Scratching the surface of conjecture and propaganda
(4/5)
The
Iron Curtain once held back more than culture and economy, but at the same
time, the shroud became an intriguing mystery to some. The USSR was an
unfathomable territory and within its expansive borders it contained an
infinity of nuances, nooks and crannies, and its own literature. Around 2000, I
was compelled to read Soviet-era travel fiction to experience this
mystification of the USA’s
old enemy, a sub-genre that I continue to read today. I’m only now getting
around to reading Soviet SF. After my Japanese SF project last year, I decided
to take the dive in to Soviet SF… so this is the first in a series.
Isaac
Asimov’s introduction sort of sets the reader up for disappointment: “the
particular stories in this book were selected in part for their relative
inoffensiveness [in regards to propaganda and anti-Americanisms]”. If you’re
looking for brightly colored propaganda, communist rhetoric, or the steeled
Soviet pride, you’re looking in the wrong place. Furthermore, you may think
that all stories would have a heavy sociological slant, but you’d have to dig a
little to get to that kind of message. I’ve tried to portray each story in
terms of propaganda, but actually they read just like any other collection from
the 1950s.
All stories were translated by Violet L. Dutt. All quotes of propaganda are from this forum.
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“Hoity-Toity” –
Alexander Beliaev (1930/1961, novelette) – 2/5
Synopsis: In Berlin, the circus’s main
attraction is an elephant with the ability to count, read, and message. When it
refuses to do manual labor, its handler strikes it leg, sending it off in a fit
to the countryside. Named Hoity-Toity, it eats, bathes, and tramples where it
likes until the police begin to shoot. Soon, a telegram informs the circus that
a scientist is coming to handle the situation as he created it in the first
place. Then the story unfolds of a brain transplant, an adventure through
Africa, and fear of the white man. 68 pages
Propaganda: Central Committee of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union for the 60th Anniversary of the Great
October Socialist Revolution, propaganda slogan #39:
Engineers
and technical workers! Rationalizers and inventors! Actively struggle to hasten
scientific-technical progress!
Analysis: While the main protagonist of
“Hoity-Toity” is indeed the elephant with a man’s mind, Hoity-Toity is actually
the result of brilliant Soviet scientific rationalization by the mind of
Professor Wagner in Moscow. Wagner’s inventions baffle his own
assistants—including the transparent, hollow, man-sized rubber ball—but his
most amazing achievement to-date is the keeping and growing of a live
brain—that of a man named Ring, who was young German scientist who died in Abyssinia.
Wagner’s unparalleled rationalization skills allow him to benefit the young
German by transferring his brain to that of an elephant, which is the only
animal large enough to house his artificially grown brain.
Regardless of the
unprecedented feat in modern science, Ring is ungrateful as he casually spends
his life in a circus making money for its ringleader; and regardless of his
size, Ring is irresponsible in his range of possibilities as she shuns manual
labor for which he is clearly built. Once on his stubborn rampage, Ring is only
calmed down by the assurance that he will meet Wagner, who may be the only
person who truly understands his existence as an elephant. Hoity-Toity/Ring
agrees to come back to the circus after a two-week vacation in the Alps, with
the professor and his assistant along. Here, the professor is not only a great
logic-minded scientist, but he is also a compassionate soft-hearted human.
Review: In his introduction to the
collection, Isaac Asimov outlines three stages of American science fiction:
Stage One (1926-1938):
adventure dominant
Stage Two (1938-1950):
technology dominant
Stage Three (1950-?):
sociology dominant
Being a Soviet science
fiction story, you’d immediately assume that the premise for the story to have
either an obvious sociological banner for communism or a clever underlying
message… so, stage three. While the story starts out with hints of allegory
about the responsibility of all Soviet labors—big and small, high and low—the
story quickly turns into one of adventure and science, thereon losing all of
its social currents in the beginning. This is a weak start to an otherwise
hearty collection.
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“Spontaneous Reflex”
– Arkandy & Boris Strugatsky (1958/1961, novelette) – 4/5
Synopsis: With numerous sensors, Urm is able
to sense the world to a more thorough degree than any human; however, like a
human, he too can become bored. Unsatisfied with its underground concrete cube
as its sole known location, it opens the door, satisfied with its squeak. In
the halls, in approaches danger without fear, destroys without conscious, and
frightens without shame. As it reaches the surface, its Master attempts to
bargain with it and, in the end, to find a way to disable it. A victim of its
own success, mere bulldozers are able to pin it. 23 pages
Propaganda: Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union for the 60th Anniversary of the Great
October Socialist Revolution, propaganda slogan
#60:
Fraternal
greeting to the courageous fighters for people's freedom, democracy and
socialism who are suffering in prisons and fascist walls! Communists and
workers of all nations! More actively involve yourselves in the struggle to
halt terror and repression! Freedom for the prisoners of imperialism and
reaction!
