Roadside Picnic

This book has some incredibly creative ideas and amazing world-building. It's the grandfather of some of my favorite media ever, and I can definitely see why they were inspired! The vibes are chef's kiss. 🤌

I'm not the biggest fan of the plot, though. It's difficult for me to put into words, but it kind of feels like nothing happens despite things happening? There's not a lot of character development, plot threads are set up and then left hanging, the middle of the story was a bit of a slog to get through, I wish more time was spent exploring the Zone, etc.

I still think it's worth a read if you're a fan of Stalker, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Into the Radius, Pacific Drive, etc. Just so you can see the genre's history.