There is such an opinion - The diagnosis is forever.

                      There is such an opinion!

                      Eleonora BELYANCHIKOVA

                        DIAGNOSIS FOREVER

   I wouldn't know if I knew this writer. Well, I would meet you occasionally
his surname before the titles of works, which can be read like this
and wouldn’t have found the time. But no, all summer and autumn I’ve been engaged
the fan press (it is unclear, however, by whom) bombed
barked me with mentions of this man. "Oberham-Sidor-
con", "FengilDon", "TWO HUNDRED-A", "TWO HUNDRED-B". Here are my efforts - 
Yami, once again - about him.
   I'm talking about Alexander Shchegolev.
   If only there was a daredevil who raised a knife to the sacred cows!
How could a curious and sensitive woman not be interested?
Xia? How could I not grab onto something else he wrote?
besides the article in Oberham?
   By the way, the background of the so-called “St. Petersburg case” for
me personally is clear as daylight. Someone Shchegolev violated the unwritten
laws of Clan Honesty, either without understanding this, or mistakenly
sideways thinking that he is not part of the Clan. Although, it is clear that the magician
Trami, he took on his own, even if he was not in the first roles.
So his demarche, which caused a stir, from the point of view of his comrades
Clan, there is essentially betrayal, unless, of course, the usual stupidity
post. Here is the explanation for the violent reaction to his anti-joiners -
Russian performance. I've worked enough inwomen's groups
and I haven’t seen enough of that. And in general, as for me, a man with a hundred
Ron, then for some reason I sympathized more with Shchegolev. But there was one thing
a circumstance that prevented him from completely determining his sympathies
tiyami. If Stolyarov and comrades (with the exception of E. Gevorkyan, who
certainly) have proven with their outstanding texts the right to noble
rudeness in relation to other mediocrities, then from Shchego-
For the left, things were more complicated. Somehow it turned out that his texts 
passed me by. So I decided, to my misfortune, to certify
I wonder if the heroic tin soldier is worthy of my secret
sympathy.
   Thanks to Nikolaev and Strugatsky, they unanimously suggested which name
but I should look for Shchegolev’s work to read. So praised, well
They really praised me! (See interview with B. Strugatsky in “TWO HUNDRED-B”) Ho-
Whether you like it or not, call a librarian you know and get
magazine "Neva". The story is called "Night Forever".
   I ended up with a long introduction, while the review of
the above story may consist of only one word -
va: "disgusting." It’s disgusting to retell the plot, because then you’ll have to
remember what you read. It’s disgusting to write a review, because I’ll have to
read the story a second time. The innocent magazine
shaking it in your hands is disgusting. Such a disgusting feeling, as if in
In my good mood, running down the stairs, I got into my hand,
sorry, in someone'ssnot on the railing. I don't know, guys, maybe you
I like other people’s mucopurulent discharge, but mine, like my ex-
th doctor, the reaction is completely normal.
   “When you kill someone, you always start with yourself,” said Lao Tzu.
If a person lacks love for another person, then he should
be at least respect for the fact that he, the other, exists.
Life is not given to us, and it is not for us to take it away, - in my opinion, Alec -
Sandr Shchegolev simply does not understand this. Over the life of a person, often 
you have to fight, and if you manage to save the doomed, then
with such hard work! And here, in the story... As a physician, I should read
all this was unbearable. Guys, I don't accept this with my heart.
"novelty". This is not possible. The farther you go, the more terrible it is to live.
