Ivan Yefremov's vision of the "person of the future" to be discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA

Modern science fiction often paints a bleak picture of the future, but Soviet scientist and writer Ivan Yefremov saw the world very differently. How did he imagine the person of tomorrow? How was he able to predict the emergence of the internet and neural networks as early as the 1950s? And why do the writer's dreams of space, a beautiful and meaningful life, and preserving the human soul continue to inspire readers of all ages? These questions, along with how Yefremov's ideas can help people find their bearings in the digital age, will be discussed at a meeting of the Literary Club "What to Read?!" on 20 August at the National Centre RUSSIA.

"I invite everyone to the National Centre RUSSIA to discuss the work of one of the most important Soviet writers, Ivan Yefremov. He is one of the most versatile authors, whose popularity really began with a utopian novel, after which Ivan Yefremov went on to produce some truly terrifying dystopias, including 'The Bull's Hour'. He also wrote excellent historical novels. We will discuss how visions of the future took shape in his works, what led to his disillusionment, and how we should approach his writing today," said Nikolai Zharinov, philologist, cultural historian, writer and host of the Literary Club, announcing the new meeting.

Yevgeny Sazonov, Editor-in-Chief at the Komsomolskaya Pravda media holding, writer, photographer, documentary filmmaker and Associate Professor at the Russian State University for the Humanities, and Nikolai Smirnov, historian, writer and co-author of the book "Ivan Yefremov" in the "Lives of Remarkable People" series, will discuss Ivan Yefremov's work and its relevance to today's generations. The meeting will conclude with a traditional question-and-answer session and discussion with the audience.

Inviting viewers to join the discussion, Yevgeny Sazonov noted that Ivan Yefremov was one of the most mysterious and fascinating Soviet science-fiction writers: "How did he manage to predict everything that is happening in the world today? Where did he find his inspiration, where did he obtain his secret knowledge, and is it true that he might have been an alien? You will get answers to all these questions on 20 August. Come along — it will be interesting."

The Literary Club "What to Read?!" is an original educational project of the National Centre RUSSIA dedicated to the culture of reading and the public discussion of important contemporary issues. Participation in the club's meetings is free, but advance registration on the russia.ru website is required. The latest event schedule is available in the "Events" section.