Roadside Picnic

By: Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky

Narrated by: Robert Forster

Red Schuhart is a stalker, one of those young rebels who are compelled, in spite of extreme danger, to venture illegally into the Zone to collect the mysterious artifacts that the alien visitors left scattered around. His life is dominated by the place and the thriving black market in the alien products. But when he and his friend Kirill go into the Zone together to pick up a “full empty,” something goes wrong. And the news he gets from his girlfriend upon his return makes it inevitable that he’ll keep going back to the Zone, again and again, until he finds the answer to all his problems.

Alien Litterbugs

If you only read one Russian Science fiction novel, make it Roadside Picnic. Subject to heavy Soviet censorship during its beginnings, the Strugatsky brothers have only relatively recently been rediscovered appreciated for their remarkable skills. This a true gem for the science fiction genera, and while Robert Forster's heavy accent can take a bit of getting used to, he does a solid job with a great, albeit very bleak, story. Very highly recommended!

One of the best sci-fi stories I have listened too

Amazingly narrated by Robert Forster (R.I.P). Gripping story with engaging characters. A multi-layered plot that will leaving you thinking well after the end.

I can't think of anything I would change, except

that I wish it was longer. There's so many interesting things about 'the zone' that I wish the book would have spent more time there. In any case this book wastes no time on a dull moment, every aspect of the book feels like it should be there and keeps even the shortest attention span interested. The narrator was well chosen, and captures the personality of Red and the overall tone of the book very well. Probably my favorite audiobook so far, out of the 40 or so I have.

good

I'm too lazy to fill this out so I'm just going to write this instead

Nihilism and Entertainment

Recursive narrative arch leaving one with an understanding of emptiness. Or, a joyful romp.? Nah!