Tale of the Troika
Satirical novel critical of Soviet bureaucracy and science.
The 1968 satirical science fiction novel *Tale of the Troika* (Сказка о Тройке) was written by Russian authors Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, with artwork by Yevgeniy Migunov. The story targets Soviet bureaucracy and, to a lesser degree, the Soviet scientific establishment for criticism. While not explicitly aimed at the state itself, the novel received a chilly reception from officials during the Soviet period, was hard to come by, and spread through samizdat copies.
Two distinct first print editions exist, both serving as loose sequels to *Monday Begins on Saturday*. One version, first appearing in 1987 in the magazine *Smena* (hence the "Smena version"), continues directly from *Monday Begins on Saturday*, where the protagonist is assigned a business trip to Kitezhgrad—the setting for this version. The other, shorter version, first published in 1968 in the *Angara* almanac (the "Angara version"), takes place in Tmuskorpion', on a previously unexplored and inaccessible floor of the Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry featured in *Monday Begins on Saturday*.
A detailed account of the novel’s publication history appears in Boris Strugatsky’s memoirs, *Comments on the Past*. In 1989, a combined version was released for the two-volume *Selected Works*, and it was republished in 1992 in the first *Complete Works* edition. A draft dated March 25, 1967, was published in 2006 as part of the *Worlds of the Strugatsky Brothers* series.
- authors
- Boris and Arkady Strugatsky
- year_published
- 1968
- genre
- Satirical science fiction
- nationality
- Russian
- known_for
- Criticism of Soviet bureaucracy and scientific environment
- illustrator
- Yevgeniy Migunov
Lore & Background
Tale of the Troika exists in two first print versions, both superficial sequels of Monday Begins on Saturday. One version, first published in 1987 in Smena, is known as the 'Smena version' and takes place in Kitezhgrad. The other, abridged version, first published in 1968 in Angara almanac (the 'Angara version'), is set in Tmuskorpion' on a previously unexplored floor of the Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry. The detailed history of the novel's publications is recorded in Boris Strugatski's memoirs, Comments on the Past. In 1989 a combined variant was published for the two-volume Selected Works, republished in 1992 in the first Complete Works edition. In 2006, in the series Worlds of the Strugatsky Brothers, a draft dated March 25, 1967 was published.
Reader's Guide
Tale of the Troika is significant as a satirical work that critiques Soviet bureaucracy and the scientific establishment, reflecting the Strugatsky brothers' nuanced approach to social commentary. Despite not being directed against the state per se, the novel faced official coldness and was difficult to obtain, circulating via samizdat. Its publication history is complex, with two distinct first versions—the Smena version (1987) and the Angara version (1968)—each set in different locations and serving as sequels to Monday Begins on Saturday. The eventual combined variant in 1989 and later editions, including a 2006 draft, highlight the work's evolving textual legacy. The novel's legacy lies in its enduring critique of institutional dysfunction and its role in Soviet-era underground literature, illustrating how speculative fiction could navigate censorship while addressing systemic flaws.
Did You Know?
- The novel has two first print versions: the Smena version (1987) and the Angara version (1968).
- The Angara version takes place in Tmuskorpion' on a previously unexplored floor of the Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry.
- The novel circulated in samizdat reprints during the Soviet era.
- A draft dated March 25, 1967 was published in 2006 in the series Worlds of the Strugatsky Brothers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tale of the Troika and who wrote it?
Tale of the Troika is a 1968 satirical science-fiction novel co-written by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, with illustrations by Yevgeniy Migunov. It is best known as a comedic takedown of Soviet bureaucratic inertia and the stifling culture inside the scientific establishment.
How does Tale of the Troika connect to Monday Begins on Saturday?
Both the first and second print editions of the book are positioned as loose sequels to Monday Begins on Saturday, continuing the same research-institute setting and absurdist tone. The two novels share a world but tell standalone stories.
What exactly is the novel satirizing?
The Strugatskys use the plot to mock how layers of red tape, committee approvals, and institutional inertia crush genuine creativity and practical problem-solving. The scientific establishment is also gently ribbed for its resistance to anything that does not fit neatly into existing doctrine.
Why was the book hard to obtain in the Soviet Union?
Soviet cultural officials gave it a chilly reception because the satire, while never directly attacking the state, was considered too pointed in its depiction of bureaucratic and scientific life. Official print runs were limited, so many readers relied on samizdat photocopies to get hold of a copy.
What genre and tone should a new reader expect?
It is a short, fast-paced satire rather than a hard-SF or philosophical novel; the humor is dry, situational, and rooted in the absurdity of institutional procedure. Fans of the Strugatskys' lighter, comedic work will find it the closest thing to a workplace farce in their catalog.
More in Novels by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky 1-18
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record