Product Description

This new translation of a key work by one of the greatest Russian satirists is particularly topical to the current debates on genetic modification. An inspired work of science fiction and a biting political allegory, Bulgakov's The Fatal Eggs tells of a brilliant scientist whose experiments with life spiral terribly - and fatefully - out of control. Quite by chance, Professor Persikov discovers a new form of light ray whose effect, when directed at living cells, is to accelerate growth in primitive organisms. But when this ray is shone on the wrong batch of eggs, the Professor finds himself both the unwilling creator of giant hybrids, and the focus of a merciless press campaign. For it seems the propaganda machine has turned its gaze on him, distorting his nature in the very way his 'innocent' tampering created the monster snakes and crocodiles that now terrorise the neighbourhood.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #805180 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-29
• Original language: Russian
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

Review
"'No afficionado of the genre could fail to be enchanted by this so perfect example' - From the foreword by Doris Lessing"

From the Author
No afficionado of the genre could fail to be enchanted by this so perfect example’ – From the foreword by Doris Lessing

From the Back Cover
‘ "Nightmare murder on Bronnaya Street!!" howled unnatural hoarse voices, moving in the dense mass of lights among the wheels and flashes of lamps on the heated June roadway, "nightmare outbreak of chicken disease at priest’s widow Thrushova’s with her picture!… Nightmare discovery of Professor Persikov’s ray of life!!" ’

Customer Reviews

Good introduction to Bulgakov
This is a very short novel, more a novella really, that is one of Bulgakov's lesser known works. Like most of his books, this was seen by the Russian government as dangerous to their regime, for obvious reasons. There are clear parallels in the plot to the Russian Revolution of 1917, and between the protagonist Persikov and Lenin.

Like most people, I would not regard this work as highly as other Bulgakov novels, it is not even on the same level, for example, as his masterpiece The Master and Margarita. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book as it is a very well-written satire, and the perfect introduction to Bulgakov and Russian authors in general.

The plot is very similiar to one referenced in the text, which is Well's 'The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth'. It takes the basic ideas of this and transplants them to Moscow, late 1920s. There are also echoes in it of another Well's novel, War of the Worlds, particularly in the ending.

The plot revolves around a 'Ray of Life' which professor Persikov has invented, and the disastrous consequences when it gets into the wrong hands.

I would advise any fans of Bulgakov's who have not picked this up to do so, even if only to get a complete picture of his writing. And for anyone who is interested in Russian literature, this is the perfect place to start.

Magnificent!
I have read this book in both the original Russian and in Hugh Aplin's SUPERB translation. He delightfully and masterfully conveys the nuances of the original. This is the perfect introduction to Russian literature in translation. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

HG Wells lite
"The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth" is one of HG Wells lesser known novels which I read as a teenager and "The Fatal Eggs" takes whole sections of it and transposes it to pre-war Russia. To give credit to Bulgakov he refers to this book in the "Fatal Eggs" making it clear to all that we should read the book from which the original idea for the plot came.

I have read all of Bulgakov's works (in English) and would suggest this is his weakest effort. Without a doubt "Master and Margarita" is a work of genius and I would point anyone in that direction. It is somewhat odd and you can't go wrong with anything else by Bulgakov otherwise.