''The Time Wanderers'' (also known as ''The Waves Extinguish the Wind''; russian: Волны гасят ветер, translit=''Volny gasiat veter'') is a 1985

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

by Soviet writers

Boris and Arkady Strugatsky The brothers Arkady Natanovich Strugatsky (russian: Аркадий Натанович Стругацкий; 28 August 1925 – 12 October 1991) and Boris Natanovich Strugatsky ( ru , Борис Натанович Стругацкий; 14 A ...

, set in the

Noon Universe The Noon Universe (Russian term: "Мир Полудня" or "Мир Полдня" – "World of Noon"; also known as the “Wanderers’ Universe”) is a fictional future setting for a number of hard science fiction novels written by Arkady and Bo ...

. The book is narrated by

Maxim Kammerer The Noon Universe (Russian term: "Мир Полудня" or "Мир Полдня" – "World of Noon"; also known as the “Wanderers’ Universe”) is a fictional future setting for a number of hard science fiction novels written by Arkady and Bo ...

, and tells the story of ''The Great Revelation''.

Plot summary

The principal characters are Maxim Kammerer and Toivo Glumov, both working for an organization which investigates "Unexplained Events" (UEs). Their investigation of a series of events leads them to believe that they are witnesses to a new action by the Wanderers. After much investigation, the UEs are discovered to be the work of a secret society called the Ludens. They claim to have chosen this name for themselves as a derivative of the Russian word ''lyudi'' "humans", "people" with several semi-jocular allusions such as the popular Latin phrase ''

Homo Ludens ''Homo Ludens'' is a book originally published in Dutch in 1938 by Dutch historian and cultural theorist Johan Huizinga. It discusses the importance of the play element of culture and society. Huizinga suggests that play is primary to and a nece ...

'' "the Playing Man" and an anagram of the Russian word ''nelyudi'' "inhuman people" (as they believe they are regarded by some "ordinary" humans). The Ludens are born human, but possess latent mental powers far beyond those of normal humans. They view themselves as a distinct species, and claim to have "different interests" from humanity at large, in some instances claiming to be above traditional human morality. The Ludens routinely conduct experiments on humans and alter their minds in order to further their own means. Kammerer and Glumov's investigation unmasks the Ludens, and they are made public in what would later become known as "The Great Revelation". It turns out that Glumov possesses this capacity, and must now decide whether or not to become a Luden himself. He at first states that to join the Ludens would be a betrayal of his family, friends, and human civilization. But he decides to try it out, if only to serve as Humanity's "ambassador" with them. Soon all contacts with Glumov are lost, Kammerer hypothesizing that he "just forgot about us now". Indeed, the story is told as Maxim's memoir, his sole intent in writing it being to clear up the story of Glumov: another source (in the fictional setting) had implied that Glumov was in the Luden group all along.

Bibliography

# Strugatsky, Arkady and Boris. ''The Time Wanderers'' translated by

Antonina W. Bouis Antonina W. Bouis is a German literary translator from Russian to English. She has been called "the best literary translator from Russian" by ''Publishers Weekly''. Life Born in West Germany, Bouis was educated in the United States. She has degre ...

. New York: Richardson & Steirman, March 25, 1987, 213 pp. . # Strugatsky, Arkady and Boris. ''The Time Wanderers'' translated by Antonina W. Bouis. New York: St. Martin's Press, May, 1988, 213 pp. .

External links

''The Time Wanderers'' by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
on the Perm mirror of Maxim Moshkow Library.
''The Time Wanderers'' by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
in the Meta.Ua Library. {{DEFAULTSORT:Time Wanderers, The 1985 novels 1985 in the Soviet Union 1985 science fiction novels Soviet science fiction novels Noon Universe novels Novels by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

Plot summary

See also

Bibliography

External links