Biography
Robert Sheckley was born in 1928 in Brooklyn (New York). Grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, then moved back to New York. His parents, who immigrated from Poland to America, had Jewish and Polish roots.
He began to read early, from childhood he loved to read and dreamed of becoming a writer. In his youth, he was fond of the work of such authors as Robert Heinlein, A. Van Vogt, John Collier. After leaving school, he attended New York University, majoring in the liberal arts. Served as a clerk in the army in Korea. He returned to the United States due to a conflict with his superiors. For some time he worked at a metallurgical plant.
"Why fantasy?" he was often asked afterwards. The answer was the same: "Only she gives the creator complete freedom." (from video interview with R. Sheckley)
The young talented author does not go unnoticed by the editors of the most popular new monthly science fiction magazine in the United States in those years, Galaxy (originally called Galaxy Science Fiction). Sheckley began to publish constantly in it, getting not one, but 3-4 cents per word, and with each new issue gaining more and more popularity. Thus, the writer's fees for one story of 5,000 words were up to $ 200, which in today's terms is about $ 2,000.
His humorous cycle of seven stories about unlucky businessmen Gregor and Arnold, who founded AAA-POPS, was very popular ( Wellness natural environment ) and trying to make money on the provision of services to improve the natural environment in other worlds.
In a video interview with writer Roberto Quaglie, Robert Sheckley asked "What question do you hate the most?" with his usual gentle humor replied: Where do you get your ideas from? This is the question I get asked most often. If I knew "from where", I would go there and take more of them!". And to the question “Which question did you like the most?” answered: " Unfortunately, I was never asked. It sounds like this: "Don't you think that the writer is like a clever liar from a well-known legend?" I would answer: “Yes. I think yes».
Sheckley's works have been made into four films:
- "Escape from Hell Island" ("Escape from Hell Island",);
- The Tenth Victim (1965, starring Marcello Mastroianni);
- The Fugitive (1992, other name Immortality Corporation, starring Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger);
In 2007, the story "Guardian Bird" was filmed (in the series "Chronicles of the Future" - Masters of Science Fiction).
Of Sheckley's other works, in addition to short stories, the most famous novels are:
- "Corporation" Immortality "" (" Immortality Inc.", 1958-59);
- "Status Civilization" ("The Status Civilization", 1960);
- "Journey to the Day After Tomorrow" ("The Walk of Joenis"; 1962, 1978);
- Mind Exchange (Mindswap, June 1965);
- "Coordinates of Miracles" ("Dimension of Miracles", 1968);
- as well as the story "Ticket to the planet Tranay" ("A Ticket to Tranay", 1955).
He also wrote three humorous detective novels about a private detective. Hobe Draconians:
- "Soma Blues"("Soma-Blues", 1977);
- "Detective agency "Alternative""("The Alternative Detective", 1993);
- "Between Scylla and Charybdis"("Draconian New York", 1996).
Sheckley collaborated with science fiction writers such as Roger Zelazny, Harry Harrison, Harlan Ellison and others. He was a close friend of the science fiction satirist William Tenn. In the 1990s, Robert Sheckley worked on the script for the computer game Netrunner.
In total, during his life, Robert Sheckley wrote 20 novels and more than 400 short stories and novellas, which made up 13 author's collections. His works have been translated into many languages of the world, amounting to more than 65 books.
In the 70s, the writer traveled a lot, sailed, was the editor of the Omni magazine.
In 1991, Robert Sheckley was awarded the Daniel Gallan ( Daniel F. Gallun) for contributions to the genre science fiction. In St. Petersburg, he was awarded the Wanderer Award for his contribution to the field of humor and science fiction.
Robert Sheckley. Born July 16, 1928 in New York - died December 9, 2005 in Poughkeepsie, New York. The famous American science fiction writer, author of several hundred fantasy stories and several dozen science fiction novels and short stories. Master of the ironic humorous story. One of the most original science fiction humorists. Early in his career, he wrote under the pseudonyms Finn O'Donnevan and Ned Lang.
Robert Sheckley was born in 1928 in New York, grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, then moved back to New York.
He began to read early, from childhood he loved to read and dreamed of becoming a writer. In his youth, he was fond of the works of such authors as Robert Heinlein, A. Van Vogt, John Collier. After graduation, he studied at New York University, majoring in the humanities. He served as a clerk in the army in Korea. He returned to the United States due to a conflict with his superiors. For some time he worked at a metallurgical plant.
In the early 1950s, Shackley began writing his first short stories and, submitting them to science fiction magazines, met with a very warm welcome from editors and readers. Over the next ten years, he wrote several hundred short, witty fantasy stories. As Sheckley admitted in one of his last video interviews (2004), those were the most happy years his life. He rented a room first, and then one-room apartment V quiet place center of New York. He composed several stories a week, typing them on a typewriter, and on his Lambretta scooter he delivered them to the editorial offices. The writer's phone was bursting with editorial calls.
Once, a well-known editor of a science fiction magazine, after reading several stories by an aspiring author, said to the young Sheckley: "I will buy every word of yours, everything you write, because I will sell everything you write." Sheckley said that these were some of the most pleasant words for him. (From autobiographical memoirs).
"Why fantasy?" he was often asked afterwards. The answer was the same: "Only she gives the creator complete freedom."
The young talented author does not go unnoticed by the editors of the most popular in those years in the United States of the new monthly science fiction magazine "Galaxy" (originally called "Galaxy Science Fiction"). Sheckley begins to print constantly in it, receiving not one, but 3-4 cents per word; and with each new release gaining more and more popularity. Thus, the writer's fees for one story of 5,000 words amounted to $ 200, which, in terms of today, is about $ 2,000.
In 1954, Sheckley received the "Best Debut" award.- the highest title awarded in the science fiction genre to the most promising young author. Many venerable writers and critics recognized Robert Sheckley as the best science fiction writer of the 50s and 60s.
In the 60s, he actively published his fantastic stories in the most famous magazines, including the literary columns of Playboy magazine, which was very popular at that time and paid large fees to its authors (thanks to the huge circulation in those years - more than 7 million copies only). in USA).
Sheckley quickly gains recognition and fame precisely as a master short story. However, the continuation of the "star" time of magazine prose in the United States in the 60s was prevented by the mass distribution of television. With the advent of televisions in every home, magazine circulation dropped, many magazines closed altogether, and short-form writers were mostly out of work. "Galaxy" reduces rates to authors to 1.5 cents per word, begins to appear irregularly, then not monthly, but 6 times a year; until it closes.
Sheckley tries himself in big literary forms going for it because of the demands of the market. However, here, in a genre that was not so beloved for himself, the writer was less successful. He also wrote several detective stories written mostly under pseudonyms.
Sheckley also writes 15 episodes for the television series Captain Video and 60 five-minute novels in the Beyond green door"("Behind the Green Door"). They were read on the radio famous actor Basil Rathbone, who played famous detective in the American TV series Sherlock Holmes.
