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The Russians are Coming

July 2007

Yes, the Russians are coming. Prepare to be carried off to a new and surprising Russia where cybersex coexists with calligraphy, the traffic police steal cars, and Brezhnev can make time stand still. And do keep coming back: the landing continues throughout the month. Special thanks to intern Rohan Kamicheril for his help in discovering these jewels of the new Federation.

Calligraphy Lesson

By Mikhail Shishkin

Good God, what criminals? They’re ordinary people.

Translated from Russian by Marian Schwartz

Akiko

By Victor Pelevin

My name is Akiko. What glorious name do you bear? Type it and press “enter” and Akiko will unlock her door.

Translated from Russian by Andrew Bromfield

Estuary

By Alexei Parshchikov

Once again, darling, yours is a resinous, intimate whisper.

Translated from Russian by Wayne Chambliss

Joan

By Andrei Gelasimov

He just loved that little gizmo.

Translated from Russian by Alexei Bayer

The Man Who Couldn’t Die

By Olga Slavnikova

Something suggested to Nina Alexandrovna that in this halted time there was no important difference between order and disorder.

Translated from Russian by Marian Schwartz

Zaporozhets

By Maria Arbatova

Our first car was a beige Zaporozhets made in the USSR, which had a Beetle-like design.

Translated from Russian by Dinara Georgeoliani & Mark Halperin