   The author gave his work the flirtatious subtitle “game of
nightmare,” as if emphasizing the frivolity of the idea. Probably, oops- 
I was afraid that someone would decide to analyze what was happening in
stories. Well, he had good reason to be afraid. The story falls apart from the first
the same breath of critical breeze, too many simple
The plot is put together. To begin with, in this detective story - detective
tive! - you instantly understand who the criminal is. However, here I am, maybe
may be subjective, and the level of my insight is unattainable for
ordinary fan. After all, my current profession is editor, this
obliges. But what is difficult to argue with is the fact that the author
obviously not familiar withcriminal and police invoice. Even I, di-
pilot, I noticed this. For example, the extremely strange occurrence
there is no poison in the plot, and it is especially strange that the poison gets to the main monster
I'm dying. The second boy is the one who allegedly climbed into his father's cold-
Dilnik is just some kind of fiction, not a character! Poisons described
groups, they cost a lot of money and are maintained under real
control, not as A. Shchegolev imagines. In all
In any case, no one will keep them in the refrigerator at home. And
receiving a murder order by mail is highly implausible
similar. And the story of the confrontation between the “aircraft” is extremely doubtful.
ditch" and "port workers". What kind of competition is this between the airport and
shipping company? In what commercial transaction did interests intersect?
two mafias? The secret transportation of money is somehow unmotivated,
stupid. Further, the main character has an iron-clad alibi, but mili-
for some reason, the nation holds him for a “dangerous criminal,” as if a priori
ri, by definition, and even announces a search for him. Stupid! Nako-
Well, the boy Anton himself. Yes, he is not a boy, but a fiction
even greater than his friend the “young chemist”! I responsibly declare
as a specialist, the child does not have such physical strength and
such a will to cut sinews and pierce bodies with darts-
com. This is only possible with long-term special training, but then
it will turn out not to be a “boy”, but a ninja. Or is he a mutant?No, the author didn’t get it -
melts to emphasize that the child is normal. "Normal" than all of us.
   The list of minor miscalculations goes on and on. Author
does not know the things that he undertook to describe. In other words, he
is just as amateur as the reader, which is probably nice for someone
be aware This, by the way, wouldn’t be scary if Shchegolev hadn’t counted
himself as a high-class writer (judging by some of the nuances of his
thunderous “counter-article” and according to the statements of his fans).
Well, oh well. There are more serious topics than minor “punches”
th writer.
   I return to where I started: the further, my dears, the
scarier. Unmotivated atrocities have already turned our lives into
a nightmare, without any “game” at all. Why blow up a unique OS-
the path of peace and light called childhood, why tear it up
scalpel pure souls? After all, why pour water on
the mill of aggressive communist propaganda: they say, they brought it to
family to the point that children are now being killed. Children don't kill! On sa-
In fact, they kill them - to make adults out of them, to replenish
thread to the horde of pragmatists and cynics. Only when you become an adult - it doesn’t matter
at what age, at sixteen, at nineteen, at four -
the former child is capable of taking up arms.
   In Shchegolev, it is the child who kills. Bright and clean.
   In general, "Night Forever" could well serve as a guide for
child killers. Availability,simplicity, I would even say, beauty
a hundred atrocities described are capable of turning immature brains into consciousness
in a certain direction. Creative imagination gets good
big push. Coming up with more and more new ways is REALLY
Sewing a person for life - how far is this from a “game”? Psychologists-
Great importance is also attached to the technical training of young criminals
meaning in the “manual” written by A. Shchegolev. Wide choice of motifs
and self-justifications for a REAL geek - use any. But sa-
my main “achievement” is instilling distrust in children
adults - on the one hand; and vice versa, adults to children. Yes
wild theories according to which something is hidden in a child from birth
infinitely terrible, “something” that is not realized in the form
actions only because of the child’s weakness. The author is clearly familiar with
such nonsense. He comes up with the long-awaited si-
Lu and enthusiastically describes what comes of it. Pedophobia in
pure form. For what?
   In connection with the above, I really hope that this production
It won't become a bestseller. I think with horror that something like this
These instructions may gain popularity. Fortunately, children do not chi-
melt complex literary texts, which, without a doubt, is
"Night Forever" At least that's a consolation. 
   But let’s continue. It seems that A. Shchegolev is also familiar with the works of popular
th neurologist Freud. From the ending of the story it follows that everything
noahthe tragic death of a mother that took place in the distant past.
