NEW FACTOR
Andrey NIKOLAEV
WHO IS HIDDEN UNDER THE pseudonym "NICK PERUMOV"?
The name Nick Perumov appeared in the fandom recently - since
publication of his book "The Descent of Darkness, or Middle-earth for Three Hundred Years
later" first in Stavropol, and then with a luxurious two-volume volume in
rolled "northwestern" series called "Ring of Darkness" and with
with an enticing inscription on the cover: “Free continuation of “Vla-
stelina rings". Actually, information about this work in the fan press
everything appeared before, but until the book came out, there was no talk
nothing about it.
Perumov's book undoubtedly attracted attention. In the knowledge
To a large extent this is due to the name of Tolkien.
One can have different attitudes towards the trilogy of famous English
writer: with delight, with interest, to fall in love once and for life.
You can, like me, for example, with complete indifference. I'm out of luck
I didn’t come across the book in my youth, but now “The Lord of the Rings” is
It's incredibly boring.
And I expected that the successor would be treated as an imitator.
If the text had been signed with the name of the Professor, I have no doubt it would have been
received by fans with due respect. But ANOTHER encroached on
shrine. And the quality of the text no longer mattered. Ours, fatherland
a renowned author, wrote a sequel based on the super-popular material.
And - even if not out loud at first - the definition emerges -PARASITISM.
And one more, not fully realized thought that appeared to many -
what else can such an author write? It is unlikely that he is capable of self-
solid, original creativity...
Roman Perumov was included in the nominations for the Interpress-
con". It seems to me that it is deservedly included. Competent, professional
excellent, solid work. In my opinion, however, it’s not at all boring
lower than Tolkien's. But no more.
The very inclusion of the novel in the nomination caused controversy.
reaction. But even more controversy and speculation was caused by the personality
author.
It was hard to believe that such a beautiful surname (for a fantasy
that one, especially one specializing in the fantasy genre) is real. And
The question is quite logical - whose pseudonym is this? With this question
For example, Olga Larionova called me. We didn't know the answer. "Se-
Vero-Zapad" did not decipher its author. And they began to be born
guesses.
In the correspondence of online “fidoshniks” the humorous we-
So, Perumov is a pseudonym for Bogush.
According to Dima Baikalov, Alexander Bolnykh from Catherine-
Burga with texts in his hands proved that Perumov's novel cannot
belong to no other author than Kir Bulychev.
About a year and a half ago, at the fiction section of the St. Petersburg
branch of the Writers' Union, editor-in-chief of "North-West" Vadim
Nazarov brought an elderly man, whose last name, naturally,
no oneI remember. We remembered the impenetrable stupidity and aplomb, with
with which he suggested that authors write novels in which the action
takes place in a world of his own making. Maps were shown, called
there were some invented facts from the history of this world... Rod-
There was a rumor that this particular elderly man was Nik Perumov. And many
St. Petersburg writers are still convinced of this.
Sidorovich told me in a private conversation that Perumov is a local
ny, St. Petersburg author. "Perumov writes well, but the man
century he... to put it mildly, is not very decent, he set up capital
but Vasya Zvyagintsev, having been resold to Severo-
West."
I conveyed it through the editor of North-West Gennady Belov
invitation to Perumov to attend the award ceremony
"Interpresscona" (we reasonably believed that the prize could-
to get the "Ring of Darkness"). Belov guaranteed my presence
Nika Perumova at the opening of Interpresscon.
Neither Belov nor Perumov arrived.
Actually, all this would have little concern for me personally if it weren’t for
one "but". At the Belyaev Prize ceremony, I met the artist
a handsome, handsome thirty-year-old guy who introduced himself:
"Kolya Perumov." I didn't find anything better than to ask stupid
question: "Is that the same one?" My next question was no less stupid:
“Is it Perumov’s pseudonym?” Imagine - a real surname! C
It's crazy - people are lucky!
