Discovering Russian Literature discussion

Please post any additional, background material upon the book or author you think may be helpful to our reading. You may also discuss different translations here. Post spoiler warnings where appropriate.

Reading Schedule:

Chapter 1-3: Oct. 8-15
Chapter 4-6: Oct. 16-22
Chapter 7-Epilogue: Oct. 23-31

There's also a movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096126/

I just finished the book and I can't wait for the discussion to start!

Dorly wrote: "There's also a movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096126/

I just finished the book and I can't wait for the discussion to start!"

Thanks. I had no idea :) I'm still in the beginning. I'll be joining as well.

I've read that Serge Voronoff the real surgeon who is the prototype for Professor Preobrazhensk was actually responsible for AIDS virus entering to the human population. Has anyone else heard of that?

Apparently Voronoff transfered monkey parts into humans in the 1920s.

Amalie, that was one speculation, but there have been others involving animal sacrifices, animal inflicted wounds. The true origin is unclear.

Serge Voronoff is is modeled on Professor Ivan Pavlov (I think) - salivating dogs experiments..

As for how HIV transmitted from non-humans to humans are still unknown. There's the Bushmeat Theory which is a natural transfer theory but all are just theories.

Marie wrote: "Serge Voronoff is is modeled on Professor Ivan Pavlov (I think) - salivating dogs experiments..

As for how HIV transmitted from non-humans to humans are still unknown. There's the Bushmeat Theo..."


Probably both I've read somewhere it's Serge Voronoff. May be Wikipedia. Thanks.