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On Russian Science FictionThe following articles were scanned from the English language edition of "Fank" Special issue for Volgacon (1991). Please, forgive for scanning errors.More articles on pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,A SPEECH BY ARKADY STRYGATSKY MADE AT A MEETING OF COUNCIL OF USSR SF CLUBS AND RATHER MEANT FOR COUNCIL ITSELF THAN FOR THE PRESSAnd this Is to be taken into account; and this came to my mind when Volodia Gopman mentioned about concern of Central Committee of Komsomol with our problems. This Is also one of acts of such undeclared war. This is the organisation wholly given to bureaucracy; a disgusting system — CCofK. Do you remember who was at the most memorable Kiev meeting, and how easily they promised an assistance, sponsorship etc and how Just as easily they trodde n down with a left hoof on all their assurances of help for foreign trips to world meetings of SF fans and pro's; how easily they refused to admit advertised Intention to help to publish our Information. To hope for anything good from this monster In future I would not advise; and don't count on It at all. I believe that whatever can transpire but club they must free itself from this burden. Note, please: your achievements they ascribe to themselves; difflculteles you experience to achieve your goals they will Ignore & then again ascribe to themselves merits In accomplishing them — but In all your errors (and there bound to be errors because what we do Is new) they put all blame on you. Some small trouble and they jump aside and shout: It's them, it's them members ofSF club; we warned, we said... No, don't hope they defend you. Never! I don't well Imagine who we — SF club movement — can rely upon. Perhaps If we ask properly, so to speak, we can establish links with the organisation which hall we are gathering In today. We can not rely on Writers Union — I remind you about disgusting act of Markov, so called «a former functloner», but then powerfull and even now Influencing the present administration In Union; remember when he ordered the Council section on adventure and SF literature to severe Itself from club movement? Re member the period In 1984 when Iron fist & heel hovered above all clubs from Vladivostok to Murmansk, and members turned to us In Council for help: and Markov said: «Leave It be. It doesn't concern us; let them to knock fandom further more. »Though things became better I don't recommend, at least temporarily don't recommend for Council, of USSR SF ciubs to appeal to Writers Union. You ought to pay attention to other thing. Nob&dy present with exeptlon of Vladimir MIkhalkov knows what happens, what bpttie of wills Is going Inside Writers Union at the moment, betwen RSFSR administration, that of USSR and Moscow writers community. They are not able to divide, so to speak, magazines, power, publishing houses; and In given circumstances nothing can be said about continuance of normal work which particularly consists of (and Is written Into regulations) Incessant Improving of readership contacts (and those of science fictional field) with Writers Union. They just don't have time for such policy now. And if they would decide the Council of USSR SF clubs could be turned Into a big stick In their hands; and we can not, must not allow those misters to hit their rusty nails with our rnlcrlscope. Thus what we are left with Is a weak hope In Book Fan Association. It Is not actually weak, by the way since the Association is fabulously rich as everybody knows. There are not such rascals and bastards as former Egor Isayev, and It Is possible to come to an agreement. So at least here we have some hope. However it Is better we rely on ourselves. The chief questions of every revolution (and of change In particular) In work consists of what, comrades? It Is not the questions of power but of finances. Where to obtain money? We talked It with a participant here, Dr Haes. Kemerovo city council also advised him to find money. At the very best they promised room etc, but what of rooms — to rent them out for sleeping. It's no good! Anyway rooms are easily used. First a pay shows of video sf films; and It doesn't mean you can allow everybody to pass into viewing room like Into his own lavatory or to show there films meant exclusively for professionals. And It would be necessary to allow for regular members to Invite some guests and for a good sum! These are ready, quick money to avoid the dependence on CCofK when visiting local & Union conventions. Again a thought was expressed that we ought to create own sf libraries. Never mind children, they are our care anyway but other categories must pay. SF Is In a short supply. If you wish to read then put up 50 roubles deposit and pay 5 for every book; overkept — half of deposit off. Well, details can be worked out later. Possible to Imagine paid lectures, discussions. And one more thing. One more thing — patronage. Sponsors could be found. They were found out In Murmansk where dockers, factories help their sf groups. It may be because those clubs work together with a regional komsomol organisation. Apropos, when I scolded CCofK I have not meant komsomol organisation as a whole. I myself know many good, thoughtful boys from regional & city branches. They care for Informal groups In general, and SF clubs In particular. But don't forget that those local branchers work under local party committees, and not that of CCofK. In some cases it Is not the best thing but better than that of CCofK. This Is all a wished to say. It is my personal view — and It does bind nobody of course. You would be working it all out — I'm beset by age and Illnesses. 