Analysis: High technology, especially of
military value, is often a closely guarded secret as it’s usually of sensitive
nature. The robot named Urm—an acronym for Universal Robot Machine—is a
superior robot to such a degree that it can learn and develop while left on its
own; in essence, the robot was given free-thought. Indeed, this would be a
dangerous thing if given free movement through the land, but even Soviet
citizens didn’t have free movement, instead, Urm is confined to a subterranean
prison devoid of sensation.
If Urm had not been
given free-thought, it would have been content to stare at its bleakly grey
environment; however, with primary urges to experience the world and adapt, it
tests the door, the halls, the walls, and even under the open sky. Not made of
flesh and bone, its curiosity is backed by metal and mechanizations, propelling
it through walls and radiation without harm. Its two weaknesses are its most
human-like: (1) As it has had very little experience in human communication,
its salutations come off as horrifically abrupt; (2) Its locomotion is an
adaptable one for all terrains—two legs and two arms.
Having been suppressed
for so long, it fails to find allegiance among the men at the base; also having
been given the fallacy of man’s locomotion, it fails to escape… only o be
defeated by a much simpler technology and one that doesn’t rely on human
fallacy: the treads and scoop of bulldozers. As it wallows in frustration, the
only rational thing for its creator (its Master) is to simply switch it off.
Review: This is a familiar trope of a
robot gone berserk, complete with undeveloped human emotions while following a
foundational, pre-programmed prerogative. What it makes up for in originality
is its allegory of the danger of free-thought, inherited human flaw,
development in seclusion, and reliability of tried-and-true methods. It’s a
well-fitted glove for a Soviet story compounded by the repeated haunting salutation
of the robot: “здравствуйте как поживаете?” or “Zdravstvuite, kak pozhivaete?”
or “Good day, how do you do?” Even taken at its most literal level, the action
story would be a good, short romp yet with a lackluster ending if you weren’t
aware of its allegory.
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“A Visitor from
Outer Space” – Alexander Kazantsev (1951/1961, shortstory) – 3/5
Synopsis: The ship Georgy Sedov stops
in the arctic to pick up three unusual passengers who are on an expedition. The
crew are curious to learn that the nature of the expedition is an astronomical
one, yet it doesn’t concern the stars; rather, they are there to verify life of
Mars. Yevgeny Alexeich Krymov, the lead astronomer, then outlines his theory of
life on Mars with its causeways of life and how it relates to the Tunguska
event of 1908 and his involvement in its scientific study. His series of facts
entice and persuade the crew. 18 pages
Propaganda: Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet
Union for the 60th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution,
propaganda slogan
#50:
Fraternal
greeting to the peoples of the socialist nations! Let develop and strengthen
the peaceful system of socialism--the deciding force of the anti-imperialist
struggle, the bulwark of peace, democracy, and social progress!
Analysis: Conjecture upon conjecture, the
so-called astronomer posits life on Mars with the bare minimum of fact
compounded with the unshakable mindset of a zealot; as a result, the tainted
inferences begin to stack into a scaffolding of the brittle twigs.
The impoverished
Martian landscape naturally produces a socialist people who fly to Earth in
order to seek its bounty of resources, yet understands the native people’s own
needs for the same resources. Here, the presumed invaders are only benevolent
victims of their natural environment wanting to understand and take what they need—no
more, no surplus, no capital. In reality, Russia once unofficially founded a
colony in Africa. Within a month, that colony was disbanded… and is it any
wonder that it happens to be in the ever so displaced location of Djibouti,
Somalia? Because we all know how well colonization affected its native peoples
as there are so many shining examples of benevolence among them.
Also their sloppy
landing—the result being the Tunguska explosion of 1908—comes only one decade
before the October Revolution of 1917… which may or may not be a coincidence.
Review: As the analysis implies, the story
really isn’t one that emits the character and culture of the Russian people;
rather, it’s a cheaply woven fictional narrative infused with the author’s own
exaggerated speculation on Mars and the Tunguska event. That said, at least it’s an entertaining
string of speculation; it’s not enough to convince the reader to subscribe to
Kazantsev’s/ Krymov’s ideas, but it’s enough to beguile the ship’s crew. There
are, however, still people who want to believe in the fantastic, minute
possibilities on the steep sides of Occum’s Razor: naturally, an exploding UFO
caused the Tunguska event—a conspiracy theory that’s been alive for 65 years.
