American Hole

In the turbulent atmosphere of the post-Soviet period—where Lenin turns out to be a mushroom and Sergei Kuryokhin leads a secret agency that puts jokes and pranks into action—a thrilling adventure unfolds. The main character, Yevgrafchik, an entomologist and lover of metaphysics, is drawn into a global intrigue aimed at destroying America through a pseudo-scientific theory about hidden gold beneath the Earth’s surface. Within this chaos of absurdity, love, betrayal, mystical insights, and black humor are tightly intertwined, and the line between reality and illusion gradually disappears, leaving the reader in a state of astonishment and delight. This novel by Pavel Krusanov, published in 2005, is rich in irony and unique humor: it manipulates our perceptions and makes us believe in a fictional reality. Having information becomes the key to domination. Sergei Anatolyevich Kuryokhin, a landmark figure of Soviet and Russian avant-garde music, was a composer, screenwriter, and actor known for his work with the Leningrad musical underground and his participation in creating albums by rock groups such as “Aquarium,” “Cinema,” and “Alice.” He was also the creator and ideological leader of the project “Pop-Mechanics.”