Roadside Picnic

In the Foreword, science fiction author Ursula Le Guin writes that most science fiction narratives fetishize scientific genius by elevating brilliant scientists to positions of heroism. How does Roadside Picnic buck this trend while also embracing it? Provide several examples.

Detail the stalker life, including the original stalkers and the new style of stalker. What is it about the stalker lifestyle that so appeals to Redrick, and how does the lifestyle affect his life decisions?

In Chapter 3, Richard says the aliens should’ve known about military-industrial complexes. What does he mean by this? And how does technology—both in the novel and in real-life—affect countries’ ability and willingness to carry out acts of war?

Explain the living corpses. Why is Valentine untroubled by the living corpses? Do you sympathize with this perspective? How does his perspective differ from Richard’s view of living corpses?

Would you characterize Redrick as a “good man,” as Guta and Kirill regularly do? What actions of his support this assessment, and which undercut it?

It is unclear whether the Vulture is aware that Redrick plans to use his son Arthur as a human sacrifice to the grinder. Do you think the Vulture knows? Why or why not? And if so, why would the Vulture give up his son as a lamb to the slaughter?

What is the importance of the Golden Sphere? How does it relate to ideas about capitalism, the American Dream, and Marxist utopias?

At the end of the novel, why doesn’t Redrick carry out his plan to wish for the Monkey to become human again? How does his ultimate wish—“HAPPINESS, FREE, FOR EVERYONE” (194)—relate to both Redrick’s character arc and the larger themes of the novel?