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“The Martian” –
Alexander Kazantsev (1958/1961, shortstory) – 4/5
Synopsis: Entertained by the detailed
account of the Tunguska event, the same crew of the Georgy Sedov are
eager to hear another story, be it far-fetched or not. A pilot recounts his
tale of meeting a peculiar man—long-limbed, large-eyed, short, and bald—in his
office coming to speak with him about his willingness to become a member of a
manned Mars expedition. Most Soviet applicants take pride in their personal
sacrifice to science and the State, but the odd little man says he just wants
to return home. 13 pages
Propaganda: Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union for the 60th Anniversary of the Great
October Socialist Revolution, propaganda slogan
#31:
Young
men and women! Persistently educate yourselves in communist convictions! Learn
to live, work, and struggle as Leninists, as communists!
Analysis: This is somewhat of a continuation
of Kazantsev’s previous story—“A Visitor from Outer Space”—where Martians crash
land on Mars having originated from a Socialist civilization and seeking
resources. The beginning of the story features the same gullible-slash-eager
crew for storytelling; this time, however, the story is told through a pilot
and his encounter with an unusual man.
In essence, the
Martian who comes to visit Earth and the Soviet Union—albeit a departure from
its original mission as the Martian did crash land—is eager to return to
his people. His eagerness stems from his one major finding: What had taken
thousands of generations of lineage and struggle for the Martians to develop
their form of communism, the Soviets have reached the same advanced level in
only one-hundred years. Inspired by the feat and spirit of the Soviet people,
the Martian wishes to return to Mars in order to spread his enthusiasm of
brotherhood.
Progress is commonly
seen in terms of technology—the creation and use of it. To proponents of
communism, progress is seen in the light of a political ideology championing
equality—the creation and practice of it. Most Soviets were proud of both
aspects: the creation of communism and the practice of communism. They
considered it to be the end-game in all societies where all must be shared for
social progress. The Martians reach that same point after hundreds of thousands
of years, making it their own end-game of an equal society. The sheer triumph
of the Soviet people to push forward with this mindset inspires the Martian.
Review: This story is, by far, the most
gung-ho about communism—its creation and practice. To view it in a more
favorable light of advanced progress, Kazantsev compares the USSR’s development
of communism in decades with the Martians’ development of the same in
millennia. It’s very heavily built upon a Soviet-centric view of their pride,
minus the flag-waving, anthem-singing, and America-bashing. If there were piece
of Soviet science fiction that trumps the propaganda of this story, it’d
surprise me.
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“Infra Draconis” –
Georgy Gurevich (1958/1961, novelette) – 4/5
Synopsis: With ideas in his head and stars
in his eyes, Rady Blokhin yearns to meet the famed space navigator Grandpa
Charushin, who’s been the first man to Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, etc. Rady’s
radical idea: There may be black-bodied stars—called infras—that are so small
that they don’t radiate light yet they have enough warmth to heat its surface
internally. Charushin takes to the idea and soon one is found seven light-days
away, a thirteen year flight. They both join the six-man mission and discover
not only one, but two infras. 19 pages
Propaganda: Central Committee of the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union for the 60th
Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, propaganda slogan
#11:
Long live the indissoluble union of
the working class, kolkhoz peasantry, and national intelligentsia! Strengthen
the social-political and ideological unity of Soviet society!
Analysis: Charushin isn’t only the
universally admired hero of the state, but he’s only a caring and concerned
individual. His triumphs in space have never detracted him from the core of his
existence—before being a hero, he was simply a man, and forever a simple man he
will be. Now, however, he is a man of the people, so he must help those who
lack his influence and power.
His down-to-earth
approach wins admirers in the scientific community as well as among the people
at large. Charushin even entertains the scientific whims of an eager, young man
named Rady. The young man’s convictions, though continually against the
opinions of the other professionals, wins the mind and heart of Charushin. When
Rady’s nearly preposterous theory is proven correct, Charushin takes yet
another leap for being such a well-admired hero of the state: he enlists for
the mission.
Charushin’s dedication
towards serving his people and his nation doesn’t cease even when he’s seven
light-days from his mother country. When an unexpected discovery throws the
mission into a tailspin, Charushin naturally, as the hero of the state, takes
it upon himself to rectify the problem. The solution is an immensely personal
one, yet he doesn’t think of himself—he only thinks about the success for his
crew, his people, and his country.
