Trubetskova, E. G. DYSTOPIAN MOTIFS IN SIGIZMUND KRZHIZHANOVSKY’S PROSE. Proceedings of Petrozavodsk State University. 2025;47(1):87–94. DOI: 10.15393/uchz.art.2025.1133


Russian literature and literature of the peoples of the Russian Federation

DYSTOPIAN MOTIFS IN SIGIZMUND KRZHIZHANOVSKY’S PROSE

Trubetskova
E. G. 		N. G. Chernyshevsky Saratov State University
Keywords:
dystopian motifs
problem of individual freedom
Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky
Memories of the Future
The Letter Killers Club
Yellow Coal		 Summary: The article examines various models of future development for both the country and society as depicted in the works of Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky, specifi cally in Memories of the Future, The Letter Killers Club, and Yellow Coal. Although dystopian motifs are prevalent throughout Krzhizhanovsky’s writings, they have not been the subject of a separate study, which highlights the originality of this research. The study’s relevance lies in its exploration of dystopian issues, which are essential for understanding the ideological and philosophical dimensions of the author’s work, as well as the pressing questions he raises. In contrast to the optimistic visions of future society found in Soviet literature, Krzhizhanovsky presents a more pessimistic outlook, capturing the fear-laden atmosphere of Moscow during the 1930s to 1950s (Memories of the Future), the implications of a global energy crisis (Yellow Coal), and the potential consequences of bioengineering and the centralized regulation of private life (The Letter Killers Club, Yellow Coal). This article clarifi es the unique portrayal of the future crafted by Krzhizhanovsky by comparing his futurological predictions with those of his contemporaries.



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