However, emphasizing the role of subconscious images in the formation
SUCH a person looks absolutely unconvincing. That’s the point,
that the boy is mentally healthy. The consequences of psychosis shown to us
injuries indicate that, in fact, there would be no psychotrauma
lo. Which is generally correct. Killed, for example, Pavlik Moro-
the call of his father, but this also did not lead to the emergence of any
more complexes in the psyche of the heroic pioneer. Thus,
Freudian motives do not explain in any way the formation of the soul of demons
little angel. And to the final pages the logician finally
dit from the story.
   One thing is certain - the author terribly dislikes children. All
The evil of the world, according to Shchegolev, is concentrated in children. And also in women
nah, whom he does not like especially aggressively. Women arise in
works of this author only to instantly transform
give people close to them. I admit, I didn’t believe myself,
to such obvious conclusions after reading "Night Forever". I
I couldn’t afford to blame a person so cruelly based on the example
only one work and consulted with experts “No-
howl of science fiction”, what else would they recommend for me to read “from Shche-
goal"? 
   "The Love of the Beast" and "The Night Invented by Someone" told me through
telephone interference, kind Andryusha Nikolaev. This is supposedly cool!
Cool,guys, I don't argue. The novel "The Night Invented by Someone" was published
exultant in the collection of the series "Modern Russian Detective" -
the best argument in favor of the guesses I have made. If suddenly
Nya will be held accountable for slandering the writer Shchegolev,
I will also present as additional evidence
this novel, this disgusting apotheosis of hatred, and any judgment of me
will justify. So I repeat, Alexander Shchegolev is clearly not given
rest of the Lavra of Sprenger and Institoris, who wrote the program book
gu executioners "Hammer of the Witches". According to the inquisitors of the 15th century, women
We, all of us, are the living embodiment of the Devil. Shchegolev in
I moved on, adding to their list... children!
   Correct me if I'm wrong!
   Coldness and soullessness emanate from every page of “Night Forever.”
We wait in vain for the punishment of vice - it will not come. And overcoming
the last paragraph of the story, you experience physiological relief.
The author “played” well, plunging the reader into his patient, turning
that worldview. As a result, you are left with a question to ask:
This is considered bad form. But I’ll still take the risk: the author himself
what kind of person?
   I'm finishing my letter. All I have left to do is explain why I wrote it -
la, wasting my free time on who knows what. We've reached
I'm hearing rumors that "Night Forever" is tipped for various nominations
tion lists. To the lists of FANTASTIC WORKS. Listen,
but reallyis this fantasy? I agree, in my commercial action movie,
diligently shocking the public, A. Shchegolev allowed darkness and darkness
unreliability. Which, in my opinion, I wrote quite convincingly about.
He ended up with a kind of nightmare that, with the first cry,
the rooster turned into nonsense. But if the ecstatic fans
the mentioned author declare any inconsistencies and absurdities of psycho-
logical fiction, and paranoid schizophrenia - a breakthrough in
new literary space, then what is bad literature?
ra?
   Obviously, the best work of Alexander Shchegolev is that
the most anti-stolyarov article that really touched me -
la, and where it all began. Shouldn't we include her in the nomination list?
lists in the criticism section? Instead of "Night Forever", of course. What
concerns the problem of choosing which side to take, then I decided (more
then, in the summer) don’t trust anyone. The tin soldier turned out to be made
from some other material. I've had enough of authoritative councils.
tov, listening to which is harmful to health.
   I’m telling you this as a doctor.
                                                 December 1994

   P.S. I re-read my notes and saw how harsh and
offensive. And I don’t feel like transporting it. That's why I signed up pseudonymously 
Mom, so that no one stops greeting me. Excuse me 
old woman, but some of you know me. I hope for decent 
ness andthe delicacy of the gentlemen from the magazine "TWO HUNDRED" in the matter of 
keeping my pseudonym secret. 

                                           Eleonora Belyanchikova
                        Andrey LEGOSTAEV

                       OWN GOAL

   In my opinion, there are three types of criticism. In order not to be holo-
In other words, I will only talk about criticism of science fiction, but strongly
I suspect that in “realistic” criticism there is something
similar. For greater clarity, I apologize in advance, I
I illustrate my theses using an example of a type of art that is far from literature.
art - football.
