Space Apprentice
Final hard SF novel by the Strugatsky brothers.
Space Apprentice (also called Probationers; in Russian: Стажёры, romanized as Stazhyory) is a science fiction novel by Soviet authors Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. It came out in 1962 and takes place after the events of *The Land of Crimson Clouds* and "Destination Amalthea," and hundreds of years before the novels set in the Noon Universe. This book marks the Strugatsky brothers' last work of hard science fiction, and it explains why they later chose to focus on social science fiction.
The story follows Yuri Borodin, a young space welder. After his mother falls ill, he misses the ship that was supposed to take him to his new job. He manages to hitch a ride on a vessel piloted by characters from *The Land of Crimson Clouds*. At the start, Yurkovsky and Bykov Sr. say goodbye to Bykov's son, Grisha Bykov, and to Dauge, then depart from the international spaceport Mirza-Charle. Yuri, also at the spaceport, tries to find transport. The port authorities tell him to see the director, but the director is away. Disappointed, Yuri wanders into a capitalist-run bar, where the owner is arguing with a Russian communist. Yuri befriends the Russian, Ivan Zhilin, who advises him to go to the spaceport hotel that evening and persuade astronauts there to take him along. Yuri does so and meets Bykov and Yurkovsky. Yurkovsky, now a Chief Inspector, plans to tour several planets and planetoids, with Bykov piloting. They agree to give Yuri a ride.
Their first stop is Mars. Earth colonists (mostly Russian) are fighting an alien life form called the giant slug, or Flying Martian Leech (*sora-tobu hiru*). As the colonists prepare a large-scale slug hunt, they notice some buildings in the area are not human-made. Because the structures look like simple prefabricated units left by earlier expeditions, no one had questioned them. Some colonists complain about a lack of initiative in the colony, and Yurkovsky agrees. The raid on the slugs, partly using weapons Yurkovsky brought, goes reasonably well, lifting the colonists' spirits.
On the way to the research space station Eunomia, the crew runs an emergency drill. Yuri, stressed and confused, manages to hold up under pressure. The station orbits the Sun with the same parameters as the asteroid 15 Eunomia, which had nearly vanished after a few years of research. Yurkovsky and Yuri witness a scheduled experiment that creates gravitatio
- title
- Space Apprentice
- also_known_as
- Probationers (Russian: Стажёры)
- authors
- Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
- publication_year
- 1962
- genre
- Science fiction
- setting
- After The Land of Crimson Clouds and 'Destination Amalthea'; hundreds of years before the Noon Universe novels
- significance
- Final hard science fiction novel by the Strugatsky brothers; marks their shift to social science fiction
Lore & Background
The novel's main character is Yuri Borodin, a young space welder. His mother was sick and Yuri missed the spaceship that was to transport him to his new work site. He gets a ride to his destination on a ship piloted by some of the characters of The Land of Crimson Clouds. The journey takes him to Mars, where colonists battle the Flying Martian Leech; to the research station Eunomia, where scientists endure overcrowding for unique research; to planetoid Bamberga, where capitalist miners suffer from radiation; and to Diona space observatory, where personal relationships deteriorate due to deceitful scientists.
Reader's Guide
Space Apprentice represents a turning point in the Strugatsky brothers' career, as it is their final hard science fiction novel and provides reasons for their shift to social science fiction. The novel explores themes of ideological conflict, the dangers of unchecked capitalism, the challenges of scientific discovery, and the human cost of exploration. Through episodes on Mars, Bamberga, and Diona, the authors critique both capitalist exploitation and the complacency that can arise in a communist society. The death of Yurkovsky and Krutikov underscores the risks of ambition and the personal tragedies behind scientific progress. The novel's legacy lies in its transition from technical space adventure to the more socially and philosophically oriented works that followed, such as the Noon Universe series.
Did You Know?
- The novel is set after The Land of Crimson Clouds and 'Destination Amalthea' and hundreds of years before the Noon Universe novels.
- The research station Eunomia orbits the Sun with parameters of 15 Eunomia, a very large asteroid that nearly completely disappeared after a few years of research.
- On planetoid Bamberga, capitalists run a mine for space pearls, where miners work more than six hours a day despite health risks from high radiation.
- Yurkovsky and Krutikov die when their rocket is hit by a meteorite while investigating an unusual rock formation near Saturn's rings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Space Apprentice?
Space Apprentice, known in Russian as Stazhyory ("Probationers"), is a 1962 science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. It tells the story of Yuri Borodin, a young space welder who faces a personal crisis when his mother falls seriously ill and he misses the departure of his ship.
Where does Space Apprentice fit in the Strugatsky timeline?
The novel is set after the events of The Land of Crimson Clouds and Destination Amalthea, yet still hundreds of years before the action of the well-known Noon Universe cycle. This places it in a transitional era of their shared fictional universe.
Why is Space Apprentice considered a turning point for the Strugatsky brothers?
It is widely regarded as their last work of hard science fiction, focusing on the technical and practical realities of space travel rather than social allegory. Fans and critics often point to it as the moment after which the brothers consciously shifted toward the philosophical and sociological themes that made them internationally famous.
Who is the main character and what drives the plot?
The protagonist is Yuri Borodin, a young welder working aboard a space vessel. The central conflict arises when his mother becomes gravely ill, causing him to miss his ship's departure and forcing him to confront both personal loss and the rigid structures of the spacefaring world.
How does Space Apprentice differ from the Strugatskys' later novels?
Where their later works lean heavily on social commentary, political allegory, and moral philosophy, Space Apprentice stays grounded in the engineering, logistics, and human-scale drama of space travel. It reads more like a character study within a technical setting than the layered fables fans associate with the Noon Universe.
More in Novels by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky 1-18
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