The Kid from Hell

Infobox Book |
name = The Kid from Hell
title_orig = Парень из преисподней
translator = Roger DeGaris


image_caption = Illustration from 1992 Russian edition.
author = Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = Soviet Union
language = Russian
series = Noon Universe
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Macmillan
release_date = 1973
english_release_date = May 14, 1982
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages =
isbn = ISBN 0-02-615250-9 (Hardcover edition)
preceded_by = Space Mowgli
followed_by = Beetle in the Anthill

"The Kid from Hell" (Russian: Парень из преисподней, "Paren' iz preispodney") is a 1974 sci-fi novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky set in the Noon Universe. The English translation was included in a single volume entitled "Escape Attempt" with the other Noon universe stories "Escape Attempt" and "Space Mowgli".

Plot Summary

The novel tells the story of Gack, a man from Giganda. Gack is a commando in "Fighting Cats": an elite army unit of "Alai Duchy". In the first chapter of the novel, Gack is mortally wounded in a battle with the army of "the Empire". Kornei Yashmaa, a progressor finds him and takes him to Earth where the doctors practically resurrect Gack. Yashmaa tries to help Gack adjust to life on Earth.

However, Gack does not want to cooperate or believe that Earth is real. At first, he thinks that everything Yashmaa and other Earthlings tell him is a part of his psychological training as an officer of the Alai Army. Even after Yashmaa proves to him that he is indeed on a different planet, Gack still thinks that he was sent to Earth with an unknown secret mission by the Alai military.

His next idea is that the Earth wants to conquer Giganda and wants to use him as a test subject or a future propaganda agent. As he learns more about the technology and lifestyle on Earth (he is even given an android servant), he becomes more and more confused. Accidentally, Gack discovers that other Gigandians have been taken to Earth as well, but they have integrated into the society and do not want to deal with him.

After a month since Gack's arrival on Earth, Yashmaa tells him that the war on Giganda was stopped by progressors and that Alai Duchy as well as the Empire is no more. Gack is so shocked by the news that he demands to go back to Giganda immediately. When Yashmaa refuses, Gack tries to escape by force. With the help of his android servant, he manages to construct an assault rifle and ammunition to it. Gack threatens to shoot Yashmaa if he does not send him back. Yashmaa can easily disarm Gack, but, persuaded by Gack's actions, decides to let him go.

In the last chapter Gack is back on Giganda and helps local doctors to cure a plague ravaging a nearby city. He is home.

References

*cite book | title=Escape Attempt (Best of Soviet Science Fiction) | last=Strugatsky | first=Arkady | authorlink=Arkady Strugatsky | coauthors=Boris Strugatsky | editor=Roger DeGaris (trans.) | publisher=Macmillan Pub Co | location=New York | edition= | date=May 14, 1982 | id=ISBN 0-02-615250-9 | pages=321 pp