Russian brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky began to collaborate in the early 1950s after Arkady had studied English and Japanese and worked as a translator and editor, and Boris was a computer mathematician at Pulkova astronomical observatory. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction describes them as "the best Soviet SF writers," and their novels are as powerful and visionary as ever.

Red Schuhart is a stalker, one of those strange misfits who venture illegally into the Zone and, in spite of the extreme danger, collect the mysterious artifacts that the alien visitors have left scattered around. Even the nature of his daughter has been determined by the Zone, and it is for her that Red makes his last foray into the hazardous and hostile depths. Inspiring the film classic Stalker, this haunting novel was a finalist for the 1978 John W. Campbell Memorial Award.