In 2014, marks 130 years since the birth of the famous Russian writer Alexander Romanovich Belyaev. This outstanding creator is one of the founders of the genre of science fiction literature in the Soviet Union. Even in our time, it seems simply unbelievable that a person in his works can display events that will occur several decades later.
The early years of the writer
So, who is Alexander Belyaev? The biography of this man is simple and unique in his own way. But unlike the millions of copies of the author’s works, not much has been written about his life.
Alexander Belyaev was born on the fourth of March 1884 in the city of Smolensk. In the family of an Orthodox priest, a boy from childhood was introduced to love music, photographs, and developed an interest in reading adventure novels and learning foreign languages.
Having finished the seminary at the insistence of his father, the young man chooses the path to law for himself, which is a good success.
The first steps in the literature
Making decent money in the legal field, Alexander Belyaev began to become more interested in works of art, travel and theater. He also actively joins in directing and drama. In 1914, in the Moscow children's magazine Protalinka, his debut play Grandma Moira was published.
Insidious affliction
In 1919, tuberculous pleurisy suspended the plans and actions of the young man. For more than six years, Alexander Belyaev struggled with this ailment. The writer struggled to eradicate this infection in himself. Due to the unsuccessful treatment, tuberculosis of the spine developed , which led to paralysis of the legs. As a result, of the six years spent in bed, the patient lay in a cast for three years. The indifference of the young wife further undermined the writer’s morale. During this period, this is no longer carefree, cheerful and cheerful, Alexander Belyaev. His biography is full of tragic moments in life. In 1930, his six-year-old daughter Luda died, the second daughter Svetlana fell ill with rickets. Against the background of these events, the disease aggravating Belyaev is exacerbating.
Throughout his life, fighting his illness, this man found strength and immersed himself in the study of literature, history, foreign languages ​​and medicine.
Long-awaited success
In 1925, while living in Moscow, a novice writer published in Rabochaya Gazeta the story The Head of Professor Dowell. And from this moment, the works of Alexander Belyaev are massively published in the magazines “The World Pathfinder”, “Knowledge is Power” and “Around the World”, which were known at that time.
During his stay in Moscow, the young talent creates many magnificent novels - Amphibian Man, The Last Man from Atlantis, Island of the Lost Ships, and Fighting on Air.
At the same time, Belyaev is published in the unusual newspaper Gudok, in which Soviet writers such as M.A. Bulgakov, E.P. Petrov, I.A. Ilf, V.P. Kataev, M.M. Zoshchenko.
Later, after moving to Leningrad, he published the books “Wonderful Eye”, “Underwater Farmers”, “Lord of the World”, as well as the stories “Inventions of Professor Wagner”, which Soviet citizens read with rapture.
The last days of a prose writer
When the Great Patriotic War began, the Belyaev family lived in the suburb of Leningrad, the city of Pushkin, and was in occupation. A weakened organism could not stand the terrifying famine. In January 1942, Alexander Belyaev died. After some time, the native writers were deported to Poland.
To this day, it remains a mystery where Alexander Belyaev was buried, whose brief biography is saturated with the constant struggle of man for life. Nevertheless, in honor of the talented prose writer, a memorial stele was erected in Pushkin at the Kazan cemetery.
The novel "Ariel" is the last creation of Belyaev, it was published by the publishing house "Modern Writer" shortly before the death of the author.
"Life after death
More than 70 years have passed since the Russian science fiction writer died, but the memory of him lives in his works to this day. At one time, the work of Alexander Belyaev was subjected to severe criticism, sometimes he heard mocking reviews. However, the ideas of the science fiction writer, which previously seemed absurd and scientifically impossible, eventually convinced even the most inveterate skeptics of the opposite.
The author’s works continue to be published today, they are quite in demand by the reader. Belyaev’s books are instructive; his works call for good and courage, love and respect.
Based on novels by a prose writer, many films have been shot. So, since 1961, eight films have been filmed, some of them are part of the classics of Soviet cinema - "Amphibian Man", "Testament of Professor Dowell", "Island of the Lost Ships" and "Seller of the Air."
The story of Ichthyander
Perhaps the most famous work of A.R. Belyaev is the novel "Amphibian Man", which was written in 1927. It was him, along with “The Head of Professor Dowell,” which Herbert Wells praised very much.
Belyaev was inspired by the creation of Amphibian Man, firstly, by the memoirs about the read novel by the French writer Jean de la Ira, “Iktaner and Moisetta”, and secondly, by a newspaper article about the trial in Argentina on the doctor’s case, which conducted various experiments over people and animals. To date, to establish the name of the newspaper and the details of the process is practically not possible. But this once again proves that, creating his science fiction works, Alexander Belyaev tried to rely on real life facts and events.
In 1962, directors V. Chebotarev and G. Kazansky filmed Amphibian Man.
"The Last Man from Atlantis"
One of the very first works of the author, “The Last Man from Atlantis,” did not go unnoticed in Soviet and world literature. In 1927, it was included in Belyaev’s first author’s collection along with “Island of the Dead of Ships”. From 1928 to 1956, the work was forgotten, and only since 1957 it was repeatedly reprinted on the territory of the Soviet Union.
The idea of ​​searching for the disappeared Atlantean civilization dawned on Belyaev after reading the article in the French newspaper Figaro. Its content was such that in Paris there was a society for the study of Atlantis. At the beginning of the twentieth century, such associations were quite common; they enjoyed the increased interest of the population. Insightful Alexander Belyaev decided to take advantage of this. The science fiction writer used the note as a prologue to The Last Man from Atlantis. The work consists of two parts, it is perceived by the reader quite simply and excitingly. Material for writing the novel is gleaned from Roger Devin’s book “The Vanished Continent. Atlantis, the sixth of the world. "
Prophecies of the science fiction writer
Comparing the predictions of science fiction representatives, it is important to note that the scientific ideas of the books of the Soviet writer Alexander Belyaev were implemented at 99 percent.
So, the main idea of ​​the novel “The Head of Professor Dowell” was the possibility of revitalizing the human body after death. After several years after the publication of this work, Sergey Bryukhonenko, the great Soviet physiologist, made similar experiments. A common achievement of medicine today - surgical restoration of the lens of the eye - was also foreseen by Alexander Belyaev more than fifty years ago.
The novel "Amphibian Man" became prophetic in the scientific development of technologies for a long stay of a person under water. So, in 1943, the French scientist Jacques-Yves Cousteau patented the first scuba gear, thereby proving that Ichthyander is not such an unattainable image.
Successful trials of the first unmanned aerial vehicles in the thirties of the twentieth century in the UK, as well as the creation of psychotropic weapons - all this was described by the science fiction writer in the book “Lord of the World” back in 1926.
The novel "The Man Who Lost His Face" tells of the successful development of plastic surgery and the ethical problems that arose in connection with this. In the story, the state governor transforms into a black man, taking on all the hardships of racial discrimination. Here you can draw a certain parallel in the fate of the mentioned hero and famous American singer Michael Jackson, who, fleeing from unjust persecution, made a considerable number of operations to change skin color.
Throughout his creative life, Belyaev struggled with the disease. Deprived of physical capabilities, he tried to reward the heroes of books with unusual abilities: communicate without words, fly like birds, swim no worse than fish. But to infect the reader with an interest in life, in something new - is not this the true talent of the writer?