The sci-fi novel by the brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky "It is difficult to be a god" was written in 1963. The following year, it was included in the author's collection "Far Rainbow" and published in its composition.
In the article we will provide a brief summary of "It is difficult to be a god", we list the main characters, tell about the film adaptations of the story.
General situation
The events described in the story unfold in the distant future. The action takes place in the fictional state of Arkanar, located on another planet. The inhabitants of the planet are externally and physically similar to people from the humanoid race. The level of civilization of the Arkanar state approximately coincides with the late Middle Ages on Earth.
The development of local civilization is secretly monitored by the staff of the Earth Institute of Experimental History. They are adapted to life on the planet and embedded in various layers of the Arkanar society. In essence, their capabilities are quite large, but limited to the tasks of observation and the problem of "bloodless exposure." The history of Arkanar should move as it moves, the task of earthlings is only to “smooth sharp corners,” to protect from those bumps that have already filled earthly humanity.
Exposition
In the summary “It is difficult to be a god,” it is necessary to mention that during the time described in the book, terrible things begin to happen in the Arkanar kingdom - stormtroopers in gray grab and kill people who are at least somewhat out of the crowd. The motto is: "We do not need smart, we need faithful." At the hands of stupid and vicious soldiers, anyone, even just a literate person, can fall, not to mention educated citizens who think, doubt, and are able to ask questions.
And all because the minister of protection of the king was someone don Reba, who until recently was only an inconspicuous official from the ministry. This person is power-hungry, vindictive and vindictive. Because of him, the court of the ruler was almost empty: many of the courtiers were captured and imprisoned in a prison, which is called the "Merry Tower". After prisoners obtain confessions of numerous atrocities, they are executed on the city square. Some were morally broken, and they quietly sit in the corners, peeing verses in honor of the king.
But someone managed to be saved from certain death - a scout from Earth named Anton, who is in the royal guard and lives in Arkanar under the name of the noble Rumata Estorsky, managed to help transport them outside the kingdom. So, for example, he saved, having pulled out of the prison, three doctors of the king, spending at the same time thirty kilograms of gold.
The beginning of the plot
In Drunken Den, a hut located in a forest thicket, Rumata talks to another observer who has long been living in Arkanar. This is Alexander Vasilievich, aka Don Condor, the keeper of the seals of the trading republic of Soan. Anton shares his concern about the typically fascist practice that arose in the kingdom, when it is possible to kill objectionable people with impunity. In addition, the young earthling is concerned about the disappearance of Dr. Budakh, it is very possible that he also fell into the clutches of gray soldiers. Don Condor advises Rumata to wait out without doing anything, because their task is simply to observe.
Returning home, Rumata sees a frightened Kira - the girl he met in Arkanar and fell in love with. Kira is afraid to return home - her father works as a clerk in court, and her brother serves as a sergeant for attack aircraft. Both of them are embittered fascist henchmen. Rumata leaves the girl in her house under the guise of a housekeeper.
This is the beginning of the story “It is Hard to Be a God” (summary).
Development of events
Using an audience with the king, Rumata informs him of the disappearance of Dr. Budah. Don Reba will deliver the doctor the same day. And he does bring a man who, introducing himself as a Budah, offers the king a drink that can heal his gout. The king drinks the remedy, having previously ordered the doctor to attach himself to it.
According to the plot “It is difficult to be a god”, at night Rumata goes on regular duty to the palace. But suddenly a noise arises - it turns out that a coup d'etat occurred, the king is poisoned by a false healer, and Budakha himself is already imprisoned in the "Fun Tower". There is a riot in the city, and a storm of attack aircraft rushes into the room where Rumata is. One of them throws a spear at Anton, but the earthling has a special metal-plastic shirt. Then they throw a net on him and, beating, drag him away.
Rumata learns that the coup d'état was carried out by don Rebe, and that for this the doctor, about whom Rumata mentioned, was most opportune. Replacing doctors is a simple task. True, the false doctor also turned out to be deceived - he did not know that the medicine had poison, and like the king, after drinking it, he was poisoned. And Don Rebe, now in power, actually turned out to be a master of the Holy Order and a bishop. In a conversation with Anton, Don Rebe, who suspects his "difficult" origin, is trying to find out, but Anton-Rumata assures him that he is "a simple noble don."
Ending
Rumata still manages to return home. He reassures Kira, but the suddenly attacked attackers injure her with a crossbow, and the young man, neglecting the theory of bloodless exposure, grabs his sword and, razi soldier, hurries to the palace.
The Earth airship patrolling Arkanar throws off checkers containing soporific gas on a raging city. Rumata sent to Earth.
This is the summary of "It is difficult to be a god," the story of the Strugatsky brothers. It should be noted that you must still read the book in order to have a complete picture of all the ups and downs of the plot.
Characters
In addition to the main characters "It is difficult to be a god", which have already been mentioned in the summary of the plot, we list the remaining, secondary characters.
Don Gug, aka Pavel (Pashka) - a friend of Anton, who is also an observer from the Institute of Experimental History. In Arkanar, he is the senior prisoner of the Duke of Irukansky.
Baron Pampa is a provincial Arucan aristocrat, a friend of Don Rumata.
Don Akan - maid of honor of the royal court, lover of Don Reba.
Arata Brokeback - a professional revolutionary, was saved by the main character. One of the few characters who was aware of who Rumata really is.
Vaga Wheel - a kind of criminal authority in the Bane. Collaborated with both Don Reba and Rumata.
Kabani's father is an Arkanarian inventor chemist and drunken alcoholic. It lives in the Drunken Den. He feels morally crushed due to the fact that his inventions were used by don Reba to destroy objectionable citizens. Like the rebel Arata the Hunchback, in the know who he is in fact Rumata.
Uno is a boy serving Rumate.
Anka is a mutual friend of Pavel and Anton, also an employee of the institute.
Adaptations
In total, two screen versions of "It's Hard to Be a God" are known. One took place in 1989. Among the producing countries, besides the USSR, there were also Germany, Switzerland, and France. The director was invited German Peter Fleischman.
Due to the complexity of the relationship that arose between the Strugatsky brothers, who were part of the scriptwriting team, and the director, they almost immediately left the control of filming. This is probably partly and therefore their attitude towards the production was negative. In general, the film itself also caused very restrained reviews from critics.
The second film adaptation of the sci-fi novel "It's Hard to Be a God" was made in 2013. Its director was Alexei German Sr.. The film was awarded seven awards of the national cinema prize "Nika" in 2014.
The article provides a brief summary of "It is difficult to be a god", the stories of the Strugatsky brothers, as well as the story of the adaptations of this work.