El dia de Oprichnick / Day of the Oprichnik (Spanish Edition) [Paperback]

Vladimir Sorokin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2008

Mr. Sorokin's latest work is named after Ivan the Terrible's 16th-century KGB. These 21st-century oprichniki, however, drive around in their Chinese-made Mercedes and use computers, but still behave like feudal lords. The novel is set in 2028, when all that counts are oil, gas and an unswerving loyalty to a tyrant and his henchmen. A satire of today's Russia, where three quarters of the senior politicians and bureaucrats have a background in the security services -just like ex-KGB colonel Vladimir Putin. Description in Spanish: En el siglo XVI, el despota ruso Ivan el Terrible establecio la oprichnina, una especie de estado de emergencia que otorgaba al zar poderes absolutos. Una ola de terror y de sangre invadio Rusia. Los oprichniks, todopoderosos integrantes de la guardia personal de Ivan, llevaban a cabo su voluntad sembrando el miedo y la muerte. Todavia en el siglo XXI este periodo historico ejerce una peligrosa fascinacion. El oprichnik de la Nueva Rusia, Andrey Komyaga, narra en primera persona su jornada. Su agenda es apretada: ahorcar al noble caido en desgracia, ocuparse de los asuntos amorosos de la Soberana. Desde su fanatizado punto de vista conoceremos la Rusia de 2027, aislada del resto del mundo por la Gran Muralla y gobernada con mano de hierro por el omnipotente Soberano, una sociedad sumergida en la increible mezcla de pasado medieval y futuro tecnologico. Vladimir Sorokin, el mas provocativo y mordaz autor de la Rusia contemporanea, ha sido el unico que se ha atrevido a reflejar en la literatura las alarmantes realidades politicas de la Rusia actual. El resultado es esta aturdidora novela, corta, concentrada, sarcastica. El caracter profetico de la ucronia de Sorokin la situa al lado de las mas angustiosas visiones de Orwell y Zamiatin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Alfaguara (October 15, 2008)
• Language: Spanish
• ISBN-10: 9870410537
• ISBN-13: 978-9870410539
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,326,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waist your time, February 19, 2009

By 

Victoria Warren (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: El dia de Oprichnick / Day of the Oprichnik (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

Read this book in its original Russian beause many of the modern Russian radio stations often mention it as a refference to the modern Russian government. The setting of the book is the mix of Ivan the Terrible's times (in terms of the government structure and society's mental state) and modern cell phones, cars, airplaines. The book describes one day of life of one of the Tzar's oprichniks (KGB man). Personaly, having been raised in Soviet Union and having lived the life style and being closely familiar with the subject of governing style of that part of the world, I still can't figure out who would be the target audience for this book. It is definitely NOT the book for young adults (to much of sex, group sex, drugs and such). I'm not the most uptight person, however, it pushed my limits of acceptance. Reading it I was reminded of the modern MTV shows that lack any thought, beauty, content and such, but what they do have is explicit sex, belief that everyting should be up for the public viewing and discussion. For adults this book would be to flat, to straight forward, lacking any subtelties. It doesn't make one's brain think, one's soul work and mature, one's view of the world expand and gain new understanding of life and people around. It's like a flat illustration that will never become a painting and will never become an art work, because it's missing a soul and three dimentionality. For those of us who lived/lives in the former Soviet block countries, we already know how terrible a life can be when uneducated (or relatively educated) people with lack of morals and void for a soul become in carge of the country. For those who have been spared from Soviet life experience, there are much better and more complex books that shed light on the same issues (for example Orwell's books).