Metro 2033 [Novel]

[Zemekis]

Just finished reading Metro 2033 a few nights ago prior to playing the games. I've been on a roll with post-apocalyptic Russian/Slavic media over the past months. I read Roadside Picnic back in April (inspiration for S.T.A.L.K.E.R), and decided to see what Metro was all about because I don't like the gameplay in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Metro 2033 (the novel) was really bleak, without spoiling too much. There's a decent twist at the end but it isn't telegraphed at all, so if you're someone who feels jipped by reveals that you couldn't have guessed, then watch out. Much like Roadside Picnic, this could be seen as a philosophy book just as much as action, sci-fi or horror. There are entire chapters devoted to characters monologuing about their belief systems. Each metro station had its own flavor & culture. As the main character travels between them they get pitted against one another. Since this is the Moscow metro system, there are factions trying to revive the USSR and/or Communism (it's vague because they have been in the metro for decades and aren't sure themselves), Cannibals, Nationalists, Religious Zealots, and factions heavily focused on Trade or Law. It's a good read, and there is far more action than in Roadside Picnic. The book is expressly inspired by Roadside (mentioned in the Author's forward at the start of the book), and is an unofficial extension of that universe. People who go to the surface as even called Stalkers. There are "anomalies" in the tunnels. Plenty of supernatural stuff that goes unexplained, which is the best kind. 

 

At this point I'm just rambling out various topics from the book, but if anyone wants to talk about it (or know what the spoiler(s) are) reply in this thread and I can use spoiler tags for my answers.

 

Spoiler

 

Edited July 13 by Zemekis
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