This book is widely hailed as one of the greatest science fiction novels. So naturally I’m going to read it. Originally published in Russia, the novel takes place near what are referred to as Zones, which are mysterious areas of a mysterious origin, with a mysterious impact on anyone who enters. Sounds spoooooky… but was it worth the hype?
Roadside Picnic
Author: Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Pages: 209
Format: Paperback
Originally Published: January 1, 1972
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
View on Goodreads
Date Completed: March 2, 2024
My rating: 
Synopsis
Red Schuhart is a “stalker” – someone who illegally enters the Zones to obtain artifacts to sell on the black market. Red is on a quest to find a Golden Sphere, which is purported to have the ability to grant wishes. Throughout the story, we learn that Red has a daughter with his wife. The daughter is affectionately called “Monkey,” likely because of genetic deformities resulting from Red’s prolonged exposure to the Zones.
The Zones are filled with traps and gravitational anomalies. With Red’s experience, he’s able to get in and out relatively unharmed. Such is not the fate of others, such as his friend Burbridge, who lost his legs in a trap within the Zones.
Red risks it all for his family and for all of humanity.
Thoughts
I want to be completely transparent and note that I’m writing this review over 2 months after finishing reading the book. So some of my memories of it are a little foggy. That said…
One thing this book did really well was world building. It had a great noir feeling while most certainly being science fiction. It was dark and gritty with a somewhat cynical tone to it. Red is a morally ambiguous character, but he definitely cares for his family. I had no trouble getting into the world that Red lives in. It is something that really stuck with me for a while after reading.
The Zones were really an interesting concept that I would almost want to learn more about. Between the altered laws of physics, the traps and dangers, it would have been interesting to explore them more. I know that sometimes less is more, so we don’t want to give away too much of the mystery. I did enjoy the idea of a “roadside picnic” as a kind of explanation of how they came about.
One thing I think was missing, or that maybe I just missed, was an explanation as to when these Zones showed up. Or how the humans learned so much about them. Or what exactly is a “full empty?” I know there tends to be some mystery in science fiction. And I do understand some of the metaphors being used in the story. However, for me, sometimes too much unsolved or unanswered mystery leaves me wanting in not a good way.
This really isn’t a very long book. I would have preferred it be longer and explain more. Close some loops. You don’t have to give everything away, but something would have been nice.
Conclusion
Overall, I thought the book was fine, but I’m not completely sure it was worth all the hype. It had really good and deep themes, but if I’m being honest, it was kind of forgettable in a lot of ways. Even still, it was a fascinating concept and I happily give it 3 out of 5 stars. It is definitely something a sci-fi enthusiast should read, but I’m not sure an average, casual reader would enjoy it.
