The Kid from Hell

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The Kid from Hell

Illustration from 1992 Russian edition.
Author	Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Original title (if not in English)	Парень из преисподней
Translator	Roger DeGaris
Country	Soviet Union
Language	Russian
Series	Noon Universe
Genre(s)	Science fiction novel
Publisher	Macmillan
Released	1972
Released in English	May 14, 1982
Media Type	Print (Hardcover)
ISBN	ISBN 0-02-615250-9 (Hardcover edition)
Preceded by	Space Mowgli
Followed by	Beetle in the Anthill

The Kid from Hell (Russian: Парень из преисподней, Paren' iz preispodney) is a 1972 sci-fi novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe. The english translation was included in a single volume entitled Escape Attempt with the other Noon universe stories Escape Attempt and Space Mowgli.

[edit] Plot Summary

The novel tells the story of a Gigandian man whose name is Gack and who is a soldier of Alai Duchy at the beginning. However, in the first chapter of the book, Gack suffers lethal damage in a firefight against armed forces of the Empire and is transported to Earth, where the doctors can practically resurrect him. Kornei Yashmaa, a progressor who found unconscious Gack and saved his life on Giganda, is put in charge of an experiment to adjust and integrate the former soldier into the future society.

However, Gack doesn't want to cooperate and believe that Earth is real. At first, he believes that everything Yashmaa and other Earthlings tell him is a part of his psychological training as an officer of Alai Army (he was a member of elite Alai ground force, Fighting Cats). And even after Yashmaa is able to demonstrate him that he is really on an "alien" planet, Gack still thinks that he was sent to Earth with some kind of secret mission by Alai military.

His next illusion is that Earth wants to conquer Giganda and therefore needs him as some kind of test subject or a future propaganda agent. As he learns more about technology and lifestyle on Earth (he is even given an android servant), he becomes more and more confused. Accidentally, Gack discovers that other Gigandians have been taken to Earth as well, but all of them have already integrated into the society and therefore don't want any contact with him.

After one month since Gack's arrival on Earth, Yashmaa tells him that the war on Giganda has been put an end to by progressors and that Alai Duchy as well as the Empire is no more. Gack is so shocked by the news that he demands to let him go home immediately and when Yashmaa refuses tries to escape the planet by using force. With the help of his android servant, he manages to create an assault rifle and some ammo and threatens to kill Yashmaa if he doesn't allow him to fly to Giganda. Yashmaa is capable of easily disarming Gack, but is persuaded by his act to let him go instead.

In the last chapter Gack is back on Giganda and helps local doctors to cure a plague ravaging the nearest city. He is home.

[edit] Bibliography

1. Strugatsky, Arkady and Boris. Escape Attempt (Best of Soviet Science Fiction) translated by Roger DeGaris. New York: Macmillan Pub Co, May 14, 1982, 321 pp. ISBN 0-02-615250-9. LCCN: 82000029.