Beetle in the Anthill

Summary

The novel "Beetle in the Anthill" by Boris Strugatsky is part of the Noon Universe series. At the heart of the story is Maxim Kammerer, an employee of the Committee for the Study and Contact with Extraterrestrial Civilizations. He is tasked with finding and neutralizing the mysterious progressor agent Lev Abalkin, who has returned to Earth after a long absence. Kammerer encounters secrets and mysteries surrounding Abalkin and gradually uncovers that he is part of an experiment conducted by the Wanderers, a powerful extraterrestrial civilization. During the investigation, Maxim realizes that Abalkin poses a threat to humanity but also holds the key to understanding deeper mysteries of the universe. The novel explores themes of responsibility, free will, and moral choice in the context of contact with more advanced civilizations.