(University of Oregon, 2011-06) Kulikova, Yulia A., 1985-
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are the most prolific Soviet science fiction writers, who focused, above all, on the social themes and with satire discussed the political and social agendas in the Soviet society. This thesis explores the contribution of the Brothers Strugatsky to the genre of Russian science fiction and looks into the main themes of their most famous novels. At the beginning, I present a short overview of the history of Russian science fiction. Further on, I explore the Brothers Strugatsky's role in the development of science fiction in the Soviet Union and single out the two phases of their literary career: utopian and anti-utopian. Furthermore, I examine the Strugatskys' most prominent novels and their main themes: human nature and Soviet bureaucracy. Finally, I analyze to what extent the Strugatskys' novels fit into the Soviet reality and how they shape the genre of science fiction in Russia.