"Where no man has gone before" (1954);
"Untouched by Human Hands" ("Untouched by Human Hands", 1954, 1955);
"Citizen in Space" ("Citizen in Space", 1955);
"Pilgrimage to Earth" ("Pilgrimage to Earth", 1957);
"Ideas: No Limits" ("Notions: Unlimited", 1960);
"Shop of infinity" ("Store of Infinity", 1960);
"Shards of Space" ("Shards of Space", 1962);
"Trap on a person" ("The People Trap", 1968);
"Do you feel anything when I do this?" ("Can You Feel Anything When I Do This?", 1971);
"The Robot Who Looked Like Me" ("The Robot Who Looked Like Me", 1978);
"The Wonderful World of Robert Sheckley" ("The Wonderful World of Robert Sheckley", 1979);
“Is that what people do?” ("Is THAT What People Do?", 1984);
"The Shecherezade Machine" ("The Shecherezade Machine", 1995).
The stories of Robert Sheckley are distinguished by a paradoxical look, showing the most ordinary circumstances and objects from an unusual side, as well as an unexpected ending. The style of the writer's works is often compared with O. Henry.
His humorous cycle of seven stories about unlucky businessmen Gregor and Arnold, who founded the AAA-POPS company and are trying to make money on the provision of services for the improvement of the natural environment in other worlds, was very popular.
In a video interview with writer Roberto Quaglie, Robert Sheckley, when asked “What question do you hate the most?”, with his usual gentle humor, answered: “Where do you get your ideas from? This is the question I get asked most often. If I knew where, I would go there and take more of them!”. And to the question “What question did you like the most?”, He answered: “Unfortunately, I was never asked it. It sounds like this: “Don’t you think that the writer is like a clever liar from a famous legend?” I would say, "Yes. I think so."
Sheckley's works have been made into four films:
The Tenth Victim (1965, starring Marcello Mastroianni);
"The Fugitive" (1992, other name "Immortality Corporation", starring Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger);
"Escape from Hell Island" ("Escape from Hell Island", 1963);
"The Price of Risk" (1983);
In 2007, the story "Guardian Bird" was filmed (in the series "Chronicles of the Future" - Masters of Science Fiction).
Among amateur cinematographers, there were also fans of Sheckley's work. For example, an amateur short film “Risk Prize” (2009) was filmed in Ukraine. story of the same name writer.
Although Sheckley's works were published constantly, his fame in his homeland was not particularly wide. The short form, surreal plots, and lack of connection with the usual techniques of science fiction made it difficult for the reader to perceive his work. On top of that, the free market a large number of authors working in the science fiction genre, a sufficient number of publications and their high cost, and, most importantly, the decline in the popularity of magazine prose in the United States in the 1960s.
However, his works, translated into Russian in the 60-80s and published in large editions, instantly brought Robert Sheckley a unique popularity and love in the USSR - even more than in his homeland. a significant role played in it, of course, and form style the author - a bright entertaining plot intriguing from the first words, amazing humor, unique kindness and philanthropy, and always - an unexpected denouement. Robert Sheckley was and is currently one of the most famous and beloved by Russian readers of foreign science fiction.
On the first visit of the master to the USSR, after the performance, one of his Russian admirers approached him and asked him to sign an autograph on a collection of Sheckley's stories, reprinted on a typewriter. The writer was amazed: “Do you really have such a shortage of books that you have to reprint these books yourself?” He was only partly right. He still couldn't believe how popular and loved he was in the USSR (interview).
Of Sheckley's other works, in addition to short stories, the best known are novels:
"Immortality Corporation" ("Immortality, Inc.", 1958-59);
"Status Civilization" ("The Status Civilization", 1960);
"Journey to the Day After Tomorrow" ("The Walk of Joenis"; 1962, 1978);
"Mindswap" ("Mindswap", June 1965);
“Coordinates of Miracles” (“Dimension of Miracles”, 1968);
as well as the story "Ticket to the planet Tranay" ("A Ticket to Tranay", 1955).
Together with Roger Zelazny, Robert Sheckley wrote a trilogy about the hapless red demon Azzi (199195):
"Bring Me The Head of Prince Charming";
“If you are not lucky with Faust” (“If At Faust You Don "t Succeed");
"The play must go on" ("A Farce To Be Reckoned With").
When asked which of his works and characters are closest to him, Robert Sheckley named Tom Carmody (Coordinates of Miracles) and Marvin Flynn (Mind Exchange). And he explained: “They are constantly traveling to other worlds, always getting into trouble. All this is what we romantics need.”
He also wrote three humorous detective novels about the private investigator Hobe Draconian:
"Soma-Blues" ("Soma-Blues", 1977);
"Detective Agency "Alternative"" ("The Alternative Detective", 1993);
"Between Scylla and Charybdis" ("Draconian New York", 1996).
Sheckley collaborated with such science fiction writers as Roger Zelazny, Harry Harrison, Harlan Ellison and others. He was a close friend of the science fiction satirist William Tenn. In the 90s, Robert Sheckley worked on the script computer game"Netrunner".
In total, during his life, Robert Sheckley wrote 15 novels and more than 400 short stories and novellas, which made up 13 author's collections. His works have been translated into many languages of the world, amounting to more than 65 books.
In the 70s, the writer traveled a lot, sailed, and was the editor of Omni magazine.
In 1991, Robert Sheckley received the Daniel F. Gallun Award for his contribution to the science fiction genre. In 1998, in St. Petersburg, he was awarded the Wanderer Award for his contribution to the field of humor and science fiction.
Sheckley has been married five times. He has a sister, Joan Klein, a son, Jason, from his first marriage, a daughter, Alice Kvitney, from his second, a daughter, Anna, and a son, Jed, from his third, and three grandchildren. IN last period Robert Sheckley was married to writer Gail Dana and lived in Portland. Sometimes he came to Russia, because there were his main admirers and admirers.
In 1999, Sheckley made friends with his fan, Italian writer Roberto Quaglia (Vice Chairman European society science fiction since 2002), with whom he often and for a long time stayed in Genoa, and with whom he traveled a lot around the world, gave interviews, participated in talk shows and appeared on television. With him, Sheckley planned to write two joint books. They were started but not completed due to the death of the writer.
Robert Sheckley has always been a passionate smoker., and in last years life - also a gourmet. At his speeches, as an exception, he was allowed to smoke anywhere and everywhere, including even in fire hazardous places - libraries, printing houses, etc.: the writer could not spend even ten minutes without a cigarette.
In recent years, he lived in Ibiza with his fifth wife, and subsequently - alone. At this time, Sheckley wrote little, published almost nothing, lived modestly, was ill and often needed money.
Remembering his popularity in Russia and Ukraine (where science fiction has always been developed, and where he repeatedly came by invitation, as an honored guest). In the last years of his life, Robert Sheckley considered the possibility of settling on the Black Sea coast - inexpensive, warm and romantic place conducive to creativity. However, these plans of the writer were not destined to come true.
In the spring of 2005, during a visit to Ukraine for the Portal Literary Convention, Sheckley's state of health (due to a cold, overexertion and old age) deteriorated sharply, and he was hospitalized. The writer stayed in Ukraine, his medical insurance, most likely, was overdue at the time of hospitalization. Due to the seriousness of the disease, it was decided to place him not in a free state, but in an expensive private clinic. The decision was correct, but Sheckley was not able to pay for her treatment on his own, and his debt ($10,000;) was paid by the famous Ukrainian businessman Viktor Pinchuk.
