Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are widely known as the greatest Russian
writers of science fiction, and their 1964 novel Hard to Be a God is
considered one of the greatest of their works.
It tells the story of Don Rumata, who is sent from Earth to the medieval
kingdom of Arkanar with instructions to observe and to influence, but
never to directly interfere. Masquerading as an arrogant nobleman, a
dueler and a brawler, Don Rumata is never defeated but can never kill.
With his doubt and compassion, and his deep love for a local girl named
Kira, Rumata wants to save the kingdom from the machinations of Don
Reba, the First Minister to the king. But given his orders, what role
can he play?
Hard to Be a God has inspired a computer role-playing game and two
movies, including Aleksei German's long-awaited swan song. Yet until now
the only English version (out of print for over thirty years) was based
on a German translation, and was full of errors, infelicities, and
misunderstandings. This new edition--translated by Olena Bormashenko,
whose translation of the authors' Roadside Picnic has received
widespread acclaim, and supplemented with a new foreword by Hari Kunzru
and an afterword by Boris Strugatsky, both of which supply much-needed
context--reintroduces one of the most profound Soviet-era novels to an
eager audience.