27 Lanuary 1989 Conference hall of AllUnion Book Fan Assotion transcribed by D.Baykalov (SFclub «Three Parsecs, Moscow)
Materials used from a humour fanzine «Never ever» 1990 «LOOK, WHO HAS COME»Recently our contry was stirred by sensational news produced by acnowledgements of the General-MaJlor O.Kalugln. Both the Soviet and the Western Press are still making commentaries about his exposure. Heated discussions dealing with the bill passed by our President about taking back all the titles and awards of this General are still going on. And In this context some new revelations and acknowledgements of one representative of the KGB agents came Into light. Our correspondent N. Varfolomeeva Is Interviewing the ex KGB Major Boris Zavgorodny. N.V: Boris Alexandrovlch, yor've become a living legend of the Soviet fandom, Fan No-1 of the USSR, a memder of the All UnlonSF Club and sudden ly we learnt, that all this time you've been the supervisor of the Soviet SF on behalf of the KGB. B.Z: Alas this Is true. All this time I'm earring out the task entrusted on me. The task was dealing with the neutralizing the Soviet SF movement. J'd better touch upon the history first, The up-to-date Soviet Fandom started to take shape In the 70s. First, there appeared SF clubs In different cities of the country. They set up contacts between each other, were doing letter writing, and then, the Perm seminars starteo.their activity. During that time when the stagnation was the norm of life In our country, SFC became sort of ecological niche, drawing to Itrself all kind of Independam-.Ti'nded people democrats, and other progressively thinking peole. Naturally, this sort of activity coudn't but Interest our committee. And as early as 1980 when the problems centered around the Moscow Ollmpic Games began to diminish the chlef-leutenant was offered a Job dealing with a starting a SF club In Volgograd. I used to read something from SF before and I was assigned to take It up seriously, namely I had to read works by the Strugatsklys brothers, Kazantsev, Parnov, etc.We published an ann ouncement In a local newspaper calling up fans and on noy 17.the club was established. We called It «The Wind of Time» after the novel by Chad Oliver. They wanted to give It a name «Z.K.» (abbreviated from «The Star Crews»). But the Moscow authorities didn't appreciate (ZK-ls a russlan slang word for a prisoner) our humour. N.V: What did you need this club for? B.Z: It's very simple. A SFC served as a sort of spring board for me leading to the All Union fans Organization" The Great Ring" uniting all SF fan clubs. We were real cordially welcomed there. While setting up links with other cities I was given the task to become a leader of the fans movement on the whole, and then alienate It. Just as the saying runs, «Divide and rule». They worked out a special operation under the name «A. Visit to Van Gogh». According to our plans I started a very big activity at the first stage of my career In the fandom. Our Club produced pins, SF pages for the local newspapers, the fanzine «The Wind of Time» and also the leaflet «Fank». Well, you see. It was only due to our Committee that we could achieve all this for those years. Besides that seminars became a sponsored by the KGB money, of course. N.V. — What was the concrete expression of your activity Inside the fandomar Inspired by KGB? B.Z: First of all, I had to maintain controle over the feelings of the I was also asslnged to put together some compromising material about different leaders of the movement. As I have already mentioned we had worked out a special operation called «A VIs'lt to Van Gohg», aimed at alienating the movement. I had to Implement this Ideal Into life which was a success. In 1982 I managed to Intrude a dispute, sort of a theoretical one, upon the fandom about the tasks and purposes of the fans movement. Many leading clubs were Involved Into this discussion: Tbillssy, Rostov, etc. Their views upon theory and srategy and tactics of the SF clubs movement differed. Figuratively speaking the essence of the dispute was: from which side to crack an ogg, from the harp or from the dull one. Then there appeared open letters In which critlsism was close to Insults and deliberate scolding. Then came Intrigues In which Vladivostok. Semlpalatlnsk, Tumen and Leningrad took Tbillssl's side whereras Saratov, Krasnodar and Gorky supported Rostov. Some remlnlsences