A fundraiser was also organized for him, which helped him (in serious condition, under the supervision of Ukrainian doctors) to return to their homeland, to the United States. His daughter Anna came to Ukraine for him.
Robert Sheckley could not recover and passed away on December 9, 2005, at the age of 78, in a hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York. He died from a complication of a cerebral aneurysm, two weeks after a not-too-successful operation.
Robert Sheckley, known as the most influential science fiction writer of the twentieth century, was born in Brooklyn on July 16, 1928 to a businessman's family. The writer managed to release own biography. Robert spoke of his mother as a simple girl Rachel from the village.
She taught at primary school Saskatchewan school. The father of the science fiction writer, David, dreamed of firmly gaining a foothold in the business and, despite frequent failures, found his place. His last and main place of work was the insurance company of Schiff Terhew. There he received the position of secretary-treasurer.
Childhood and youth
Four years after the birth of Robert, the Sheckley family lived in New York, and then settled in the state of New Jersey, in the city of Maplewood. By origin, his parents were Polish Jews who lived in Warsaw until 1980, but towards the end of the 19th century they had to immigrate to America.
During summer holidays grandfather was taking Robert and his sister Joan to the farm. Future Writer grew up as an inquisitive child who loved adventure, books and jazz. Sheckley read books, Sturgeon and Kuttner. He dreamed of becoming a recognized best-selling author and began his first work on a typewriter.
Attempts to try himself as a writer were unsuccessful, so Robert continued to read and study at school. When Sheckley was sixteen years old, he decided to live separately from his parents, but this did not lead to anything. Young Robert had to graduate and then get a job.
He made his living behind the counter in the store and with tools in the garden. In the 1940s, a man goes to serve in Korea. That's where it starts writing activity. Sheckley took over editing the regiment's newspaper.
After returning from Korea, Robert entered the University of New York, where he began to study humanitarian sciences. University studies future science fiction combined with lectures. In addition to a close passion for literature, Robert played the guitar and even managed to earn a living from it. Circumstances developed in such a way that he had to leave the university and get a job at a factory.
Literature
In 1951, Robert Sheckley offered a collaboration to Imagination magazine. The editor-in-chief liked the fantasy stories and they were all published. In the future, the writer enthusiastically talked about working days in the office of the magazine, where he worked from morning to evening.
For a long time the science fiction writer worked on the story “The Shop of Infinity”. In 1959, the dystopia is published and gains popularity among amateurs. philosophical reflections about how to be happy.
Sheckley created stories, novels and fantasy scripts that were used on television and radio. Viewers loved Captain Video and Beyond the Green Door. In 1960, the popularity of Robert Sheckley began to gain momentum. He successfully sold all his works to the popular Galaxy.
Robert Sheckley's novel "Status Civilization" 1965 also becomes significant for the work of Robert Sheckley. "Galaxy" published the story "The Exchange of Minds", and then a revised book version comes out a year later.
Robert Sheckley's novel The Exchange of Minds In 1968, the story "Coordinates of Miracles" was published. It is believed that it begins worldwide fame science fiction. A work about space travel Tom Camordi fully demonstrates the talent of Sheckley as a writer, whose view of the world order and the meaning of existence attract the attention of readers.
Later, during a visit to Russia, Sheckley was pleasantly surprised that his work made such a splash. It is known that the images of some of the heroes of the second part of the "Coordinates of Miracles" Robert wrote with real people, Russian fans. The fantasy novel has been translated into several languages and has become a classic in the fantasy world. Almost the whole book can be divided into quotations - the humor is so subtle and the idea is fresh.
Robert Sheckley's novel Coordinates of Miracles Each work of a science fiction writer is a special world of extraordinary philosophy, reflections on good and evil, the search for meaning human existence. Any hero of Sheckley's work is a unique multifaceted personality that is revealed with each new page.
In 2000, Shackley met Roberto Quaglia, whose name is widely known in the literary community. They even had joint work planned, but due to Sheckley's death, they remained unfinished.
Personal life
The personal life of the classic of American fiction turned out to be stormy. Shackley met his first wife, Barbara Scardon, while studying at the university. She gave birth to his first child, Jason, but the marriage broke up.
The second marriage was also unsuccessful. Wife Ziva gave birth to Robert's daughter Alice, but the opinions of the newlyweds differed when they had to choose a place of residence. The townswoman Ziva refused to follow her husband, who wanted to settle in Ibiza.
In the new place, Robert Sheckley got together with Abby Shulman. Ibiza became a source of inspiration for the writer, but relations with new woman did not add up at all. Another loud scandal was the last for the couple: Sheckley collected all his works and went on a trip to the Far East.
The creative path of the writer was filled with difficulties due to drug addiction. At times it seemed to him that in this way the work of the brain was stimulated, new facets were opened. In 1990, upon his return to London, Shackley gave up the use of hallucinogens. In New York, he came up with the concept of Omni magazine, which he headed for a couple of years before his next marriage to writer Jay Rosebell.
However, this marriage was not the last. the main woman and the journalist Dana Gable became his inspiration. During life together Sheckley continues to work hard and fruitfully with his fifth wife.
Despite the number of marriages, Robert Sheckley spent the last years of his life alone, was sick a lot and devoted less time to creativity. In 2005, Sheckley flew to Ukraine and was rushed to the hospital there.
Death
The flight to Ukraine turned out to be disastrous for the elderly science fiction writer. Sheckley felt unwell and was hospitalized. The cost of treatment was more than $10,000. The illness came as a surprise to the writer, so fans organized a charity fundraiser to pay for expensive procedures. Part of the amount was contributed by a Ukrainian politician, whose name remained a secret.
When Robert Sheckley's condition improved, he returned to New York with his daughter Anna. But there the doctors were powerless. Gone at 77 famous science fiction writer. The cause of death, according to experts, was a brain aneurysm.
Quotes
“What nature took millions of years to achieve, man can grind to powder in one day!” (Mind exchange)
“It is easier to understand the universe than yourself” (Coordinates of Miracles)
"Love - wonderful game that begins with fun and happiness and ends with marriage” (Mind Exchange)
“It's the little things that make history. The present consists of a huge number of negligible factors that were formed in the past. If one more factor is introduced into the past, then a different result will inevitably be obtained in the present ”(Injured)
“Drops of pure experience are mined from the rubbish of being” (Coordinates of being)
Bibliography
- 1954 - “Where no man has gone before”
- 1955 - “Untouched by human hand”
- 1955 - "Citizen in Space"
- 1957 - "Pilgrimage to Earth"
- 1960 - “Ideas: no limits”
- 1960 - "Shop of infinity"
- 1962 - "Shards of space"
- 1968 - "Trap on a man"
- 1978 - "The Robot That Looked Like Me"
Robert Sheckley was born in 1928 in New York, grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, then moved back to New York.
