The novel takes place on the planet Saraksh, where a dictatorial ruling elite reigns, the economy is in a disastrous state, and the people are needed only to be managed. The book was published back in the Soviet era, so it became a pretext for daring and bold allegories about that time.
By chance, a young man who possesses wonderful abilities characteristic of future Earth people is brought to this bleak planet. He decides to become a hero and liberator. But that is by no means easy or safe.
The work by the Strugatsky brothers tells of adventures, victories and defeats, fantastic events and vivid heroes. It is full of wise thoughts devoted to the meaning of human existence. The book provokes a storm of emotions and once again urges readers to look into their own soul.
It’s interesting that the Transmission Center through which the zombification was carried out was already, in 1969, placed by the authors inside a television station building. The famous writers understood that television is a way to control the masses of people who, unfortunately, want nothing more than exactly that…