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Stalking the Atomic City: Life Among the Decadent and the Depraved of Chornobyl
| Author | Markiyan Kamysh |
|---|---|
| Original title | Оформляндія, або Прогулянка в Зону |
| Translators | Hanna Leliv and Reilly Costigan-Humes |
| Cover artist | Rodrigo Corral Studio (design), Marikyan Kamysh (photography) |
| Language | Ukrainian |
Publication date | 2015 |
| Publication place | Ukraine |
Published in English | April 05, 2022 |
| Pages | 160 |
| ISBN | 978-1-66260-127-9 |
Stalking the Atomic City: Life Among the Decadent and the Depraved of Chornobyl (Ukrainian: Оформляндія, або Прогулянка в Зону, lit. Oformlandiia, or a Stroll in the Zone) is the debut book of Ukrainian author Markiyan Kamysh. It was originally published in Ukrainian in 2015, and the first English translation was published by Astra House in 2022.[1] The book is a non-fiction account of Kamysh's experiences illegally exploring and leading unofficial tours in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, and is akin to a reportage or travelogue.[2]
Synopsis
Kamysh tells of his experiences as a "stalker" in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone of Ukraine between 2012 and 2014. The majority of the novel takes place in "The Zone," including Prypiat (romanized as "Prypyat" by the translators), Chornobyl-2, and the abandoned village of Lubyanka. Kamysh describes his fascination and obsession with The Zone, which began with his father's role as a Chornobyl Liquidator. His self-described "fetish" or "addiction" persists in spite of the various dangers that he encounters while stalking: law enforcement, weather, ill-preparedness, dilapidated structures, other stalkers, and radiation.
Kamysh provides a detailed account of what a stalker needs to bring, where to go, how to avoid law enforcement, and overall how to survive. Despite this borderline resemblance to a guide book, Kamysh makes clear that he does not support traditional "tourism." He directly criticizes those who would use something like a guide book, take photos for Instagram, or follow a traditional or official guided tour.
Throughout the book, Kamysh openly discusses his complicated relationship with The Zone. He has sworn off stalking multiple times, attempting to convince himself that it is not with the time and risk to keep returning to The Zone. These attempts are always unsuccessful, and he always returns to The Zone. The closing words of the book are a testament to this: "I will return again."[3]
Reception
Stalking the Atomic City was well-received both within Ukraine and externally. An article in the Italian newspaper la Repubblica included it on their list of the ten "most beautiful books of the year" that "best represent the spirit of our times" in 2019.[4]
References
- ^ "Stalking the Atomic City". Astra Publishing House. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
- ^ Nonfiction reviews. (2022). Publishers Weekly, 269(2) Retrieved from https://www2.lib.ku.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/nonfiction-reviews/docview/2617021264/se-2
- ^ Kamysh, Markiyan (2022). Stalking the Atomic City: Life Among the Decadent and the Depraved of Chornobyl. New York: Astra House. p. 139. ISBN 9781662601279.
- ^ "I libri più belli dell'anno ve li consiglia Robinson". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2023-04-09.