   So, the first type: the critic plays in the author's half of the field. In
in the second form - performs masterly tricks with the ball in the central
circle. The third - when someone else's ("author's") half of the field is forgotten -
completely and selflessly and effectively hammer goals into their own
private gate.
   Of course, the first type of criticism is the most difficult. We need to delve into
the author's intention, feel it and analyze the work, knowing
in the area in which (and about which) the work was not written
less (and preferably more) of the author. Here working on one
article will change a lot of literature and spend several evenings
quiet in the library. And a week (at best) to think about it. And
another week (or even a month) to write. Not a single thought aside,
not a superfluous word. This is an ideal, but the critics who chose such rules
games to thisstrive for the ideal. In modern science fiction criticism
I would name such authors as Sergei Pereslegin and Vadim Kazako-
va. 
   Second view... Oh, this is beautiful! It's just great. Factory critic
impresses the audience with high-quality handling of the ball, that is, because
I’m sorry, with a word - it’s impossible to take your eyes off. The main task is
few articles (and they are, as a rule, small in volume) to create
potential reader's mood that this book requires,
entice the reader.  Or - disgust. The second task is to communicate.
Inform about the event, the creative path of the author, the content of the year-
howl of the “Interstellar Messenger” binder and so on. Not for any reason
depth and seriousness, not even to generalizations or conclusions
tenduya. Without such articles and reviews, journalism will fall apart.
A striking example of criticism (more precisely, journalism) like
of a new kind - Sergey Berezhnoy. Great read. What are you reviewing?
my book? God knows. But now I'll definitely read it...
   The third type... You probably already understand what I mean. Unfortunately-
Tew, most articles about science fiction are written in this sub-
group. What the author wanted to say is not important. What matters is what he thinks about
this is a critic. The subject of discussion with its realities, connecting the threads
problems and problems are completely ignored. Indeed, Vershi is right
nin - a well-placed biting word and an elegant turn of phrase 
successfully replace the argument in works of this typecritics. The main thing
in such articles there are cries like: “review of the above-mentioned
the message may consist of just one word: “disgusting”; "so 
impossible"; "Refute me if I'm wrong!"; "any judgment on me 
will justify" and "what kind of person is the author himself?" For some reason it happened 
the opinion that a prominent representative of this type of criticism in science fiction
is Arbitman, even the term “Arbitmanism” appeared. I am so
I don’t think so, in my opinion Roman Emilievich has a great sense of se-
he works miracles at the opponent’s goal and in the center of the field. But we are discussing -
my article...
   In the words of the critic, “the innocent magazine of the village
squeezing in your hands, and even then it’s disgusting." The author simply does not know the subject, oh 
to whom she writes and I have a serious suspicion that she not only
I re-read Shchegolev’s story “Night Forever”, but also read
I didn’t bother to pay attention - so, I flew across the country on a tram -
prostrate...
   Devil, the first claim can’t even be called a claim. Author
the story did not at all fence mountains of corpses for the sake of corpses, which should
be understandable to any reader, except perhaps fans of unknown
a neurologist with a well-known surname.
   The second claim is more serious - in a work with a detective plot -
Then the criminal is calculated in advance. The critic’s argument is to her
everything is clear at once. However, a funny story: the first part of this particular one
The story was published in the same "Neva" last year underpseudonym "Mr. Shch."  and inviting readers to send
continuation of the competition - the winner will receive a large prize. Don't tell me
call how many graphomaniacs are bombarded with manuscripts and letters
cool magazines. There was not a single continuation - this is a bare fact.
(Although, to save face, in the preface to the publication of the story in
in full, the editors reported that “few responded - and
the proposed texts were clearly inferior to the author's version." Reliable 
known - not a single one). It's a pity that the critic didn't know about this -
would receive a large sum of money.
