown things. The authors very colorfully describe the post-apocalyptic future, the uprising of machines and other situations. Therefore, connoisseurs of information-rich literature turned their attention to the books of this direction.
An important point: in addition to the science fiction familiar to many, there is also "strict science fiction", which is based only on reliable facts, verified and studied in detail. There is no distortion of information here, and the task of the writer is to competently present certain data in a fantastic frame. But in most cases, foreign fiction focuses not on rigor, but on more vivid plots, which, albeit partially fictional, are based on real facts.
Many foreign and domestic authors publish entire collections of stories about the adventures of their heroes who are fighting aliens, creating a panacea, or trying to return the destroyed world to its former integrity. Such publications quickly become hits in the book world and bring glory to the writer himself. Often, successful writers embody their creativity in a series of books based on specific ideas.
The newest copies of foreign fiction differ significantly from those literary works that were written 50 years ago. Many people like to compare the perception of the world in modern and classic novels, as well as to study the techniques used. One thing remains unchanged - an exciting plot and those emotional feelings that appear while reading books.
Everyone can download the best foreign and Russian creations on our website or read online those options, the description of which did not leave indifferent. Moreover, this can be done free of charge and without registration. Choosing the most suitable among the epub, fb2, pdf, rtf, txt formats, you can download the file to an e-book or tablet and enjoy reading in a traffic jam, on a bus, in a queue at a store, etc.
STEVEN BAXTER
TURING APPLES
Stephen Baxter's first work was published in the magazine "lnterzone" in 1987, and since then he has become one of its regular authors. He has also published in Asimov’s Science Fiction, Science Fiction Age, Analog, Zenith, New Worlds and other journals. Baxter is a highly prolific science fiction writer, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular and acclaimed. This writer works at the cutting edge of science, his works are saturated with new ideas, and the action often unfolds against the backdrop of a cosmic perspective. Baxter's first novel, Raft, came out in 1991 and was quickly followed by other well-received novels, Timelike Infinity, Anti-Ice, Flux, and HG Wells styling is the sequel to The Time Machine, The Time Ships, which won both the John Campbell Memorial Prize and the Philip Dick Prize.
His other books include the Voyage trilogy, Titan, and Moonseed; trilogy "Mammoth" ("Silverhair", "Longtusk", "Icebones"); trilogy "Manifold" ("Time", "Space", "Origin"); the trilogy "Children of Destiny" ("Coalescent", "Exultant", "Transcendent") and the accompanying collection of short stories "Resplendent"; the cycle of novels "Tapestries of Time" ("Emperor", "Conqueror", "Navigator"); the novels "Evolution" and "The H-Bomb Girl, as well as novels co-written with Arthur Clarke: The Light of Other Days and the Time Odyssey series, which includes the novels Time's Eye, Sunstorm and Firstborn Baxter's short prose has been published in Vacuum Diagrams: Stories of the Xeelee Sequence, Traces, and Hunters of Pangea. He also published a compilation novel, Mayflower II. several new novels have long since been released: Weaver, which continues the Tapestry of Time cycle, The Flood and The Ark.
As the story published here hints, it might be better if the quest for extraterrestrial intelligence is unsuccessful ...
Not far from the center of the far side of the Moon is a neat, round, sharp-edged crater called Daedalus. People did not know about its existence until the middle of the twentieth century. This is the farthest piece of the lunar surface from the Earth - and the quietest.
That is why teams of astronauts from Europe, America, Russia and China flew here. They smoothed the bottom of a crater with a diameter of ninety kilometers, laid out this natural plate with sheets of metal mesh and hung the funnels of the receiving and transmitting systems on guy wires. And here is the result of a radio telescope, the most powerful super-Arecibo built at that time, in comparison with which its prototype in Puerto Rico will seem like a dwarf. Before leaving, the astronauts named the telescope "Clark".
Now only ruins remain from the telescope, and almost the entire surface of Daedalus is covered with glass - this is lunar dust, melted by numerous nuclear explosions. But if you look at the crater from a low circumlunar orbit, you will see a dot of light - an asterisk falling on the Moon. Someday the Moon will disappear, but this dot will remain, silently revolving around the Earth as a memory of the Moon. And in an even more distant future, when the Earth will also be gone, when the stars burn out and galaxies disappear from the heavens, this dot will still glow.
My brother Wilson never left Earth. In fact, he rarely left even England. He is buried - what remains of him - next to our father, in the cemetery near Milton Keynes. But he made this point of light on the moon, which will remain the last legacy of all mankind.
