Angel's Ethereal Kiss (Russian)

We present the first novel written by Alexey Pajitnov, the inventor of the popular video game Tetris. The novel The Angel's Ethereal Kiss is set in Moscow during the early 1970s. The author, a scion of an educated Moscow family, a graduate of a magnet STEM school and a prestigious university, describes a world that may seem unfamiliar to him at first glance, a mirror universe - the adventures of a juvenile delinquent, a cunning burglar, successful through luck as much as skill. The reader is thrust into a vortex of events. The protagonist is growing up in the middle of the decaying Soviet system, where honesty and integrity are only prized in the criminal underworld, among the very people in conflict with the authorities.The system is rotten from top to bottom, and the reader is instinctively drawn to the main character and sympathetic to his attempts to break out of that mold and strive for a better life.The main character, an aspiring leader of a criminal syndicate, is really the author's alter ego. He is a loving son, a supportive brother, a loyal friend, a star student, and a talented athlete. The reader would accompany him on his journey to find his true self. The country where this quest is taking place is not an easy place to grow up, but the reader will see that it is possible to remain true to oneself regardless of the circumstances. Part One is called Moscow Mowgli. Will the wild child ever understand what love is? Will he learn to solve complex problems, both geometrical and ethical? What trials does life have in store for him? Consider reading the novel in its entirety. Parts Two and Three will reveal to you the protagonist's ups and downs in a country where it is so easy to fall and so difficult to soar up high...

We present the first novel written by Alexey Pajitnov, the inventor of the popular video game Tetris. The novel The Angel's Ethereal Kiss is set in Moscow during the 1970s. The author, a scion of an educated Moscow family, a graduate of a magnet STEM school and a prestigious university, describes a world that may seem unfamiliar to him at first glance, a mirror universe - the adventures of a juvenile delinquent, a cunning burglar, successful through luck as much as skill. The reader is thrust into a vortex of events. The protagonist is growing up in the middle of the decaying Soviet system, where honesty and integrity are only prized in the criminal underworld, among the very people in conflict with the authorities. The system is rotten from top to bottom, and the reader is instinctively drawn to the main character and sympathetic to his attempts to break out of that mold and strive for a better life. Part Two of the novel The Angel's Ethereal Kiss is called The Courier. The young protagonist secures a job as a courier, but he is actually working for a powerful criminal mastermind. The underworld has its own notion of honor and loyalty. The protagonist finds himself in a deadly trap, and only his sharp mind and equally sharp instincts help him survive the experience. Having survived, he feels on top of the world; he solves complex physics problems, breezes through difficult exams, speaks fluent English, and builds businesslike relations with a girl named Nadya. The reader would find it hard to disengage from the protagonist's journey and feel as if they are solving the same problems and waiting for true love... What will be the outcome, and will The Courier prevail? Part III is devoted to answering these questions.

We present the first novel written by Alexey Pajitnov, the inventor of the popular video game Tetris. The novel The Angel's Ethereal Kiss is set in Moscow during the 1970s. The author, a scion of an educated Moscow family, a graduate of a magnet STEM school and a prestigious university, describes a world that may seem unfamiliar to him at first glance, a mirror universe - the adventures of a juvenile delinquent, a cunning burglar, successful through luck as much as skill. The reader is thrust into a vortex of events. The protagonist is growing up in the middle of the decaying Soviet system, where honesty and integrity are only prized in the criminal underworld, among the very people in conflict with the authorities. The system is rotten from top to bottom, and the reader is instinctively drawn to the main character and sympathetic to his attempts to break out of that mold and strive for a better life. The very title of Part Three - The External Graduate -- explains how the protagonist became what he became. The formation of his character occurred outside the school and government structure. He is no longer the naïve boy at the beginning of the journey of self-discovery.He is not afraid to take risks; he manages people and, directs complex systems, and loves like an adult.Everything comes easy to him (not everyone gets a kiss from an angel, after all), but being entangled in a relationship with high-ranking police and KGB officials leads him to conclude that no one can be truly free under the Soviet system... The protagonist walks along the edge of the razor and realizes that the Soviet motherland ruined his life and was no mother at all. The protagonist comes to realize that there is nothing more important than family and the woman he loves. It is worth losing everything material, what he gained through his extraordinary inventiveness. Nothing ties him to the motherland any longer. We don't know how the protagonist's life will unfold in faraway America, but we hope that the author will reveal that in his next novel.