Written in 1924, Bulgakov's novella follows Professor Persikov, a myopic zoologist who discovers a "red ray" that causes organisms to grow and reproduce at terrifying speeds.
When a mysterious plague wipes out Russia's poultry, the state seizes Persikov's untested invention to repopulate the chicken farms. A bureaucratic mix-up leads to the hatching of monstrous, aggressive snakes and crocodiles instead of chickens, which soon march toward Moscow. The Fatal Eggs and Other Soviet Satire
is a classic anthology that offers a biting, darkly comedic window into the absurdity of post-revolutionary Russia. Anchored by Mikhail Bulgakov's eponymous novella, the collection serves as both a landmark of science fiction and a savage critique of the early Soviet state. The Centerpiece: "The Fatal Eggs" is a classic anthology that offers a biting,
The story lampoons the "bungling political control of science" and the dangers of placing immense power in the hands of the ignorant. Critics often view Persikov as a surrogate for Lenin—a man who unleashed a powerful force he could not ultimately control. A Broader Look at Soviet Satire Critics often view Persikov as a surrogate for
The collection, often translated and compiled by , features 17 bold writers who managed to slip their critiques past Soviet censors using allegory, fantasy, and irony. The Fatal Eggs and Other Soviet Satire eBook - Amazon.in