So talk after that about the rivalry of the brothers.
2020
"Clark" first came between us at his father's funeral, even before Wilson began his research on the SETI program - the search for extraterrestrial intelligent life.
At the funeral in an old church on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, a large company of relatives gathered. Wilson and I were my father's only children, but in addition to his old friends, both of our aunts came with a crowd of cousins about our age, from twenty-five to thirty-five, and they brought a good harvest of their flower children.
I don't know if I can say that Milton Keynes is a good place to live. But I can tell you for sure - this is a bad place to die. The city itself is a monument to the planning, a concrete grid of streets with very English names such as "Summer", along which the carriages of a brand new monorail now run. It's so pure that it turns death into a social abuse - it's like farting in a department store. Maybe we need to be buried in the ground where someone’s bones already lie.
My father recalled how, before World War II, all these places were completely villages and farms. He stayed here even after our mother died twenty years before him, but the current architecture has ruined all his memories. As we said goodbye, I recounted those memories - in particular, how, during the war, a tough militia guard caught him behind the fence of nearby Bletchley Park, where he stole apples while Alan Turing and other geniuses pored in a secret building to break into German codes.
My father said that later on he often wondered if he had contracted a mathematical infection from those Turing apples, ”I said in conclusion,“ because, as he liked to say, he knows for sure that Wilson did not get his brains from him.
And your brains too, ”Wilson said when he later took me out of the church to talk. He remained silent throughout the service - it was not his style to make speeches. “You should have mentioned that too. I'm not the only math freak in the family.
It was a difficult moment. My wife and I have just been introduced to Hannah, my cousin's two-year-old daughter. She was born deaf, and we, adults in black suits and dresses, tried to communicate with her, clumsily copying signs of sign language spied from Hannah's parents. And Wilson just pushed this crowd aside to get to me, barely looking at the smiling little girl who became the center of attention. I allowed myself to be led out to avoid any rudeness on his part.
He then turned thirty, a year older than me. He was taller, thinner and more angular. Others said that we have more similarities than I would like to believe. He did not bring anyone with him to the funeral, and that was a relief for me. His partners could be a man or a woman, their relationship was usually destructive, and any of his companions resembled an unexploded bomb that entered the room.
I'm sorry if I told something wrong, - I answered with a snide.
Father and his memories, all these stories that he told over and over again. In short, so that I no longer hear about these Turing apples!
His words touched me:
We will still remember. Perhaps. Someday I'll tell this story to Eddie and Sam. - These are my sons.
They won't listen. Do they need it? The father will be forgotten. Everything is forgotten. The dead are getting deader. “And he was talking about his father, whom we had just buried. “Listen, have you already heard that acceptance tests have begun on the Clark? - And right in the courtyard of the church, he took a handheld from the inner pocket of his jacket and displayed the technical data of the telescope. - You, of course, understand why it is so important that it is located on the far side of the moon? - So, for the millionth time in my life, he gives his younger brother a blitz exam, and at the same time looks at me as if I were catastrophically dumb.
Radio shade, I replied. To isolate himself from the noisy radio chatter of the Earth was especially important for the SETI program, to which his brother devoted his career. SETI looks for weak signals from distant civilizations, and such a task becomes several orders of magnitude more difficult if you are drowning in very loud signals from a nearby civilization.
My brother even sarcastically applauded my guess. He often reminded me of what has always turned me away from the academic world - barely contained aggression and intense rivalry. The university is a flock of chimpanzees. That is why I was never tempted to choose this path. This, and perhaps also the fact that Wilson chose this path before me.
I saw with a slight relief that people began to leave the churchyard. There was a commemoration at my father's house, and we had to go.
So you came for the pies and sherry?
He glanced at the PDA screen, checked the time:
Actually, I made an appointment.
With him or with her?
He did not answer, and for a short moment he looked at me honestly:
You do it better than me.
What exactly? Being human?
Look, Clark should be up and running within a month. Come to London. We will be able to look at the first results.
I will not refuse.
I lied, and his offer was certainly not sincere. It all ended with the fact that I saw him again only two years later.
But by that time he had received a signal from the Eagle, and everything had changed.
2022
Wilson and his team quickly established that that brief signal, first recorded just months after the Clarke began operation, came from a source 6,500 light-years from Earth behind a star-giving cloud of cosmic dust called the Eagle Nebula. ... And this is very far away, on the other side of our neighboring spiral arm of the Galaxy, in the constellation Sagittarius.