Whatstrange: he, in turn, had very perverted
concepts about fandom in general and Interpresscon in particular -
supposedly there were furious fans walking around with posters saying “Let’s kill the bastard Perumo-
va!"...And an invitation to "Interpresscon" Gennady Belov from some
then he did not convey completely incomprehensible considerations to Nikolai. Neither
didn’t say a word that they would be glad to see Perumov, talk,
ask questions. No, it was said - at Sidorkon almost
animals gather, except for vodka and prose of the Strugatskys, they don’t know anything
those who want...
I gave Nikolay "Oberham" about "Sidorkon" and invited him to visit
for tea. He has arrived. And the four of us - plus Sergei Berezhnoy with fascination
loving wife - we had a wonderful evening. Nikolai rendered
are quite close to our views. Knows creativity very well
Strugatsky, is well versed in Russian science fiction - pro-
works and names of Stern, Weller, Rybakov, Shchegolev, Stolyar-
va, Lazarchuk, Uspensky are not an empty phrase for him. His outlook
is by no means confined to the world of Tolkien...
Well, of course, we asked the main question for us: does he write
anything other than a sequel to Tolkien. Yes. He has four (!) ori-
ginal fantasy novels and another volume on Tolkien. And he
actively working on his next original novel.
We asked to read it. The next day off he brought a shot glass
five hundred pages. I read it avidly. With all my indifference
toeveryone’s favorite Tolkien in particular and the fantasy genre in general.
Perumov's novel "The Great Warrior of Darkness" is a dashing action movie with traditional
with swords, beautiful princesses and dragons... But. In from-
Unlike, for example, Moorcock, the novel brought me to a number of interesting
social issues. However, while reading, think about them
there was no time - they stood up to their full height when he put the last one aside
page. I asked Kolya to bring more. And the second novel, "Win-
bodies of the gods" did not disappoint me. Not at all. Yes, of course, that's not it
what do seminarians B.N. write? Perumov's texts are intended for
sales. So that people buy - and receive for their hard-earned money -
tanny ottyag in the full sense of the word. In every sense.
Nikolai is not hiding from the fandom, he readily agreed
write material for us and answer all questions from readers,
if they arise.
One can relate to Perumov’s prose differently; he himself is not an idealist.
lizes his own creations, but one cannot help but admit that in our
science fiction has a new author, a new phenomenon. Just as clearly
lenition, how Stolyarov, Golovachev, Shchegolev... Bad or good
writer Perumov - everyone will decide for himself. I wrote it all
only to dispel the heaps piled up around his name
speculation.
Yes, I forgot. Regarding the “set-up” of Vasya Zvyagintsev... But here the best
First of all, let Nikolai Daniilovich Perumov himself speak:* * *
Andrey Nikolaev asked to write to me - how did it happen that I
“betrayed” and “framed” V.D. Zvyagintsev? "In the fandom you are not punished for this
love" - I was told on the sidelines of the Belyaev ceremony -
what Prize-94.
Well, I have nothing to hide. Anyone who wants to read it, let him read it.
In the spring of 1991, written exclusively for my own
pleasure, “on the table”, the novel “The Ring of Darkness” was roughly finished.
It was not intended for publication; I myself was involved in science and did not
I dreamed of one day seeing my brainchild published. However my
a friend once told me: “There is a small publishing house in St.
ropole. I told them about you; they were interested." Very good. The only copy of the book was sent to the editorial office.
publishing partnership "Caucasian Library", from somewhere
in May the news came - “We like it. We want to print.”
It is clear that “my breath was taken away from my goiter with joy.” Impact-
the last, fourth part was completed at a rapid pace, starting
Lena, read, approved... And finally - “Fly to the conclusion-
start the agreement."
On October 16, 1991, I signed a four-page agreement with
"Caucasian Library". The manuscript has been approved, for me this
was the main thing, but in all sorts of little things and in small print,
I didn’t delve into the tagging. The book will be published! I even received an advance -
three thousand rubles; however, two of them had to be given to the artist,to whom I ordered illustrations, but it doesn’t matter.
