The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

Since the group read for August is Frankenstein I recommend reading The Heart Of A Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov. The premise is similar but apart from that they go in different directions. In Heart of a Dog The creator is pretty much stuck with his creation (Dog Man) he doesn't abandon it. There is detail in how the creation came to be. Also Frankenstein is a tragic tale while Heart of a Dog has a lot of humor in it.

Pretty short just over 100 pages and it was written in 1925.

A rich, successful Moscow professor befriends a stray and attempts a scientific first by transplanting into it the testicles and pituitary gland of a recently deceased man. A distinctly worryingly human animal is now on the loose, and the professor's hitherto respectable life becomes a nightmare beyond endurance. An absurd and superbly comic story, this classic novel can also be read as a fierce parable of the Russian Revolution.

Along with The Island of Dr. Moreau it sounds like an interesting early take on genetic manipulation.

I've never heard of this book but It sounds really good, I'm going to have to check it out. It will be interesting to read some Russian Sci-fi with a humorous side. I've only read a couple of bboks but Metro 2033 was pretty dark and Roadside Picnic (which I'm only part way through) is also pretty bleak - although that's no bad thing.

I recently tried reading The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, published in 1936. (supernatural perhaps, but not science fiction) I abandoned it about halfway through. Even though it was highly rated, I just didn't like it. Heart of a Dog is only 100 pages, so if we read it, even if I dislike it, it wont be too long. If it's good, maybe it will encourage me to go back and finish The Master and Margarita.

Buck wrote: "I recently tried reading The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, published in 1936. (supernatural perhaps, but not science fiction) I abandoned it about halfway through. Even though it was ..."

Keep translations in mind. Master and Margarita is one of my favorite books. The Master and Margaritais an amazing translation where asThe Master and Margarita is a horrible translation that robbed much of the magic found in the words.

Lids wrote: "Buck wrote: "I recently tried reading The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, published in 1936. (supernatural perhaps, but not science fiction) I abandoned it about halfway through. Even t..."

Good, I managed to buy the good translation. I became interested in reading this after I saw the play at Yale. It was an amazing play.

I've been trying to catch up on my backlog and finally read The Heart of a Dog and it was a real treat, very humorous indeed. I look forward to reading more by Mikhail Bulgakov.

It surprised and enlightened me to find this novel here. You see, Bulgakov was never considered a SF author in the USSR. While his 2 novels, Heart of a Dog and Eggs of Doom have SF elements they are just as close to SF as Draculato fantasy – presence of genre’s elements don’t turn it to genre’s fiction.
Heart of a Dog is a political satire, attempt to show that if lumpen-proletariat gets power then life becomes dangerous. To some extent Bulgakov had quite biased aristocratic views (on where everyone’s place in life should be), so that if he was a USA’s author in the 20s I may assume his book would try to laugh at either white thrash or even more likely African Americans…
As for Soviet SF of the 20s, the most prominent name is that of Alexander Belyaev in case you want to try what it was like.

Oleksandr wrote: "s for Soviet SF of the 20s, the most prominent name is that of Alexander Belyaev in case you want to try what it was like. ..."

He sounds a good alternative to Verne and Wells for early sci-fi and it would be interesting to compare the styles. I think we are nominating this period next month so I will have a look at his books.

If you have any other recommendations for soviet authors we have a thread for non-English sci-fi authors here.

Jo wrote: " I think we are nominating this period next month so I will have a look at his books.."
His two most famous novels are Professor Dowell's Head and Amphibian Man: Chelovek-Amphibiya.
In my youth I liked his The Shipwreck Island, which a bit more adventure than true SF.
I'll check the thread you've mentioned, thanks!

Oleksandr wrote: "It surprised and enlightened me to find this novel here. You see, Bulgakov was never considered a SF author in the USSR...."

To me The Fatal Eggs did feel very much to be an SF book. Yes it is also other things, such as a social satire, but it feels very much like a typical early SF story, such as an H.G. Wells story.

I haven't yet read Heart of a Dog, but intend to someday. In fact, the only reason I read The Fatal Eggs is because that was the only one of his books available on the day I went to the library.

I’m reading Heart of a Dog now. I’m nearly through with it. About half way through I jumped over here to see if it was ever a group read in this group. Sure enough. I really like it. It’s got a little bit of early science fiction, a little bit of humor. It’s really good and it’s a quick read. I have more sitting on my shelf to read from this author.

Chad wrote: "... I jumped over here to see if it was ever a group read in this group. Sure enough. ..."

It appears this was never an official book-of-the-month, so it is still eligible to be chosen by the group later. I certainly hope to read it someday.

It should definitely be nominated as a book of the month when we roll around to the pulp era again.. It is classic Russian Literature and it is early science fiction. Would be interesting to discuss different translations of this one.