He began to read early, from childhood he loved to read and dreamed of becoming a writer. In his youth, he was fond of the works of such authors as Robert Heinlein, A. Van Vogt, John Collier. After graduation, he studied at New York University, majoring in the humanities. He served as a clerk in the army in Korea. He returned to the United States due to a conflict with his superiors. For some time he worked at a metallurgical plant.
In the early 1950s, Shackley began to write his first stories and, submitting them to science fiction magazines, met with a very warm welcome from editors and readers. Over the next ten years, he wrote several hundred short, witty fantasy stories. As Sheckley admitted in one of his last video interviews (2004), those were the happiest years of his life. He first rented a room and then a one-room apartment in the quiet center of New York, composed several stories a week, typed them on a typewriter, and delivered them to the editorial offices on his Lambretta scooter. His phone was ringing with their calls.
Once, a well-known editor of a science fiction magazine, after reading several stories by an aspiring author, said to the young Sheckley: "I will buy every word of yours, everything you write, because I will sell everything you write." Sheckley said that these were some of the most pleasant words for him. (From autobiographical memoirs).
"Why fantasy?" he was often asked afterwards. The answer was the same: "Only she gives the creator complete freedom." (Video interview with R. Sheckley)
The young talented author does not go unnoticed by the editors of the new monthly science fiction magazine Galaxy (originally called Galaxy Science Fiction), the most popular in the United States in those years, and begins to publish constantly in it, receiving not one, but 3-4 cents for one word and with each new release gaining more and more popularity. Thus, the fees for one story of 5,000 words were up to $200, which is about $2,000 in today's prices.
In 1954, Sheckley received the "Best Debut" award - the highest title for the most promising young author in science fiction. Many venerable writers and critics recognized Robert Sheckley as the best science fiction writer of the 50s and 60s. In the 60s, he actively published his fantastic stories in the most famous magazines, including the literary columns of the Playboy magazine, which was very popular at that time and paid large fees to the authors due to the huge circulation in those years (more than 7 million copies only). in USA).
Sheckley is quickly gaining recognition and fame precisely as a master of the short story. However, the continuation of the stellar time of magazine prose in the United States in the 60s was prevented by the mass distribution of television. With the advent of televisions in every home, magazine circulation dropped, many magazines closed altogether, and short-form writers were largely out of work. "Galaxy" reduces rates to authors to 1.5 cents per word, begins to appear irregularly, then not monthly, but 6 times a year, until it closes altogether.
Sheckley tries himself in large literary forms, going for it because of the requirements of the literary market, but not so successfully in a genre that is not so beloved for himself. He also wrote several detective stories, mostly under pseudonyms.
Sheckley also writes 15 episodes for the television series Captain Video and 60 five-minute novels in the Behind the Green Door cycle, which were read over the radio by renowned actor Basil Rathbone. , who played the famous detective in the American TV series Sherlock Holmes.
Sheckley's stories were authored collections "Where no man has gone before" ("Untouched by Human Hands", 1954), "Citizen in Space" ("Citizen in Space", 1955), "Pilgrimage to Earth" ("Pilgrimage to Earth", 1957), Ideas: Without Limits (Notions: Unlimited, 1960), Store of Infinity (Store of Infinity, 1960), Space Shards (Shards of Space, 1963), person” (“The People Trap”, 1967), “Do you feel anything when I do this?” (“Can You Feel Anything When I Do This?”, 1971), “The Robot Who Looked Like Me” (“The Robot Who Looked Like Me”, 1978), “ amazing worlds Robert Sheckley” (“The Wonderful Worlds of Robert Sheckley”, 1979) and others.
The stories of Robert Sheckley are distinguished by a paradoxical look, showing the most ordinary circumstances and objects from an unusual side. His humorous cycle of seven stories about unlucky businessmen Gregor and Arnold, who founded the AAA-POPS company and are trying to make money on the provision of services for the improvement of the natural environment in other worlds, was very popular.
In a video interview with writer Roberto Quagli, Robert Sheckley, when asked “What question do you hate the most?” responded with his usual gentle humor: “Where do you get your ideas from? This is the question I get asked most often. If I knew where from, I would go there and take more of them!”. And to the question of “Which question did you like the most?”, He answered: “Unfortunately, I was never asked it. It sounds like this: “Don’t you think that the writer is like a clever liar from a famous legend?” I would answer "Yes. I think so."
Based on his works, four films were shot: “The Tenth Victim” (“La decima vittima”, 1965, in the main role of Marcello Mastroianni), “The Fugitive” (“Freejack”, 1992, other name “Immortality Corporation”, in Ch. starring Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger), "Escape from Hell Island" ("Escape from Hell Island", 1963), "The Price of Risk" ("Le prix du danger", 1983). In 2007, the story "Guardian Bird" was filmed in the series "Chronicles of the Future" (Masters of Science Fiction).
Among amateur cinematographers, there were also fans of Sheckley's work. So, in Ukraine, an amateur short film "Risk Prize" (2009) based on the story of the same name was shot.
Although Sheckley's works were published constantly, his fame in his homeland was not particularly wide. The short form, surreal plots, and unconnectedness with the usual science fiction techniques made it difficult for the reader to grasp. In addition to this, there is a free market, a large number of authors working in this genre, a sufficient number of publications and their high cost, and, most importantly, the decline in the popularity of magazine prose in the USA in the 60s. However, his works, translated into Russian in the 1970s and 1980s and published in large editions, instantly brought Sheckley a unique popularity and love in the USSR, even more than in his homeland. That was the time iron curtain”, only three television programs, until the 80s, the absence entertainment programs and book shortage, when any book foreign authors was instantly bought up and regarded as a breath of freedom of the intoxicating West. Of course, the author's corporate style also played a significant role in Sheckley's popularity in the USSR - a bright entertaining plot intriguing from the first words, amazing humor, unique kindness and philanthropy, and always an unexpected ending. Sheckley was and is one of the most famous and beloved foreign science fiction writers by the domestic reader.
On the first visit of the master to the USSR, after the performance, one of his Russian admirers approached him and asked him to sign an autograph on a collection of Sheckley's stories, reprinted on a typewriter. Sheckley was amazed: "Do you really have such a shortage of books that you have to reprint these books yourself?". He was only partly right. He still could not believe how popular and loved in the USSR. (interview).
Of his works, in addition to stories, the most famous novels are Immortality Corporation, Status Civilization, Journey to the Day After Tomorrow (Joenis's Walk), Mind Exchange, Coordinates of Miracles, the story Ticket to Planet Tranai ". Together with Roger Zelazny, he wrote a series of three books Red Demon - "Bring me the head of a handsome prince", "If you are not lucky with Faust" and "The play must go on".
When asked which of his works and characters are closest to him, Robert Sheckley named Tom Carmody (Coordinates of Miracles) and Marvin Flynn (Mind Exchange). And he explained: “They are constantly traveling to other worlds, always getting into trouble. All this is what we romantics need.”