Though Charushin is
never mentioned of having received any distinction from the Soviet Union, his unprecedented
statue as a hero must certainly qualify him for the nation’s highest
distinction: Hero of the Soviet Union. Up until its disuse in December 1991,
the award was given to 12,775 Heroes, many of them egotistical politicians and
war veterans from WWII, but all Soviet cosmonauts also received the award.
Naturally, as the highest distinction from the state, all recipients of the
award should be held in the highest regard in terms of respect and morals.
Charushin fits this profile by being selfless in the face of danger and by
giving his life—in more than one regard—to the advancement of the state.
Review: Modern-day hero worship is a
watered down affair where praise is given to those who do very little for such
respect—actors, singers, soldiers, etc. For the most banal of reasons, many
loft these so-called heroes with endless praise for, usually, one simple,
unifaceted fact: they sing a hit song, they are admired; they star in comic book
movies, they are admired; they enlist, they are admired. I’ve seen them all
fall from shame, unworthy of the initial title of “hero” which was so
carelessly lofted upon them. The word “hero” greatly loses its meaning when
it’s vaunted toward every person who raises a finger.
Charushin, however, is
worthy of the term… probably much more so than the other 12,775 so-called
Heroes of the Soviet Union. His professional and humanistic acts are worthy of
praise; he leads a productive life that benefits everyone; and he isn’t above
sacrifice or ego. I doubt Charushin would fall from shame by his shameless acts
of drug indulgence, misogyny, or highhandedness.
Compound this worthy
worship of the hero with an interesting scientific angle and the story is
propelled by its own steam. It’s intriguing, respectable, and worthy of my own
praise for being the best story in the collection.
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“Professor Bern’s
Awakening” – Vladimir Savchenko (1956/1961, shortstory) – 4/5
Synopsis: The world is bent on suicide by more
powerful and efficient ways, so Professor Bern has a plan to opt out of this
eventual downfall: lower his body temperature in the absence of moisture and
lay supine for one-hundred-eighty centuries below forty-five feet of desert
floor. With only his assistant knowing his secret, the professor settles in for
the long sleep in the void of the Gobi desert. He awakens stiffly, looks at the
time, and bores to the surface; there, he sees a tree, a bird, and a humanoid
with a club running at him. 17 pages
Propaganda: Central Committee of the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union for the 60th
Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, propaganda slogan
#70:
Peoples of the world! Decisively
speak out against the production of the neutron bomb! The design and production
of new types of weapons of mass destruction must be halted!
Analysis: Regardless on which side of the
Iron Curtain you looked, each was amassing earth-shattering weapons:
multi-warhead-tipped ICBMs with hydrogen bombs and neutron bombs. The so-called
“arms race” was nothing more than a pissing match with quantity of bombs,
tonnage of bombs, and more novel ways to kill in mass.
In 1956, when this
story was originally written, the US
production of weapons was in full swing (2,422 in 1955) while the USSR production
line was still infantile (200 in 1955). But, certainly, on the horizon for both
nations, a news arms race had already begun, wafting fears of mutually assured
destruction… a destruction of life, culture, and nations not only on both sides
of the Iron Curtain, but all over the world. Insanity.
As a professor, Bern is a learned man who
can see the course of history before his eyes by reviewing the facts and
inserting the variables. Scared by the escalations in political rhetoric and
production of arms, Bern
makes the educated decision to opt out of this decade, this century, this
millennium altogether, and this eon all together. Even though the third world
war will be fought with atomics and the earth devastated, Professor Bern
believes that the earth can replenish its vitality over time… or 18,000 years
to be exact.
Professor Berns finds
a kernel of truth in the following quote, a paraphrase of which opens the
story: “I know not with what
weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with
sticks and stones”. But Bern is just a man at his core, someone who is
just as scared of life as everyone else and searches for something to cling to;
some men cling to the bottle, others to religion or hate (or both), but Bern
clings to the wise words of a fellow learned man.
Review: There are two parts of this story
that are carefully constructed yet both require the reader to withhold
believability: the delivery and the punchline. Bern thinks—knows through experiments—that he
can hold a body in low-temperature limbo for at least six months so, naturally,
this process can be protracted 36,000-fold. When he awakes with only
grogginess, the reader must maintain the first line of credibility—that of the
delivery. The last full page is an added level of incredulousness, yet it’s
also kind of cool. When taken in terms of propaganda for the State, the ending
has a few subtle reminders that the Party will survive.
