January's book: Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky

Your votes are in and our January book, on the theme of dystopia, is Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky, the poignant and introspective novel of first contact that inspired the classic film Stalker.

Red Schuhart is one of the strange misfits who are compelled by some unknown force to venture illegally into the Zone and, in spite of the extreme danger, collect the mysterious artefacts that the alien visitors left scattered around. His life is dominated by the Zone and the thriving black market in the alien products. Even the nature of his daughter has been determined by the Zone. And it is for her that Red makes his last, tragic foray into the hazardous and hostile depths.

The 224 page English translation is widely available in book or electronic form, with a foreword by Ursula Le Guin. Happy reading and see you there!