His stories were so unpredictable, so witty inside out, and the ideas so numerous and original, that he was often asked about drug use and the benefits of drug intoxication for creativity. Sheckley admitted: there was a time when he took similar funds, but this had nothing to do with his work. He took them to difficult period life, just to feel better. Creativity always requires a clear mind and a pure brain. At the end of his life, Sheckley admitted that he did write one novel under the influence of drugs while he lived in Ibiza - "The Walk of Joenis" (in other translation - "Journey to the Day After Tomorrow"). Interestingly, in terms of popularity, this work occupies one of the last places from his works, which confirms the words of the writer: drugs are not suitable for creativity.
He wrote three humorous detective novels about private investigator Hobe Draconian: The Alternative Detective, Between Scylla and Charybdis (Draconian New York) and Soma Blues (Soma Blues "). pr Sheckley collaborated with such science fiction writers as Roger Zelazny, Harry Harrison, Harlan Ellison and others. He was a close friend of the science fiction satirist William Tenn. In the 1990s, Robert Sheckley worked on the script for the computer game Netrunner.
In total, during his life, Robert Sheckley wrote 15 novels and more than 400 short stories and novellas, which made up 9 author's collections, which were translated into many languages, which amounted to more than 65 books. In the 70s he traveled a lot, sailed, was the editor of Omni magazine.
In 1991, Robert Sheckley received the Daniel F. Gallun Award for his contribution to the science fiction genre. In 1998, in St. Petersburg, he was awarded the Wanderer Award for his contribution to the field of humor and science fiction.
Sheckley has been married five times. He has a sister, Joan Klein; son Jason from his first marriage; daughter Alice Kvitney from the second; daughter Anna and son Jed from the third; as well as three grandchildren. In the last period of his life, Robert Sheckley was married to writer Gail Dana (eng. Gail Dana) and lived in Portland, Oregon. Sometimes he came to Russia, because there were his main admirers.
Since 1999, Shackley has become friends with his admirer, the Italian writer Roberto Quaglia (since 2002 vice-chairman of the European Science Fiction Society), with whom he often and for a long time stayed in Genoa and with whom he traveled a lot around the world, gave interviews, participated in talks show and appeared on television, and with whom he planned to write two joint books. The books were started but not finished due to the writer's death.
Sheckley has always been a passionate smoker, and in the last years of his life - also a gourmet. At his speeches, as an exception, he was allowed to smoke anywhere and everywhere, including even in fire hazardous places - libraries, printing houses and others: the writer could not spend even ten minutes without a cigarette.
In recent years, he lived in Ibiza with his fifth wife. Subsequently - in loneliness. Sheckley wrote little, almost never published, lived modestly, was ill, often in need of funds.
Mindful of his popularity in Russia and Ukraine (where science fiction has always been developed and where he repeatedly came by invitation as a guest of honor), in the last years of his life, Robert Sheckley considered the possibility of settling on the Black Sea coast - an inexpensive, warm and romantic place, conducive to creativity. However, these plans were not destined to come true.
In the spring of 2005, during a visit to Ukraine for the Portal Literary Convention, Shackley's health deteriorated sharply due to a cold, overexertion, and advanced age, and he was hospitalized. Sheckley was unable to find his mandatory health insurance, unable to pay for his own treatment, and his $10,000 debt in an expensive private clinic was paid by a prominent Ukrainian politician. A fundraiser was also organized, which helped him return to the United States in a serious condition under the supervision of Ukrainian doctors. His daughter Anna came to Ukraine for him.
Robert Sheckley could not recover and died on December 9, 2005 in Poughkeepsie, New York, in a hospital, at the age of 77, from a complication of a cerebral aneurysm, two weeks after a not too successful operation.
Famous Soviet director Georgy Danelia, inspired by the story "Murder Order" from the collection of short stories "A Man According to Plato" - 2, came up with a plot, according to which he later made the films "Kin-Dza-Dza!" and "Don't worry!"
Robert Sheckley was born in 1928 in Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, then moved back to New York.
He began to read early, from childhood he loved to read and dreamed of becoming a writer. In his youth, he was fond of the work of such authors as Robert Heinlein, A. Van Vogt, John Collier. After leaving school, he attended New York University, majoring in the liberal arts. He served as a clerk in the army in Korea. He returned to the United States due to a conflict with his superiors. For some time he worked at a metallurgical plant.
In the early 1950s, Shackley began writing his first short stories and, submitting them to science fiction magazines, met with a very warm welcome from editors and readers. Over the next ten years, he wrote several hundred short, witty fantasy stories. As Sheckley admitted in one of his last video interviews (2004), those were the happiest years of his life. He rented first a room and then a one-room apartment in a quiet location in downtown New York. He composed several stories a week, typing them on a typewriter, and on his Lambretta scooter he delivered them to the editorial offices. The writer's phone was bursting with editorial calls.
Once a well-known editor of a science fiction magazine, having read several stories of an aspiring author, said to the young Sheckley: “ I will buy your every word, everything you write, because I will sell everything you write". Sheckley said that these were some of the most pleasant words for him. (From autobiographical memoirs).
"Why fantasy?" he was often asked afterwards. The answer was the same: Only she gives the creator complete freedom". (Video interview with R. Sheckley)
The talented young author does not go unnoticed by the editors of the most popular new monthly science fiction magazine in the United States in those years Galaxy" (originally called " Galaxy Science Fiction"). Sheckley begins to print constantly in it, receiving not one, but 3-4 cents per word; and with each new release gaining more and more popularity. Thus, the writer's fees for one story of 5,000 words amounted to $ 200, which, in terms of today, is about $ 2,000.
In 1954, Sheckley received the award " Best Debut"- the highest title awarded in the science fiction genre to the most promising young author. Many venerable writers and critics recognized Robert Sheckley as the best science fiction writer of the 50s and 60s.
In the 60s, he actively published his fantastic stories in the most famous magazines, including the literary columns of Playboy magazine, which was very popular at that time and paid large fees to its authors (thanks to the enormous circulation in those years - more than 7 million copies only in USA).
Sheckley is quickly gaining recognition and fame precisely as a master of the short story. However, the continuation of the "star" time of magazine prose in the United States in the 60s was prevented by the mass distribution of television. With the advent of televisions in every home, magazine circulation dropped, many magazines closed altogether, and short-form writers were mostly out of work. "Galaxy" reduces rates to authors to 1.5 cents per word, begins to appear irregularly, then not monthly, but 6 times a year; until it closes.
Sheckley tries his hand at big literary forms, going for it because of the demands of the market. However, here, in a genre that was not so beloved for himself, the writer was less successful. He also wrote several detective stories, mostly under pseudonyms.
Sheckley also writes 15 episodes for the television series Captain Video. Captain Video”) and 60 five-minute short stories of the cycle “On the other side of the green door” (“ Behind the Green Door"). They were read on the radio by the famous actor Basil Rathbone, who played the famous detective in the American TV series " Sherlock Holmes».
