Monday Begins on Saturday
A satirical fantasy of Soviet scientific institutes and magic.
In 1965, Soviet authors Boris and Arkady Strugatsky published *Monday Begins on Saturday*, a satirical science fantasy novel illustrated by Yevgeniy Migunov. The story takes place in a fictional town in northwestern Russia where magic is studied, serving as a parody of Soviet scientific research institutes. Its title reflects an idealistic view of scientific dedication, implying that researchers have no weekends. This idealism clashes with incompetent bureaucrats and a dishonest, self-promoting professor.
The "Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry"—rendered in Andrew Bromfield's 2002 translation as "the National Institute for the Technology of Witchcraft and Thaumaturgy," or "NITWITT"—is located in the fictional Northern Russian town of Solovets. Within its walls, diligent workers are the norm, while those who lose their honesty develop increasingly hairy ears, a symbol of their moral decline. These hairy-eared individuals are scorned by the idealistic scientists; the most morally backward among them are the most boastful and convinced of their own importance, conducting ridiculous pseudo-research to justify their positions.
A sequel, *Tale of the Troika*, follows, offering a more grotesque satire of Soviet bureaucracy at its worst, featuring many of the same characters.
**Characters and events**
The story is told from the perspective of Aleksandr Ivanovich Privalov, called Sasha, a young programmer from Leningrad. While driving north through Karelia, he picks up two hitchhikers. Upon learning he is a programmer, they persuade him to stay in Solovets and work with them at the Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry. The institute's Russian abbreviation, NIIChaVo, sounds like the word for "nothing."
The novel is rich with references to Russian fairy tales and children's stories. Baba Yaga, Zmey Gorynych, and the Learned Cat from Pushkin's *Ruslan and Ludmila* appear, as do figures like genies and Cain. These characters and magical concepts are treated as objects of scientific study or institute employees. Merlin, for instance, is portrayed as an incompetent boaster who heads the Department of Predictions. The Technical Helpdesk is run by Sabaoth Baalovich Odin, described as the most powerful wizard in the universe, while the vivarium is staffed by Alfred, a vampire.
Other colorful characters include Cristóbal Josevich Junta
- published
- 1965
- authors
- Boris and Arkady Strugatsky
- genre
- Satirical science fantasy
- original language
- Russian
- setting
- Fictional town of Solovets, northwestern Russia
- first English translation
- 1977 (DAW Books)
Lore & Background
The novel is written from the point of view of Aleksandr Ivanovich Privalov (usually called Sasha), a young programmer from Leningrad, who picks up two hitchhikers during a road trip north through Karelia. After the two find out that he is a programmer, they convince him to stay in Solovets and work together with them in the Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry (abbreviated NIIChaVo in Russian, which sounds very close to 'Ничего', the word for 'nothing'). The book contains a large number of references to well-known Russian fairy tales and children's stories: Baba Yaga makes an appearance as do Zmey Gorynych and the Learned Cat from Pushkin's Ruslan and Ludmila. Some figures from lore and history also appear, such as genies and Cain. The authors portray these persons and concepts (such as magic) either as objects of scientific inquiry or members of the institute. Merlin, for example, is described as an incompetent boaster and is in charge of the institute's Department of Predictions. The Technical Helpdesk is headed by one Sabaoth Baalovich Odin, also described as the most powerful wizard in the universe, while the vivarium is staffed by Alfred, a vampire.
Reader's Guide
Monday Begins on Saturday is significant as a satirical portrayal of Soviet scientific research institutes, using a fantasy setting to critique bureaucracy and pseudoscience. The novel's title reflects the idealistic work ethic of its protagonists, who labor without weekends, contrasted by inept bureaucrats and a dishonest professor. The institute's Russian abbreviation, NIIChaVo, sounds like the word for 'nothing,' a pun that underscores the absurdity of some research. The work has a sequel, Tale of the Troika, which is a more grotesque satire of Soviet bureaucracy featuring many of the same characters. The novel's legacy includes a 1965 TV play, a 1982 film adaptation (Charodei) that diverged significantly from the source material, and ongoing adaptation efforts as of 2018. The book also influenced the song 'Allegry' by the Soviet rock band Agatha Christie, which took its title from the novel. The English translation by Andrew Bromfield (2002) rendered the institute's name as NITWITT (National Institute for the Technology of Witchcraft and Thaumaturgy).
Did You Know?
- The Russian abbreviation for the institute, NIIChaVo, sounds like the colloquial pronunciation of the word 'nichevo' ('it doesn't matter' or 'nothing').
- The character Vybegallo, with his pseudo-commoner appearance and radical pseudoscientific ideas, is a hint to Trofim Lysenko.
- The director Janus Poluektovich Nevstruev is known to be one man in two personas, called A-Janus and U-Janus, a hint to Janus Bifrons.
- The novel's title suggests that the scientists' weekends are nonexistent, reflecting an idealistic view of the scientific work ethic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Monday Begins on Saturday' about?
It is a satirical science fantasy in which magic is treated as a formal academic discipline, and a group of earnest researchers at a sorcery institute clash with lazy bureaucrats and a corrupt, self-aggrandizing professor. The novel was published in 1965 by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky.
What does the title 'Monday Begins on Saturday' mean?
The title captures the idealistic work ethic of the novel's dedicated researchers, who pour so much energy into their studies that their weekends bleed into Monday morning. It also serves as a subtle jab at the Soviet expectation that scientists should sacrifice personal time for the collective good.
Where is the story set?
The action takes place in Solovets, a made-up town in northwestern Russia. The central location is the Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry, which functions as a parody of real Soviet research academies.
What is the main satirical target of the novel?
The Strugatskys use the world of academic magic to lampoon the bureaucracy, political maneuvering, and institutional incompetence they observed in Soviet scientific establishments. The contrast between genuinely passionate researchers and politically connected but dishonest administrators drives most of the humor.
When was 'Monday Begins on Saturday' first published in English?
The novel appeared in English translation in 1977, published by DAW Books. The original Russian edition came out in 1965 and featured illustrations by Yevgeniy Migunov.
More in Novels by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky 1-18
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