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grufkork | 3 years ago
Roadside Picnic is a lovely perspective on the genre, in that it isn't at all about the zone or any supposed aliens. The zone makes for a fascinating backdrop for the story, but in the end it is about the people just trying to carve out a life while exposed to an extraordinary, incomprehensible situation grown mundane. The zone could be swapped out for a disaster area or a hostile jungle or whatever, but by being the zone it becomes very alien to the reader as well. It contributes to what I really like about the book, simply being very atmospheric and immersive. It's all show-don't-tell, the reader experiences everything through what the characters see or hear, and the reader's picture of the world is as clouded and uncertain as those living in it. I found a bit of the same feeling in Metro 2033, where anything happening outside of a couple kilometers range is just rumours. Nobody really knows anything for sure and neither does the reader!
Also there was actually a RP TV-series in production with a really cool trailer, but I think the pilot didn't take off so it shut down.
flanbiscuit|3 years ago
Found this video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoGkB5yvDDk
its imdb page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5024734/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
There was an NBC TV series in 2021 called Debris, canceled after 1 season, that must have taken some inspiration from Roadside Picnic (at least from what I see in this failed series trailer). It's about 2 federal agents searching for parts of an exploded alien spacecraft. It was your typical "monster of the week" while building up an overarching story. Each piece of the ship would have some unique and crazy affect on the area and/or people around it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debris_(TV_series)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11640020/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
edit:
ah, looks like I'm not the first to notice this connection: https://www.reddit.com/r/Debris/comments/nz6pkl/debris_and_r...
CobaltFire|3 years ago