For the collection of Lukianenko works, see Nuclear Dream (collection)

Nuclear Dream (collection)

Nuclear Dream is a collection of various works by Sergey Lukyaninko, which was published in 2002. Most of the short stories were previously published individually, either online on in various literary magazines...

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Nuclear Dream (also known as Отложенное возмездие, "Delayed revenge") is an post-nuclear fiction

Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction

Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...

 novel

Novel

A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....

 by Sergey Lukyanenko

Sergey Lukyanenko

Sergei Vasilievich Lukyanenko is a science fiction and fantasy author, writing in Russian, and is arguably the most popular contemporary Russian sci-fi writer...

, written in 1990 in Alma-Ata. It is also a title of a collection of various works by Sergey Lukyaninko, which was published in 2002. For this, see Nuclear Dream (collection)

Nuclear Dream (collection)

Nuclear Dream is a collection of various works by Sergey Lukyaninko, which was published in 2002. Most of the short stories were previously published individually, either online on in various literary magazines...

 The entire work has been said to be an allegory of colonisation.

Plot introduction

On the post-nuclear landscape of the United States, it is hard to survive. The most ruthless individuals are dragons, who reject their own humanity, as well as the notion of kindness

Kindness

Kindness is the act or the state of being kind, being marked by good and charitable behaviour, pleasant disposition, and concern for others. It is known as a virtue, and recognized as a value in many cultures and religions ....

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Those who survived in underground bunkers don't like to visit the surface because life there is so brutal. However, the protagonist knows of an automated missile base that is programmed to perform a delayed nuclear strike — delayed to twenty years after the War, a time that is quickly approaching.

Mike, a man from "Reserv-6", meets Drago, a "dragon" who can communicate telepathically with his dog, Prince. As the three journey to stop the missile — aimed at Russia — from launching, Drago learns much about himself that he didn't know, and, by the end, questions his status as a dragon altogether.

Awards and nominations

• The novel was awarded the "Start" Aelita award.