- « Where no man has gone before"(1954);
- « Untouched by human hand» (« Untouched by Human Hands", 1955);
- « citizen in space» (« Citizen in Space», );
- « Pilgrimage to Earth» (« Pilgrimage to Earth», );
- « Ideas: Unlimited» (« Notions: Unlimited», );
- « Shop of infinity» (« Store of Infinity», );
- « Shards of space» (« Shards of Space", 1962);
- « Trap on a person» (« The People Trap", 1968);
- « Do you feel anything when I do this?» (« Can You Feel Anything When I Do This?», );
- « The robot that looked like me» (« The Robot Who Looked Like Me», );
- « The Wonderful World of Robert Sheckley» (« The Wonderful World of Robert Sheckley», );
- « Is that what people do?» (« Is THAT What People Do?", 1984);
- « Scheherazade machine» (« The Shecherezade Machine", 1995).
The stories of Robert Sheckley are distinguished by a paradoxical view, showing the most ordinary circumstances and objects from an unusual side; as well as a surprise ending. The style of the writer's works is often compared with O. Henry.
His humorous cycle of seven stories about unlucky businessmen Gregor and Arnold, who founded AAA-POPS and tried to make money on the provision of services, was very popular. For the improvement of the natural environment in other worlds.
In a video interview with writer Roberto Quaglie, Robert Sheckley asked " What question do you hate the most?", with his usual gentle humor, replied:" Where do you get your ideas from? This is the question I get asked most often. If I knew "from where", I would go there and get more of them!". And to the question " Which question did you like the most?", answered: " Unfortunately, I was never asked. It sounds like this: "Don't you think that the writer is like a clever liar from a well-known legend?" I would answer: “Yes. I think yes».
Sheckley's works have been made into four films:
- The Tenth Victim (1965, starring Marcello Mastroianni);
- The Fugitive (1992, other name Immortality Corporation, starring Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger);
- "Escape from Hell Island" ("Escape from Hell Island",);
In 2007, the story " guardian bird"(in the series "Chronicles of the Future" - Masters of Science Fiction).
Among amateur cinematographers, there were also fans of Sheckley's work. So, in Ukraine, an amateur short film "Risk Prize" (2009) was shot based on the writer's story of the same name.
Although Sheckley's works were published constantly, his fame in his homeland was not particularly wide. The short form, surreal plots, and lack of connection with the usual techniques of science fiction made it difficult for the reader to perceive his work. In addition to this - the free market, a large number of authors working in the genre of fantasy, a sufficient number of publications and their high cost, and, most importantly, the decline in the popularity of magazine prose in the US in the 1960s.
However, his works, translated into Russian in the 60-80s and published in large editions, instantly brought Robert Sheckley a unique popularity and love in the USSR - even more than in his homeland. Of course, the author's corporate style also played a significant role in this - a bright entertaining plot intriguing from the first words, amazing humor, unique kindness and philanthropy, and always an unexpected denouement. Robert Sheckley was and is currently one of the most famous and beloved by Russian readers of foreign science fiction.
On the first visit of the master to the USSR, after the performance, one of his Russian admirers approached him and asked him to sign an autograph on a collection of Sheckley's stories, reprinted on a typewriter. The writer was amazed: Do you really have such a shortage of books that you have to reprint these books yourself?". He was only partly right. He still could not believe how popular and loved he was in the USSR (interview).
Of Sheckley's other works, in addition to short stories, the most famous novels are:
- "Corporation" Immortality "" (" Immortality Inc.", 1958-59);
- "Status Civilization" (" The Status Civilization", 1960);
- "Journey to the day after tomorrow" (" Walking Joenis»; 1962, 1978);
- "Mind Exchange" (" Mindswap", June 1965);
- "Coordinates of miracles" (" Dimension of Miracles", 1968);
- as well as the story "Ticket to the planet Tranai" (" A Ticket to Tranay", 1955).
He also wrote three humorous detective novels about a private detective. Hobe Draconians:
- "Soma Blues" (« Soma Blues", 1977);
- "Detective agency "Alternative"" (« The Alternative Detective", 1993);
- "Between Scylla and Charybdis" (« Draconian New York", 1996).
Sheckley collaborated with science fiction writers such as Roger Zelazny, Harry Harrison, Harlan Ellison and others. He was a close friend of the science fiction satirist William Tenn. In the 90s, Robert Sheckley worked on the script for the computer game " netrunner».
In total, during his life, Robert Sheckley wrote 20 novels and more than 400 short stories and novellas, which made up 13 author's collections. His works have been translated into many languages of the world, amounting to more than 65 books.
In the 70s, the writer traveled a lot, sailed, was the editor of the magazine " Omni».
In 1991, Robert Sheckley was awarded the Daniel Gallan Award ( Daniel F. Gallun) for contributions to the science fiction genre. In St. Petersburg, he was awarded the "Wanderer" award for his contribution to the field of humor and science fiction.
Sheckley has been married five times. He has a sister, Joan Klein; son Jason from his first marriage; daughter Alice Kvitney from the second; daughter Anna and son Jed from the third; as well as three grandchildren. In the last period of his life, Robert Sheckley was married to the writer Gail Dana (Eng. Gail Dana) and lived in Portland. Sometimes he came to Russia, because there were his main admirers and admirers.
In 1999, Sheckley befriended his admirer, the Italian writer Roberto Quagliei(vice-chairman of the European Science Fiction Society since 2002), with whom he visited often and for a long time in Genoa; and with whom he traveled a lot around the world, gave interviews, participated in talk shows and appeared on television. With him, Sheckley planned to write two joint books. They were started but not completed due to the death of the writer.
Robert Sheckley has always been a passionate smoker, and in the last years of his life - also a gourmet. At his speeches, as an exception, he was allowed to smoke anywhere and everywhere, including even in fire hazardous places - libraries, printing houses, etc.: the writer could not spend even ten minutes without a cigarette.
In recent years, he lived in Ibiza with his fifth wife, and subsequently - alone. At this time, Sheckley wrote little, published almost nothing, lived modestly, was ill and often needed money.
Mindful of his popularity in Russia and Ukraine (where science fiction has always been developed, and where he repeatedly came by invitation, as an honored guest); in the last years of his life, Robert Sheckley considered the possibility of settling on the Black Sea coast - an inexpensive, warm and romantic place, conducive to creativity. However, these plans of the writer were not destined to come true.
In the spring of 2005, during a visit to Ukraine for the Portal literary convention, Sheckley's health (due to a cold, overexertion and advanced age) deteriorated sharply, and he was hospitalized. The writer stayed in Ukraine, his medical insurance, most likely, was overdue at the time of hospitalization. Due to the seriousness of the disease, it was decided to place him not in a free state, but in an expensive private clinic. The decision was correct, but Sheckley was not able to pay for her treatment on his own, and his debt ($10,000;) was paid by the famous Ukrainian businessman Viktor Pinchuk. Also, a fundraising was organized for him, which helped him (in a serious condition, under the supervision of Ukrainian doctors) to return to his homeland, to the United States. His daughter Anna came to Ukraine for him.
Robert Sheckley could not recover and passed away on December 9, 2005, at the age of 78, in a city hospital poughkeepsie, New York State. He died from a complication of a cerebral aneurysm, two weeks after a not-too-successful operation.
