New translation of Roadside Picnic?

[square_25]

Thanks, Mark! I'll do it that next time. I was thinking there would be a way to just attach the image, but that would work just as well.

Looking over my excerpts, I see that it's hard to tell whether there's any difference using only a couple of paragraphs... I'll ask my editor if I can put up a 10 page excerpt, so that anyone interested can compare the rhythm and voice.

[square_25]

By the way, I'm probably going to translate more of the Strugatsky's works! Anyone have any opinions on what I should do next?

[square_25]

Hmmm... This thread seems to have died . I'll make one attempt to revive it, then I'll cut out the spam .

Anyway, I got permission to post a 10 pages excerpt from the new translation of Roadside Picnic! So I'm posting a poll to determine whether people are interested.

I would also love to hear what people think the best place to take an excerpt from would be: I guess it would have to be 10 continuous pages, and it shouldn't confuse people who haven't read the book. I could just take those pages from the beginning... but that seems a little boring! Any thoughts?

[Hobbit]

Hi again Square.

If you have the permission of the publisher, I'm sure we could put up an extract on the main website for you.

Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

The issue may be that although we have some members who know a little Strugatsky, it's probably only Roadside Picnic that people 'know', as its the most common published in English.

Here's a link to the rest.

Have you had any thoughts yourself?

Mark

[Mr.O'Toole]

By the way, I'm probably going to translate more of the Strugatsky's works! Anyone have any opinions on what I should do next?

"Hard to Be a God" - is much more popular book than "Picnic" in Russia.

("Picnic" became famous abroad because of movie "Stalker")

I think you should give it a try.

[square_25]

"Hard to Be a God" - is much more popular book than "Picnic" in Russia.

("Picnic" became famous abroad because of movie "Stalker")

I think you should give it a try.

Actually, I was considering doing that one next! I know it's very popular...

[square_25]

Hi again Square.

If you have the permission of the publisher, I'm sure we could put up an extract on the main website for you.

Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

The issue may be that although we have some members who know a little Strugatsky, it's probably only Roadside Picnic that people 'know', as its the most common published in English.

Here's a link to the rest.

Have you had any thoughts yourself?

Mark

Thanks, Mark! I got your PM before, but for some reason I couldn't figure out how to respond to it... Anyway, I do have the permission of the publisher, but I think he might want to have it copy-edited first... But after that, it'd be great if you could put it up.

And thought about what to do next... Well, "Hard to be a God" is definitely one, and "Beetle in the Anthill" and "The Waves Extinguish the Wind" are also possibilities. (I think those are the English titles?)

[ArtNJ]

Is the whole thing available yet? I have never read it, but seen it on some top 100 lits and it sounds interesting.

[square_25]

Is the whole thing available yet? I have never read it, but seen it on some top 100 lits and it sounds interesting.

The new translation will be published in April. The old translation (which I honestly don't like very much) exists online.

[Ropie]

Actually, I was considering doing that one next! I know it's very popular...

You must let me know if you do Hard To Be A God

I liked the brief snippet you gave of RP (yes, it was his daughter wasn't it - I did wonder if I had remembered correctly after 6 years). It certainly reads as slightly 'Westernized' compared to the older translation, but maybe that's more a case of the age of the other translation. It would be good to read a longer excerpt if possible although if it became available in the UK I'd buy a copy anyway.

[square_25]

You must let me know if you do Hard To Be A God

I liked the brief snippet you gave of RP (yes, it was his daughter wasn't it - I did wonder if I had remembered correctly after 6 years). It certainly reads as slightly 'Westernized' compared to the older translation, but maybe that's more a case of the age of the other translation. It would be good to read a longer excerpt if possible although if it became available in the UK I'd buy a copy anyway.

Hey Ropie,

Good to hear from you! Glad you liked the snippet (that's a good word, snippet...) I'm curious what you mean about it sounding Westernized -- do you mean the language?

I'm be happy to send you another excerpt, although I think I should wait for the copy-editing to actually post it. If you PM me your e-mail, I could send you the first 15 pages or so -- would that be a reasonable choice of excerpt?

[Ropie]

I'm curious what you mean about it sounding Westernized -- do you mean the language?

Yes, it's the use of language.

Comparing yours: 'The neighbor kid Willy tore dolly's leg off. There was a new kitten on the third floor, all white and with red eyes—he probably didn't listen to his mommy and went in the Zone.'

with the older translation: 'The neighbor's boy Willy tore off dolly's leg. There was a new kitten on the third floor - all white and with red eyes. He probably didn't listen to his mama and went into the Zone.'

yours sounds slightly contracted and more American to me - it's a more contemporary way of saying the same things. It's not a criticism in any way, just an observation. And I've no way of knowing if that paragraph is representative of the whole text either, so I could be way off!

I'm be happy to send you another excerpt, although I think I should wait for the copy-editing to actually post it. If you PM me your e-mail, I could send you the first 15 pages or so -- would that be a reasonable choice of excerpt?

That's very kind of you.

[square_25]

Yes, it's the use of language.

Comparing yours: 'The neighbor kid Willy tore dolly's leg off. There was a new kitten on the third floor, all white and with red eyes—he probably didn't listen to his mommy and went in the Zone.'

with the older translation: 'The neighbor's boy Willy tore off dolly's leg. There was a new kitten on the third floor - all white and with red eyes. He probably didn't listen to his mama and went into the Zone.'

yours sounds slightly contracted and more American to me - it's a more contemporary way of saying the same things. It's not a criticism in any way, just an observation. And I've no way of knowing if that paragraph is representative of the whole text either, so I could be way off!



That's very kind of you.

Hey Ropie,

No, I'm sure you're right about the use of language! It's partially because the language I speak is contemporary, of course. And to be honest, I wasn't very fond of the old translation's use of language -- I have nothing against things written in old-fashioned or non-American English, but the English they were using didn't quite sound right to me... Hard to explain why!

Another thing that bothered me was that the dialogue became kind of clunky and not very lively (which is not at all representative of the original). And it also messed up the rhythm of the novel. I guess the old translator didn't want any run-on sentences, but I think she really overdid it -- many long but perfectly readable sentences got chopped up into stilted little bits...

By the way, I realized I don't know how the PM system around here works! Can I only PM anyone, or people on my 'Contacts' list? Or do I need to something extra to be allowed to PM at all?

P.S. You know, taking a look at the snippet I gave you, I'm surprised you can notice things in it -- when I was posting it, I realized it was one of the places they were very similar as opposed to substantially different...

[s271]

.................................

[livens]

... My be it's too literal for my testes...

Yes, my testes are against things too literal as well.