The Tale of Ak and Humanity

by

eBook

English language

Published Jan. 25, 2022 by Tom Doherty Associates.

ISBN:
9781250841025
3 stars (1 review)

"The Tale of Ak and Humanity" is a Tor.com Original from sci-fi author Yefim Zozula, translated by Alex Shvartsman.

Citizens are distraught to learn of the latest decree from their leaders: each person is to be evaluated as to whether they deserve to live. Those found "unnecessary for life" will be asked to "leave life within 24 hours."

Panic is alleviated when citizens learn that Ak, "a luminous person," will be in charge of the panels that are to evaluate citizens. Surely, only the "human rubbish" would be eliminated.

2 editions

reviewed The Tale of Ak and Humanity by Yefim Zozulya

A satire on Soviet Society

3 stars

A satire on society in the Soviet Union where things are run by a Board of Supreme Determination who has decreed that citizens are to be determined whether they are 'useful' to society or not. Society panics over the decree. But it is only the start when Ak, the leader of the Board suddenly has a change of heart and releases another decree that runs counter.

The Introduction by translator Alex Shvartsman gives some background on Yefim Zozulya.