Bibliography
Write a review on the article "Sheckley, Robert"
Notes
Literature
- Vasily Vladimirsky It is impossible to predict the future (Russian) // World of Science Fiction: Journal. - Moscow: TechnoMir, 2003. - Issue. 2. - S. 6-7.
Links
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excerpt characterizing Sheckley, Robert
The cook and the shopkeeper came out to the gate. All with cheerful curiosity tried to see the shells flying over their heads. Several people came out from around the corner, talking animatedly.- That's power! one said. - And the roof and ceiling were so smashed to pieces.
“It blew up the earth like a pig,” said another. - That's so important, that's so cheered up! he said laughing. - Thank you, jumped back, otherwise she would have smeared you.
The people turned to these people. They paused and told how, near by, their cores had got into the house. Meanwhile, other shells, now with a quick, gloomy whistle - nuclei, then with a pleasant whistle - grenades, did not stop flying over the heads of the people; but not a single shell fell close, everything endured. Alpatych got into the wagon. The owner was at the gate.
- What did not see! he shouted at the cook, who, with her sleeves rolled up, in a red skirt, swaying with her bare elbows, went to the corner to listen to what was being said.
“What a miracle,” she said, but, hearing the voice of the owner, she returned, tugging at her tucked-up skirt.
Again, but very close this time, something whistled like a bird flying from top to bottom, a fire flashed in the middle of the street, something shot and covered the street with smoke.
"Villain, why are you doing this?" shouted the host, running up to the cook.
At the same moment with different parties the women wailed plaintively, the child wept in fright, and silently crowded the people with pale faces around the cook. From this crowd, the groans and sentences of the cook were heard most audibly:
- Oh, oh, my darlings! My doves are white! Don't let die! My doves are white! ..
Five minutes later there was no one left on the street. The cook, with her thigh shattered by a grenade fragment, was carried into the kitchen. Alpatych, his coachman, Ferapontov's wife with children, the janitor were sitting in the basement, listening. The rumble of guns, the whistle of shells, and the pitiful groan of the cook, which prevailed over all sounds, did not stop for a moment. The hostess now rocked and coaxed the child, then in a pitiful whisper asked everyone who entered the basement where her master had been, who had remained on the street. The shopkeeper, who entered the basement, told her that the owner had gone with the people to the cathedral, where they were raising the miraculous Smolensk icon.
By dusk, the cannonade began to subside. Alpatych came out of the basement and stopped at the door. Before clear evening her sky was all covered with smoke. And through this smoke a young, high-standing sickle of the moon shone strangely. After the former terrible rumble of guns had fallen silent over the city, silence seemed to be interrupted only by the rustle of steps, groans, distant screams and the crackle of fires, as it were spread throughout the city. The groans of the cook are now quiet. From both sides, black clouds of smoke from fires rose and dispersed. On the street, not in rows, but like ants from a ruined tussock, in different uniforms and in different directions, soldiers passed and ran. In the eyes of Alpatych, several of them ran into Ferapontov's yard. Alpatych went to the gate. Some regiment, crowding and hurrying, blocked the street, going back.
“The city is being surrendered, leave, leave,” the officer who noticed his figure said to him and immediately turned to the soldiers with a cry:
- I'll let you run around the yards! he shouted.
Alpatych returned to the hut and, calling the coachman, ordered him to leave. Following Alpatych and the coachman, all Ferapontov's household went out. Seeing the smoke and even the lights of the fires, which were now visible in the beginning twilight, the women, who had been silent until then, suddenly began to wail, looking at the fires. As if echoing them, the same weeping was heard at the other ends of the street. Alpatych with a coachman, with trembling hands, straightened the tangled reins and horses' lines under a canopy.
When Alpatych was leaving the gate, he saw ten soldiers in the open shop of Ferapontov pouring sacks and knapsacks with wheat flour and sunflowers with a loud voice. At the same time, returning from the street to the shop, Ferapontov entered. Seeing the soldiers, he wanted to shout something, but suddenly stopped and, clutching his hair, burst out laughing with sobbing laughter.
- Get it all, guys! Don't get the devils! he shouted, grabbing the sacks himself and throwing them out into the street. Some soldiers, frightened, ran out, some continued to pour. Seeing Alpatych, Ferapontov turned to him.
- Decided! Russia! he shouted. - Alpatych! decided! I'll burn it myself. I made up my mind ... - Ferapontov ran into the yard.
Soldiers were constantly walking along the street, filling it all up, so that Alpatych could not pass and had to wait. The hostess Ferapontova was also sitting on the cart with the children, waiting to be able to leave.
It was already quite night. There were stars in the sky and a young moon shone from time to time, shrouded in smoke. On the descent to the Dnieper, the carts of Alpatych and the hostess, slowly moving in the ranks of soldiers and other crews, had to stop. Not far from the crossroads where the carts stopped, in an alley, a house and shops were on fire. The fire has already burned out. The flame either died away and was lost in black smoke, then it suddenly flashed brightly, strangely clearly illuminating the faces of the crowded people standing at the crossroads. In front of the fire, black figures of people flashed by, and from behind the incessant crackle of the fire, voices and screams were heard. Alpatych, who got down from the wagon, seeing that they would not let his wagon through soon, turned to the alley to look at the fire. The soldiers darted incessantly back and forth past the fire, and Alpatych saw how two soldiers and with them a man in a frieze overcoat dragged burning logs from the fire across the street to the neighboring yard; others carried armfuls of hay.
Alpatych approached a large crowd of people standing in front of a high barn burning with full fire. The walls were all on fire, the back collapsed, the boarded roof collapsed, the beams were on fire. Obviously, the crowd was waiting for the moment when the roof would collapse. Alpatych expected the same.
- Alpatych! Suddenly a familiar voice called out to the old man.
“Father, your excellency,” answered Alpatych, instantly recognizing the voice of his young prince.
Prince Andrei, in a raincoat, riding a black horse, stood behind the crowd and looked at Alpatych.
– How are you here? - he asked.
- Your ... your Excellency, - Alpatych said and sobbed ... - Yours, yours ... or have we already disappeared? Father…
– How are you here? repeated Prince Andrew.
The flame flared brightly at that moment and illuminated Alpatych's pale and exhausted face of his young master. Alpatych told how he was sent and how he could have left by force.
“Well, Your Excellency, or are we lost?” he asked again.
Prince Andrei, without answering, took out notebook and, raising his knee, he began to write with a pencil on a torn sheet. He wrote to his sister:
“Smolensk is being surrendered,” he wrote, “the Bald Mountains will be occupied by the enemy in a week. Leave now for Moscow. Answer me as soon as you leave, sending a courier to Usvyazh.
Having written and handed over the sheet to Alpatych, he verbally told him how to arrange the departure of the prince, princess and son with the teacher and how and where to answer him immediately. He had not yet had time to complete these orders, when the chief of staff on horseback, accompanied by his retinue, galloped up to him.
- Are you a colonel? shouted the chief of staff, with a German accent, in a voice familiar to Prince Andrei. - Houses are lit in your presence, and you are standing? What does this mean? You will answer, - shouted Berg, who was now assistant chief of staff of the left flank of the infantry troops of the first army, - the place is very pleasant and in sight, as Berg said.
