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{{short description|Russian science fiction writer}}

'''Alexander Gromov''' (Алексáндр Грóмов) - is a Russian [[science fiction]] writer who began writing in 1986 impressed by works of [[Boris and Arkady Strugatsky|Strugatsky brothers']], his first publication having occurred in early 1990s.

{{about|the Russian science fiction writer|the Russian politician|Alexander Georgiyevich Gromov}}

{{BLP sources|date=January 2016}}

[[File:2020. Звёзды над Донбассом ! DSC 1116.jpg|thumb|right|Gromov in 2020]]

Most of Gromov's novels combine a well-defined world created by the means of hard science fiction and a foreground of "social science fiction", as the author explains it:

:''I still have to tell a couple of words about my works - not about each one, but about all of them. Most of the things I wrote can be considered social science fiction (not in the sense of "capitalism-socialism" - this topic does not interest me). The recipe of it, worked out by [[H.G. Wells]], has not changed till the present day and looks like this: you take a socium (limited number of people is better - easier to work) and do some ugly thing to it, and then you sit and look at the consequences...''

'''Alexander Nikolayevich Gromov''' ({{lang|ru|Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Грóмов}}) is a [[Russians|Russian]] [[science fiction]] writer, who began writing in 1986 and was first published in the early 1990s.

:''Of course I'm kidding, and let the shadow of the great writer forgive me. But every joke has a grain of truth...'' [http://www.rusf.ru/english/gromov/books.htm]

His work is influenced by that of the [[Boris and Arkady Strugatsky|Strugatsky brothers]], and he has stated a preference for the [[social science fiction]] genre.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusf.ru/english/gromov/books.htm|title=Alexander Gromov - author's page - Books|website=www.rusf.ru|accessdate=Nov 22, 2022}}</ref> He writes primarily in his native [[Russian language]].

Also to be mentioned, Gromov's language is of high quality(sometimes with scientific wisecracks). His characters are not flat, they can evolve... His remarks of socio-psychological kind(about people's habits, bosses, crowds and whole societies) are combined with grains of gloomy humour.

Gromov lives in [[Moscow]],<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusf.ru/english/gromov/|title = Alexander Gromov - author's page|website=www.rusf.ru}}</ref> and is an [[amateur astronomy|amateur astronomer]]<ref name="auto1"/> and former [[electronic engineer]].

==Gromov's works==

Until now none of Gromov's novels are known to be translated into English. Yet the article will gain sense with few comments made on his books.

===Softly landing the Humankind...===

====Adaptants, the main threat====

The future was marked with two catastrophic processes, that is coming of a new Ice Age and deep fall of IQ level of about 70% of people (called ''oakcephals''). Yet the author considered this to be not enough. ''"The flight of the humankind will interrupt, but it will be not as an explosion, people are afraid of it of no use... It will be as soft landing"''. A caprice of genes gave rise to a new biological branch of people, so-called ''adaptants'', beings with little intelligence but better survival ability; their "strategy" was to live at the expense of people, the ones that were not catched formed flocks(bands). Adaptants looked completely as oakcephals except for one feature:

:''Each hidden adaptand touchs first or last that the teacher is as well vulnerable. Just then such a fury flares up in his eyes, that a normal person really shrinks aside. It's important not to miss this moment. A weird fure, inhuman. Virtually, an adaptant isn't a human, he only isn't aware of it. A curious thing -- eyes of an adaptant. The sign of species, equally as the hair of mammoth, and it's impossible to fabricate one -- adaptants feel the alien with their inside. If we could introduce our people into street flocks, perhaps one could live in the city.''

For long time adaptants were not recognized as the threat number one. But at a moment adaptants sharply increased their activity and just ceased the existence of the Humankind in a couple of years..

====Sergey, a sight from inside====

The main protagonist of the novel '''Myagkaya posadka''' ([[1994]], ''Soft landing''), Sergey, does live in this world of eternal coldness, working in an university (his subject concerns electricity, due to the mass need of electrostations). He is.. "just" a real person? Kind though evil.. Retaining loyality to his inner principles, when he is urged to show loyality to Security Service. Searching for the happiness of himself and his family although having no hope for future of the Humankind. Sensible, lovely, but able to fight.. and circumstances often cause him to fight.

An interesting episode concerns his job: while testing the stream of oakcephals (who study the cuted course of 2 years) he found that one of them is a normal person simulating oligophrenia:

:''"Rybin, come here."

:''The slender youth, a kind of mentally-crushed. The face is good, the look is, no dumber possible. But it was he who solved the problem for an adaptant, otherwise i understand nothing in my profession and must be driven out. He isn't a nose, it's exact. And certainly not an adaptant. In my opinion, he even isn't an oakcephal.''

:''"Right, answer."''

