Arkady Strugatsky is rightfully considered one of the recognized patriarchs of Russian science fiction. In a creative union with his brother Boris, he created a whole scattering of works that entered the "golden fund" of literature of this genre. It is difficult even to simply list all the literary awards that a science fiction writer has received.
Arkady Strugatsky: facts from the biography
The future science fiction classic was born in 1925 in Batumi. His father worked as a newspaper editor, his mother taught Russian language and literature. Arkady went to school in his native Batumi, but when the boy was nine years old, the family moved to the banks of the Neva. It was in Leningrad in 1933 that his brother Boris, who later became the co-author of Arkady, was born.
During the war, the Strugatsky family ended up in a city besieged by the Germans. In the very first days of the war, the young man took part in the construction of defensive structures on the outskirts of the city. And then he was taken to the plant, where shells for the front were produced. When the evacuation was announced, only Arkady's father and himself were able to leave besieged Leningrad. Mother and Boris were forced to stay in the city: nine-year-old Boris could not go due to illness.
The parents did not manage to reunite, the father of the Strugatsky brothers fell ill and passed away in Vologda. Arkady survived only by a miracle: the train where the young man was traveling was bombed by the Germans.
For over a year Arkady worked in the small village of Tashla near Orenburg. He was able to grow to the head of the food procurement center. The money earned was enough for the trip home. In the spring of 1943, Arkady took his mother and brother from Leningrad.
Peaceful Labor Time
After the end of the war, Arkady received a higher education. At the age of 18, he became a cadet at an artillery school. Upon graduation, he was sent to a military university, where he underwent language training. In 1949, the future writer received a diploma in translator of Japanese and English languages.
Until the mid-1950s, Arkady Natanovich served as a military translator in Kamchatka. Then he was transferred to Khabarovsk. Having retired to the reserve, Strugatsky moved to the capital of the USSR.
The Strugatsky family knew and loved literature well. Arcadia has always been drawn to the craft of writing. Rich life experience strenuously asked for the pages of books. Arkady wrote his first story "The Finding of Major Korolyov" back in the days of the siege of Leningrad. However, it was not possible to save it. Then there was the story "How King died" (1946).
Having moved to Moscow, Arkady Natanovich became an editor at Goslitizdat. He plunged into literary creation with his head. In 1964, Strugatsky became a full member of the Writers' Union of the USSR. The science fiction writer is also known for his translations from Japanese. The Strugatsky brothers also have joint translations of works by American science fiction writers.
Arkady wrote his main books in close collaboration with his younger brother Boris. The cooperation was fruitful, although Arkady lived in the capital, and Boris in Leningrad. The brothers' creative meeting place was the Komarovo Art House on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. It was here that sketches of future books were discussed. After drawing up the plot of the works, the brothers went home and began to work on the next book.
Arkady Strugatsky: the legend of Russian science fiction
The Strugatskys' books belong to the genre of social fiction. There are not many descriptions of technical innovations of the future in them. The main attention of the writers was drawn to the inner world of the heroes, who often found themselves in a situation of moral choice.
Some of the works of Arkady and Boris Strugatsky were filmed. The first to see the light in the form of a film was the story “Hotel“At the Dead Mountaineer's”, in which the authors managed to combine fantasy and detective story with great skill.
The film "Stalker" by Andrey Tarkovsky, based on the "Roadside Picnic", received no less fame. Then there was the cult film "The Wizards". And the story "It is difficult to be a god" has won the screen version twice.
Personal life of Arkady Strugatsky
Inna Shershova became the first wife of the writer. But this marriage was not lasting: the couple broke up in the mid-50s. The couple did not have children.
In 1955, Arkady married a second time. His chosen one was Elena Voznesenskaya, who already had a daughter from her first marriage. Arkady raised the girl as his own. In this marriage, Arkady Natanovich and Elena had a daughter, Maria, who later became the wife of the famous politician Yegor Gaidar.
Back in the 70s, the writer learned about his incurable disease: he was diagnosed with cancer. Arkady Natanovich courageously resisted the disease, but the disease defeated him at the age of 67.