Prince Andrei looked at him and, without answering, continued, turning to Alpatych:
“So tell me that I’m waiting for an answer by the tenth, and if I don’t get the news on the tenth that everyone has left, I myself will have to drop everything and go to the Bald Mountains.
“I, prince, only say so,” said Berg, recognizing Prince Andrei, “that I must obey orders, because I always fulfill them exactly ... Please excuse me,” Berg justified himself in some way.
Something crackled in the fire. The fire subsided for a moment; black puffs of smoke poured from under the roof. Something else crackled terribly in the fire, and something huge collapsed.
– Urruru! - Echoing the collapsed ceiling of the barn, from which there was a smell of cakes from burnt bread, the crowd roared. The flame flared up and illuminated the animatedly joyful and exhausted faces of the people standing around the fire.
A man in a frieze overcoat, raising his hand, shouted:
- Important! go fight! Guys, it's important!
“This is the master himself,” voices said.
“So, so,” said Prince Andrei, turning to Alpatych, “tell everything as I told you.” And, without answering a word to Berg, who fell silent beside him, he touched the horse and rode into the alley.
The troops continued to retreat from Smolensk. The enemy was following them. On August 10, the regiment commanded by Prince Andrei passed through high road, past the avenue leading to the Bald Mountains. The heat and drought lasted for more than three weeks. Curly clouds moved across the sky every day, occasionally obscuring the sun; but towards evening it cleared again, and the sun set in a brownish-red mist. Only heavy dew at night refreshed the earth. The bread remaining on the root burned and spilled out. The swamps have dried up. The cattle roared from hunger, not finding food in the meadows burned by the sun. Only at night and in the forests the dew still held, it was cool. But along the road, along the high road along which the troops marched, even at night, even through the forests, there was no such coolness. The dew was not noticeable on the sandy dust of the road, which was pushed up more than a quarter of an arshin. As soon as it dawned, the movement began. Convoys, artillery silently walked along the hub, and the infantry ankle-deep in soft, stuffy, hot dust that had not cooled down during the night. One part of this sandy dust was kneaded by feet and wheels, the other rose and stood like a cloud over the army, sticking to the eyes, hair, ears, nostrils and, most importantly, the lungs of people and animals moving along this road. The higher the sun rose, the higher the cloud of dust rose, and through this thin, hot dust one could look at the sun, not covered by clouds. with a simple eye. The sun was a big crimson ball. There was no wind, and people were suffocating in this still atmosphere. People walked with handkerchiefs around their noses and mouths. Coming to the village, everything rushed to the wells. They fought for water and drank it to the dirt.
Prince Andrei commanded the regiment, and the structure of the regiment, the well-being of its people, the need to receive and give orders occupied him. The fire of Smolensk and its abandonment were an epoch for Prince Andrei. A new feeling of bitterness against the enemy made him forget his grief. He was completely devoted to the affairs of his regiment, he was caring for his people and officers and affectionate with them. In the regiment they called him our prince, they were proud of him and loved him. But he was kind and meek only with his regimental officers, with Timokhin, etc., with completely new people and in a foreign environment, with people who could not know and understand his past; but as soon as he ran into one of his former staff members, he immediately bristled again; became malicious, mocking and contemptuous. Everything that connected his memory with the past repulsed him, and therefore he tried in the relations of this former world only not to be unjust and to fulfill his duty.
True, everything was presented in a dark, gloomy light to Prince Andrei - especially after they left Smolensk (which, according to his concepts, could and should have been defended) on August 6, and after his father, who was sick, had to flee to Moscow and throw away the Bald Mountains, so beloved, built up and inhabited by him, for plunder; but, despite the fact, thanks to the regiment, Prince Andrei could think of something else, completely independent of general issues subject - about his regiment. On August 10, the column, in which his regiment was, caught up with the Bald Mountains. Prince Andrei two days ago received the news that his father, son and sister had left for Moscow. Although Prince Andrei had nothing to do in the Bald Mountains, he, with his characteristic desire to inflame his grief, decided that he should call in the Bald Mountains.
He ordered his horse to be saddled and from the crossing rode on horseback to his father's village, in which he was born and spent his childhood. Passing by a pond, where dozens of women, talking to each other, beat with rollers and rinsed their clothes, Prince Andrei noticed that there was no one on the pond, and a torn-off raft, half flooded with water, floated sideways in the middle of the pond. Prince Andrei drove up to the gatehouse. There was no one at the stone entrance gate, and the door was unlocked. The garden paths were already overgrown, and the calves and horses were walking through the English park. Prince Andrei drove up to the greenhouse; the windows were broken, and the trees in tubs, some felled, some withered. He called Taras the gardener. Nobody responded. Going around the greenhouse to the exhibition, he saw that the carved board fence was all broken and the plum fruits were plucked with branches. An old peasant (Prince Andrei had seen him at the gate in his childhood) was sitting and weaving bast shoes on a green bench.
He was deaf and did not hear the entrance of Prince Andrei. He sat on the bench on which he liked to sit old prince, and beside him was hung a bast on the knots of a broken and withered magnolia.
Prince Andrei drove up to the house. Several lindens in the old garden were cut down, one piebald horse with a foal walked in front of the house between the roses. The house was boarded up with shutters. One window downstairs was open. The yard boy, seeing Prince Andrei, ran into the house.
Alpatych, having sent his family, remained alone in the Bald Mountains; he sat at home and read the Lives. Upon learning of the arrival of Prince Andrei, he, with glasses on his nose, buttoning up, left the house, hurriedly approached the prince and, without saying anything, wept, kissing Prince Andrei on the knee.
Then he turned away with a heart to his weakness and began to report to him on the state of affairs. Everything valuable and expensive was taken to Bogucharovo. Bread, up to a hundred quarters, was also exported; hay and spring, unusual, as Alpatych said, this year's green harvest was taken and mowed - by the troops. The peasants are ruined, some have also gone to Bogucharovo, a small part remains.
Prince Andrei, without listening to the end, asked when his father and sister left, meaning when they left for Moscow. Alpatych answered, believing that they were asking about leaving for Bogucharovo, that they had left on the seventh, and again spread about the farm's shares, asking for permission.
- Will you order the oats to be released on receipt to the teams? We still have six hundred quarters left,” Alpatych asked.
“What to answer him? - thought Prince Andrei, looking at the old man's bald head shining in the sun and reading in his expression the consciousness that he himself understands the untimeliness of these questions, but asks only in such a way as to drown out his grief.
“Yes, let go,” he said.
“If they deigned to notice the unrest in the garden,” Alpatych said, “then it was impossible to prevent: three regiments passed and spent the night, especially dragoons. I wrote out the rank and rank of commander for filing a petition.
- Well, what are you going to do? Will you stay if the enemy takes? Prince Andrew asked him.
Alpatych, turning his face to Prince Andrei, looked at him; and suddenly raised his hand in a solemn gesture.
“He is my patron, may his will be done!” he said.
A crowd of peasants and servants walked across the meadow, open heads approaching Prince Andrei.