So, let's remember the date: 10/16/1991. The day I'm innocent
considered the day of approval of a manuscript that had already been submitted long ago - as
It turned out later that it was completely in vain.
Before signing the contract, I asked - what if I published
Will the government be able to release the book? “No problem,” they answered me,
- we’ll write a special clause!” And they really included him. Here
he, verbatim: “If within a year from the date of approval of the manuscript it
will not be included in the set, the author has the right, without asking consent,
from the "Caucasian Library" publishing house, transfer this work
to another publishing house."
Thus I was completely convinced that after
10/16/1992 I can do whatever I want with my work.
However, the kind owners of the "Caucasian Library", signing
agreement with me and assuring me that in a year I will regain my rights
to dispose of your novel at your own discretion,
they kept silent about the fact that without an official “Act of Approval”,
signed by the director of the publishing house and equipped with a round seal
I mean, the manuscript is considered NOT APPROVED! And just not that...
in two or three years after signing the contract, if I
I don’t receive a written refusal - the novel becomes legally “approved”
mortal." My biggest mistake was precisely this - not knowing
all the subtleties, I could not even imagineto demand from
some other “Acts” of their benefactors!
Time passed, I called Stavropol. “We’re editing,” I answered.
I feel less and less cheerful each time. So it went
whole year. In the end I got tired of it. "Obviously they didn't do anything.
They’ll do it, I thought. - The publishing house is poor, weak... Where should they go?
current chaos!" Moreover, the Stavropol residents themselves always
talked about significant difficulties and endless obstacles...
Then I found out that the "Caucasian Library" offered the "North-
West" cooperation in the work on my book, but agree-
the agreement was never concluded (although in December 1992 I wrote
but asked the director of the Caucasian Library to find a compromise).
"North-West" offered large compensation, but...
In short, by the end of 1992 I was firmly convinced that the matter with
the publication completely died out. The arrival did not change my opinion
to St. Petersburg V.D. Zvyagintseva. He just showed me a few
some good illustrations provided by the artist, but I don’t remember
Vasily Dmitrievich said something specific about the prospects. For
I count only one sin: during this meeting with
Zvyagintsev did not dot all the i's. And when he warned
warned me not to contact "North-West", I did not find it in
I have the strength to say to myself: “No, I’m a free man and I’ll give the manuscript to that...
yes, where it will be published." I nodded. I agreed. And this is -my fault.
I could partially redeem her in one and only way - which is
did later, without accepting money from the Caucasian Library.
And on January 14, 1993, I took the manuscript to North-West. Besides
I even stopped calling Stavropol, and only much later
I learned that in those days the manuscript was just being prepared for submission to typesetting;
and it was delivered - 01/17/93. I’ll talk about this again in January
I never found out about 93rd.
That's all, actually. Vasily Dmitrievich himself, reproaching me,
blamed him only for the fact that I did not warn him about my decision
transfer the manuscript to another publishing house. Perhaps in this case
I really stuck too closely to the text of the treaty, but that would have been
It was dictated by emotions. My letter never received a response,
there was no reliable information. And I got angry."You can't publish
- and God be with you!" - I decided then...
The end of the story is known. Vasily Dmitrievich himself was brilliant
in a speech before the leadership of North-West, he stated that I was all
He also had no right to transfer anything anywhere. True,
formally, I could also find fault with some things, things like the absence
my written approval of the editing and design... One hundred
The Rons agreed not to sue. Let publications compete between
myself...
This is the truth. In conclusion, I will only say, repeating, that from
the fee offered to me in December 1993 by V.D. Zvyagintsev
one million rublesI refused for the first volume they published.
* * *
By the way, about the “crazy money” for which Perumov was sold
was given to "North-West". Berezhny and I's jaws dropped when
we found out the amount of the fee for the "Ring of Darkness".
Three hundred bucks for a two-volume volume of sixty-four folios -
the one that sold out a hundred thousand copies with a squeal...
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