   It’s strange to criticize the poison getting to the boy... Apparently, no
her children. How should I have reacted when I came home?
did my happy boys exchange it somewhere on the street for one transaction?
formed two dozen whole cartridges for AKM? I served in the army and
I know how the guards are responsible for each warhead, myself together with
Everyone was looking around the guardhouse for a cartridge lost by a comrade... Of course,
you answer me - now there is a mess in the country, what is the order? And the poison
Is it better than cartridges, or is there no chaos in those institutes? Or criticism
Kessa doesn’t know life at all, only reads thick magazines? Even
doesn't pick up newspapers? Otherwise, where does the naive question come from - “what is this?”
competition between the airport and the shipping company? In what commercial 
What operation did the interests of two mafias intersect?" 
   About the ironclad alibi of the main character and the mistrust of the police.
First of all, myselfI personally once sat in the department with my wife.
police custody for eight hours, because he allegedly looked like a wanted man
according to the criminal's circular. When everything became clear and I was released,
Skali, I looked at the photograph of the wanted man... This is about a liter
If you drink vodka, you won’t confuse me and him - I don’t mind the baldness -
I admire. I'm talking about our valiant police. But this is not enough - in
The message directly states: the murdered postman pointed out the hero in a letter:
“in the event of my death, blame ...” - and attached irrefutable evidence - 
evidence. Did she really read through the paragraph? (By the way,
the word "police" is not in the story, the action takes place in the future, in
the near future, very similar to our time, but in the future, about this
This is evidenced by numerous small details and, in particular, this one).
   Regarding the fact that children cannot be cruel... But what about the use
the gentleman's infant from Till Eulenspiegel? Or not, better - the guys from
"Lord of the Flies" by Golding. Can these books also be declared disgusting? 
and delirium?
   Regarding the hatred of women allegedly inherent in Shchegolev...
Everyone sees what they want to see and cannot be convinced. For Cree
Tikessy's story "Night Forever" is rubbish. It's her right to think so. But
if you want to be believed, play in the author's half of the field,
strike at his gate, and not at your own imaginary gate.
   And I have something to say about Shchegolev’s story. This is fantastic
what a story (even without taking into account the practicallyeyes
paraphernalia of the future). This story - as if it were fantastic - was discussed -
or at the seminar of B. N. Strugatsky. The main argument - Leo Tolstoy
said: “You can come up with everything except psychology,” in this story
The boy's psychology is reliable, but does not exist in reality.
In fact, there are no such boys. Maybe (God forbid) in the near future
in our future there will be. Fantastic close-up. Fantastic - pre-
warning But this is so, a trifle, terminological disassembly is not
is related to the literary text.
   Once upon a time I read Shchegolev's story "The Slave". To me she's like
I really didn’t like it, which I hastened to inform the author about. Then, by
After a month, to my surprise, I found myself thinking about
her, I internally argue with her... And I realized that I didn’t like the story-
I did not agree with the idea of the story. Is it a disadvantage that
the news, without any loud authorial calls, forced
lets think?
   And here it is even more difficult. I am angry with the author, extremely angry. I
I always considered myself a more or less decent person, but here...
Golev draws a monster boy, a truly disgusting monster, 
without any doubt. But the author makes you empathize and
sympathize with him. When the story ends, and dad and the boys...
com, having piled up a mountain of corpses, they go into the unknown, where they will come -
keep killing and killing, suddenly you catch yourself thinking: I want to
so that they get out, so that they haveeverything is fine... And immediately for-
You wonder, who am I then if I sympathize with this monster?
How will I behave if the day after tomorrow I find myself in the place of a person with
strange surname X.? Away from this abyss, I don’t want to peek-
fuck!!! But Shchegolev opened it a crack and there’s no escape...
   At the seminar, many thoughts and interpretations were expressed, by no means
everyone accepted the story unambiguously. One thing I didn’t hear there: “It’s bad,
because it's bad." 
   “Night Forever” actually made it onto the nomination lists. And
now everyone who is going to vote at Interpresscon will receive
I'm going to read it (remember Alan Kubatiev's call?). And ourselves
judge the story, and not by my words or the words of the critic. And
whose point of view to accept is also up to you to decide, thank God,
these are the times.
   The only thing I am convinced of is the story “Night Forever”
it's worth it. I’m telling you this as a former blacksmith.