The Fatal Eggs (Hesperus Modern Voices) (Paperback)

~ Mikhail Bulgakov (Author), Hugh Aplin (Translator), Doris Lessing (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Review

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

"An impressively chosen list." -- Simon Schama

Product Description

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. Foreword by Doris Lessing.

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 upon him, distorting his nature in the very way his "innocent" tampering created the monster snakes and crocodiles that now terrorize the neighborhood.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: Hesperus Press (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843914115
• ISBN-13: 978-1843914112
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #519,221 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars sci-fi satire, October 15, 2004

By	W. Chamberlain - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fatal Eggs (Hesperus Classics) (Paperback)

Of interest to any admirers of Bulgakov and those interested in science fiction or satirical fiction, The Fatal Eggs is a brilliant satire on Stalinist Russia. Bulgakov lived under Stalin's regime and experienced first-hand suppression and censorship (his most celebrated works were not published in his lifetime), giving this satire a thrilling bite. The story is of an eccentric Russian scientist who discovers a form of light ray that accelerates growth in organisms. But when the ray is shone upon the wrong batch of eggs, he accidentally creates giant hybrids which quickly overun the city, while the propaganda-driven press report on all of this as it spirals further and further out of control. Highly entertaining, and well-translated too.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Slow, predictable with some fantastic moments, February 8, 2004

By	Ala Abukhait (Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Fatal Eggs (Hesperus Classics) (Paperback)

The satire element of this story is so oudated that it fails completly to enliven the functional prose, the tedious details and the very thin and predictable plot. But Bulgakov IS a great writer, and his genius shines in some intermitent episodes of the book .. and make it worth the while, it's only 100 pages after all.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius, May 3, 2008

By	what I like to read - See all my reviews

Bulgakov is wonderful. This story is a charming expression of Bulgakov's sentiments of Soviet Russia. I am constantly amazed that Bulgakov managed to escape the Culling that was suffered by so many of Russia's intellectuals.