:''The mentally-crushed one begins to explain, passing his finger, and griveously selecting the words. "A"'s and "m"'s. When there are synonyms, he chooses the most idiotic one.''

:''"Enough", i stop him, "Why don't you learn at the first stream?"''

:''He stupidly winks, inserts a finger in his nose up to second phalange inclusive, and is flapping his mouth like an encatched carp. Overplays.''

:''"Well it's enough, enough.", I say rigidly, "Played a bit, and that will do. For me all is clear. You don't want to be open, -- no need then. You are not a moron and occupy the place of other's. I will be obliged to report to the sorting committee about you."''

:''I am not in the least joking and this reachs him. He sweeps away from face the stupid expression. Intimidation remains.''

:''The false moron looks sideways behind his shoulder, fright on his face. I can't confuse real fright with faked one.''

:''"You may speak, the place is sound-proofed."''

:''He, floundering, explains his situation. He doesn't attempt to knock a tear out of me, and I like that. He can't send his mother and sister out of the city. No, not necessarily to the South. They have no possibility to drive out. When he brought documents in the previous year he asked right away, whether a request of taking external examinations would be viewed. He was asked whether he considers himself the cleverest one there. He was answered "no". Then he cheated the sorting committee. He has to, he definitely has to complete the institute in two years, they wouldn't bear more here. When he will drive to a place of assignment, he will be able to take relatives with him, he inquired about it.''

:''I ask leading questions, hitting in the aim. Mother? Yes, is ill. But it's recent with her, after his sister was caught by adaptants and couldn't be found for two days; as it is she is a strong woman. Sister? No, sistryonka is alive. But... On the whole, she...''

:''Unfortunately, I understand very well what happened with her.''

:''"Are you in right senses at all?" at first I'm speaking in a calm and admonishing way, as an elder person who they say looks farther and knows better. Then I don't control myself, strike the table with my fist, shout and splash. "A know-all! A clinical idiot! You got glad, two years! But with so diploma you will for all your life blow off dust from voltmeters at some electrostation in Larbytnangi! For all your life, up to the moment when you with your electrostation there are frozen into ice, do you understand this?"''

:''He nods dolefully. Then he begins to explain with animation, that all is not so frightening, as it seems to me, one needs just to drive out here, and to wait through several years, and then all will surely change, it's impossible for it not to change, it can't happen...'' <!-- ''there is no way of not changing, such things don't occur...'' -->

:''Such conversations last for five minutes, but you got tired of them as of a training in the Uncle Kolya's basement. The chap is right in his sense. And I can't do anything for him. Just only not to shake my tongue anywhere, but after all the chap doesn't need anything more... Sometimes you think, that the one who devised our society was mad from the birth.''

:''"Go", i nod exhaustedly, "Satisfactory. And... I wish luck for you."''

===''Soft Landing''===

:''He thanks. Leaving, he looks around:''

''Soft Landing'' (original Russian title: ''Myagkaya posadka'') was published in 1995. The novel is set in [[Moscow]], approximately at the end of the 21st century. The novel centers on the life of an [[everyman|ordinary man]] fighting for survival while [[Homo superior|new subspecies]] of ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' wage war against normal humans. ''Soft Landing'' received a Belyaev Award and Interpresscon Award in 1996.<ref name="auto1"/>

===''Year of the Lemming''===

:''"Sorry, Sergey Yevgenyevich, but how did you know?"''

''Year of the Lemming'' (original Russian title: ''God Lemminga''), was published in 1997. It is a prequel to ''Soft Landing'' and is set in the year 2040. In the novel, the appearance of contagious diseases and unexpected technological failures has caused the establishment of four services that harshly monitor the life of humankind. The protagonist Michail Malakhov is faced with a suicide epidemic, the cure for which is being hidden by scientists.

:''"The mistake in your problem", I say, "is so stupid, that it is even talented."''

===''Master of the Void''===

:''"Thank you" he sais, "Great thank for you. I will take measures."''

''Master of the Void'' (original Russian title: ''Vlastelin Pustoty'') was first published in 1997.<ref name="List of Publications of A.N. Gromov's works">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusf.ru/english/gromov/biblgr.htm|title=Alexander Gromov - author's page - Bibliography|website=www.rusf.ru|accessdate=Nov 22, 2022}}</ref> The plot involves the transition of a nation in peaceful harmony with the natural world on a [[exoplanet|distant planet]], to a phase of industrial dictatorship created to defend against outer aggression.

:''He will do. He will correct the tactics, will begin rehearsing in front of a mirror releasing saliva, and will not be catched more. I know such ones.''

==="Saint Vitus' Minuet"===

Life is tough there.. Sergey's driving home to his wife Darja involves fighting off a band (after a time she will turn out to be an adaptant). The last part of the book shows the war, which flared up after the sharp rise of adaptants (small half-autonomous groups of people try to counteract against elusive flocks of adaptants). Sergey is a commander of the group of his colleagues..

