Originally published in sections, this has more focus on characters than plot. Philosophy is also a recurring theme, and I feel this would benefit from a reread. From the grand idea to the intimate character focus, there is a lot to think about.

This is another book that has been on my reading list for a while. I read the version published by Chicago Review Press in 2012, a "new translation". I don't know what the old translation was, but I have heard that the original Soviet publication of this was considerably edited. I have not seen the film or played the video game, though I understand the latter has moved the event location to Chernobyl, which changes the underlying philosophy somewhat. How much philosophy does one get from a video game?