Published: 26 Aug 2024
Roadside Picnic
- Release date: 1972 (1977 for first English Translation)
- Genre: Science-Fiction
- Themes/Moods: Medium-paced, Adventurous, Dark, Mysterious, Reflective
- Rating: 3.5/5
- Originally written: 28th May 2024
Quick storygraph summary:
- Q: Plot- or character-driven? - A: Character driven
- Q: Strong character development? - A: Its complicated
- Q: Loveable characters? - A: No
- Q: Diverse cast of characters? - A: No
- Q: Flaws of characters a main focus? - A: Yes
The setup of aliens visiting Earth temporarily, not acknowledging humanity’s existence and leaving behind numerous ‘junk’ artefacts for humanity to deal with is certainly an evocative setup.
And its explored in a down-to-earth manner, told mainly from the point of view of Redrick, a stalker struggling to get by, his life entirely dependent on the ‘Zone’ and the aftermath of these alien artefacts appearing, in a few discrete and distinct times of his life - with just one chapter focused more on the scientific aspect, where we get some nice philosophical discussion and musings around the aliens and human intelligence, and produces both the best parts of the book and the “Roadside Picnic” analogy that titles the book. Very much focused on building an atmosphere rather than the most concrete of plots, but this reads as a deliberate authorial choice.
Its also quite a quick read given each chapter is relatively self-contained, which can make it feel quite disjointed, but allows the passage of time to kick in without much downtime, and allows it to develop some of the more weird and sinister afflictions the Zone curses upon this town of Harmont.
A worthwhile read, and while it ends rather abruptly, the strands of hope imbued within the characters despite the utter melancholy and negativity of what little of the world is presented to us sticks with you, alongside the more philosophical rumination of human intelligence.
