"Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky. The Time Wanderers (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky. The Time Wanderers

(C) Copyright Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky

BACKGROUND: Maxim Kammerer

My name is Maxim Kammerer. I am eighty-nine years old.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, I read an ancient novella that began
that way. I remember thinking then that if I ever were to write my memoirs
in the future, I would begin in just that way. However, strictly speaking,
this present text cannot be considered a memoir, and it should start with a
certain letter that I received about a year ago.

Kammerer: You naturally have read the notorious "Five Biographies of
the Age". Please help me to determine who is hiding behind the pseudonyms P.
Soroka and E. Braun. I think it will be easier for you than for me.

M. Glumova
13 June 125. Novgorod

I did not reply to this letter, because I was not able to establish the
real names of the authors of "Five Biographies of the Age". All I did
determine was that, as expected, P. Soroka and E. Braun were major
contributors to the Luden group at the Institute for the Research of Space
History (IRSH).

I had no difficulty in imagining the feelings of Maya Toivovna Glumova
as she read the biography of her son as related by P. Soroka and E. Braun.
And I realized that I had to speak out. Therefore, I write this memoir.

From the point of view of an unprejudiced and a particularly young
reader, I will be describing events that brought me to the end of the era in
cosmic self-awareness and opened absolutely new vistas, which had seemed
only theoretical previously. I was a witness, a participant in, and in some
sense even an initiator of these events, and therefore it is not surprising
that the Luden Group has been bombarding me with questions, official and
unofficial requests to contribute, and reminders of my civic duty.
Originally I had understanding and sympathy for the goals and aims of the
Luden group, but I never hid my skepticism about their chances for success.
Besides, it was absolutely clear to me that the materials and information in
my personal files could be of no help to the Luden group, and therefore I
have continued avoiding participating in their work.

But now, for reasons that are more personal, I have felt a persistent
need to gather up and present to the attention of anyone who might be
interested everything that is known to me about the early days of the Big
Revelation.

I have reread the last paragraph, and I must correct myself. First of