The science fiction short stories gathered here share a common thread of reappearing characters and a shared universe. It’s a uniquely Strugatskian universe. Noticeably influenced by their Russian background, with a positive socialism reflected in the interaction of the characters while believing in the good in man to further progress of humanity.

There is science but it’s not in the foreground which makes this story a pleasant read today. Too many SF stories from the past suffer from science now looking only ridiculous. The focus is on motivations, decisions and interactions.

Due to this, I already purchased the next Strugatsky book and put it on my to-read list.