The Doomed City

By: Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky, Andrew Bromfield - Translator

Narrated by: Chris Andrew Ciulla

Length: 17 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are widely considered the greatest of Russian science fiction masters, yet the novel they worked hardest on, the one that was their own favorite and that listeners worldwide have acclaimed their magnum opus, has never before been published in English. The Doomed City was so politically risky that the Strugatskys kept its existence a secret even from their closest friends for 16 years. It was only published in Russia during perestroika in the late 1980s, the last of their works to see publication.

The Doomed City is set in an experimental city whose sun gets switched on in the morning and off at night, a city bordered by an abyss on one side and an impossibly high wall on the other. Its inhabitants are people plucked from 20th-century history at various times and places and left to govern themselves under conditions established by Mentors whose purpose seems inscrutable.

Andrei Voronin, a young astronomer taken from Leningrad in the 1950s, is a die-hard believer in the Experiment, even though his first job in the city is as a garbage collector. As increasingly nightmarish scenarios begin to affect the city, Voronin rises through the political hierarchy, with devastating effect.

©2016 Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Great Book

Great book you need Reed this book. strugatsky brother great writing. go bye it plez.

shocked!

this book took me so long to finish but it was worth it! love the Strugatsky’s so much!

1984 but Russian Sci-Fi. amazing read.

basically what I said in the title. it's like 1984 but based on a Russian experiment and a bit less linear than 1984. the major aspect being about the faults of communistic dictatorships.

Loooong journey

I like to read Sci-fi from a non western point of view and look forward to these authors. But this was a slog at times. It is very much like a dream where parts don’t relate to other parts and much doesn’t make sense. Seems very philosophical which doesn’t always translate well. The narrator does a great job.

still amazing

when you fall under the spell of these brothers writing, you'll search out everything available. smart strong thoughtful witty biting and fun. This novel in particular is layered and although it has a timestamp of cold war era in the background, still feels fresh and relevant in the current world environment.

Communist Dystopia

Incredibly interesting story originally written in secrecy. Though it doesn't directly refute communism, this book develops an atmosphere in which you can see the system, but also plainly can see all of it's downfalls. Throughout physical and political conflicts, as well as philosophical discussions, the Strugatskys quietly interrogate the reader about the perfect system for life. What must a collective do to create a perfect system of living and what does that have to offer to an individual? What happens if you try and fail, not just a couple times, but for years beyond counting. Absurdity can take over, take a break and be replaced by new ideas. But maybe, it's just not possible or needs to be more or less absurd. How long do you try? What should I do in a world where no one can find any answers?

Amazing book

This book was amazing probably my favorite one from The Great Strugatsky brothers. The performance from the narrator was top notch, a highly recommend it.

Holy spoilers, Batman.

The amount of spoilage in the prologue is a travesty. Some of us like to walk into a book blind

rad book

I really liked "a roadside picnic" so I decided to listen to this since they share the same author. it's a good book but I feel that the ideological conversations can be a bit long winded but not unusual for the main character.

Enjoyable if disorienting.

I was initially put off by the narrator’s accent, but I warmed to his performance pretty quickly. Also the unflappable prologue was a bit more explicit about what happens in the story than I would like (it’s presented as part of the first chapter). And the chapters aren’t properly labeled.
The book itself, though, I really enjoyed! I really liked the characters and the strange world they find themselves in. I did find myself getting a bit lost at times, due to the structure of the story, it just seems to jump around a lot and nothing gets resolved.