'''St. Vitus' Minuet''' ({{langx|ru|Менуэт святого Витта|Menuet Svyatogo Vitta|Minuet of Saint Witt}}), published in 1997, is a novella which deals with an emerging society on an unexplored planet, and the psychological aspects of survival. ''Saint Vitus' Minuet'' won a Fancon Award in 1997.<ref name="auto1"/>

==Genres and themes==

====Unwelcome power====

The situation evolved in an unpredictable way. An officer of Security Service Sashka (a lazy and sarcastic laboratory assistant) turned out to be an adaptant who retained human mind and wished to make Sergey a leader of the remaining people under his control (long ago, he organized fake attempts at Sergey to "teach" him caution). But when Sashka murdered the whole Headquarters for Mopping-up the city (remaining the last member of it) and was forcing injured Sergey for collaboration, uncle Kolya (trainer of Sergey) rushed in... Uncle Kolya was killed, Sashka was more tenacious of life..

:"''Raw material", Sashka uttered with an effort, not taking his eyes off mine, "Raw material... Still to work and to work...", setting his crooked fingers against the floor he tried to raise himself a little''.

Finishing off Sashka, Sergey automatically killed the last commander:

:''I still stretched and stretched them my stupid submachine gun. I could agree to all. I wouldn't resist if any of them would point on me the flat black circle, and while muttering a curse would bend his forefinger on trigger.''

While most of his novels have a well-defined [[hard science fiction|hard scientific]] background, Gromov's stated main interest is [[social science fiction]]:

:''None of them did this. I suddenly became to understand, and I got frightened. They haven't shoot me in the first moment. Now they already couldn't shoot me, even if they have wanted to. I was needed by them. I occupied the place, that earlier belonged to someone, and now to me. And exhausted people, armed by submachine guns, looked at me so, as if they were waiting for a command from me. Why, it was so.''

In the epilogue we see Sergey being the ruler of a free group of several thousand people, who settled near a thermonuclear electrostation and seem to survive for long, despite the seeming death of the rest Humankind. Is it a happy end?..

''I still have to tell a couple of words about my works — not about each one, but about all of them. Most of the things I wrote can be considered social science fiction (not in the sense of "capitalism-socialism" — this topic does not interest me). The recipe of it, worked out by [[H. G. Wells]], has not changed till the present day and looks like this: you take a socium (limited number of people is better — easier to work) and do some ugly thing to it, and then you sit and look at the consequences...''<ref name="auto"/>

===...and a Year's admire of Lemmings===

:''A healthy spite began waking up in me -- just, a means of self-defense. I don't stand being guilty, and that's all {...} Why do you look on me? Answer me, what is better -- to take the responsibility of one's death and to save a thousand ones so, or to be not implicated in the death of the whole thousand? Have you never happened to die slowly -- day by day -- under ruins of the building, that some fucker hasn't built seismically proofed? I saw how it occurred, and it's untruth that the hope dies the last. {...}''

:''Half a century ago we didn't exist yet -- embryos did, foetuses of today's Services with laughable actual might. {...} For me one thing was always utterly clear: somebody has to do so that on our manysinful, wrongly arranged planet one may live, though.{...}''

:''Sanitary Service. Service of Technology Supervision and Protection of the Environment. Rescue and Emergency Service. Service of Mental Health of the Population {...}''

:''Four pillars, propping up this world.

Two of Gromov's books focus on a theme of power in a social context: his novella ''Saint Vitus Minuet'' (''Menuet Svyatogo Vitta'', 1997), deals with an emerging society; the novel ''Master of the Void'' discusses the transition of a peaceful nation in harmony with nature to an aggressive [[industrialized nation|industrial]] dictatorship. The latter examines the surrounding mechanisms of power in the fictional government as well as the protagonist's rise to leadership.

''It's planned to describe the prequel to "Soft landing" "God Lemminga" (Year of Lemming) in this section...''

==References==

''And many of Gromov's works yet remain out the scopes of the article...''

{{reflist}}

==External links==

=See also=

{{Commonscatinline}}

*[http://rusf.ru/english/gromov/ Official (old enough) web-page of A. Gromov]

*{{Official|http://rusf.ru/english/gromov/ }}

*[http://fan.lib.ru/g/gromow_a_n/ Gromov at lib.ru (Russian)]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050525184713/http://fan.lib.ru/g/gromow_a_n/ Some works of Gromov at lib.ru (Russian)]

*[http://gromovfans.fastbb.ru/ Gromov fans forum (still Russian ;) )]

*[http://www.gromovfans.narod.ru/index.htm Gromov fan website]

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[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Russian science fiction writers|Gromov, Alexander]]}}

[[Category:Russian science fiction writers]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]