of this «War of the Roses» are manifested up now. From time to time an open letter by Irakly Vahtanglshvlly would come Into highlight of the issue, always followed by a coutner letter written byVadIm Kazakow from Saratov. Later on I continued similar actions. Having Joined the VTO (All Union theatrical society) I began to post letters earring anti VTO messages to different clubs. Having squeezed Into the Union Council I started spreading rumours, compromizing this Council. But my main goal was reached already In the beginning of my carreer — the fandom was alienated and hence no more dangerous. N.V. But why then did this severe year of 1984 come If everything was going on OK according to you? B.Z. Oh, this situation, the frequent change of government In our country played a big role. In the end of K.Chernenko came to power with the Idea to enhance the Ideology of the Soviet society. In this context they demanded concrete measures from us. The more so, It was better there was a very popular word «counterpropaganda». And it was not the KGB organs that Inspired the developements In these yeara.Tt was some Ideological departments of the CPSU who were actual Insplrers of the events taking place In 1984. We had to flexibly restructure our activity thus breaking down the already established system of observation. Even old archives turned useful, since all fans and translators fans leading correspondence with the West, and other «unrelable» persons were reglsted by our «pen». The material was sufficient, since I was not the only one who was Introduced Into the fandom. Some fans suffered greatly. Lubtsov from Omsk was sentenced to a year of Imprisonment working at the enterprise of the so called Big chemistry. Chertkov from NIkolaev was expelled from the Komsomol for spreading «The Ugly Swans» and he was about to be expelled from the Institute as well. But I got In touch with my collegues from NIkolaev and asked them Just to secure them. So, all the powerful clubs suffered, anyway. At first It was Tbiilssy then Vladivostok, Rostov, Goriovka, the city most commonly mentioned In my reports. I happened to witness all the absurdity of the «Witches hunting campaign» waged at that time. But I was unable to do a thing to prevent It. It was then when i began to realize for the first timein my life that not everything that was done by us was right. But again I repeat, the major blow that fell upon the fandom was Ideological party departaments. N.V. Boris Alexandrovlch, you've became a fan N. I In the conclousness of the Soviet people'also because you «broke out the window» Into Europe for the Soviet fandom. You set up extensslve International links. What was the purpose of all this activity? B.Z: It also had Its own sense. We decided that sooner or later someone would eventually set up close contracts with the foreign fandom. And Moscow decided that It should be the Soviet people that would be the monopolists In that matter, namely, Brilllantov from the Moscow area. If we hadn't done this, be sure, there would certainly appear someone else. (Already In 1979 a person named Ryablnsky from the Habarovsk local club «Fant» managed to get Into the PolCon In Gdansk.) As the time has shown this step has fully justified Itself. Nearly all the foreign ties are now concentrated In our hands. The more so It gives us much benefit In perspective. In the meantime more and more fans attend different Cons abroad yearly. They are sure to need a special escorting man for these trips. We have arranged everything In advance. And owing to the fact that they that had taken care of It befomand at present the KGB has reliable people at Its disposal, people beyond all suspicions. For example, would you suspect Kolobaev? Yes. that's Jt N.V: Tell me please, what were the real Incentives of your trip to Euro-Con? To Budapest and San-Marino? B.Z: The thing Is that they admitted In Moscow that despite all obstacles, some part of the Soviet fans would still contrive to break through and eventually attend these Conventions. So I was to escort them. But It turned out that the authorities from the KGB headquarters were of a very good opinion about our fans But It was YakubovskI, who managed to attend the Con In Budapest and none of us went to San-Marino. Besides that It was planned to show the Western fans that Boris Zavgorodny really existed, and was not a substitute as many people had suspected, since they had sometimes received letters In different handwriting. In terms of grammar, and styllstlcs (Naturally, my group dealing with foreign relations, comprised several people, otherwise I would never have coped with the full scope of correspondence.) And It was also worth while strenghtening the contacts, and the best opportunity to do so Is to do It In person. N.V: Did you receive any governmental rewards for all your activity In the fandom? B.Z: Yes, I've been granted several governmental awrds. one of them Is for the operation «A Visit to Van Gohg», then for the downfall of the Vladivostok group B.Z: Our psychologists created a special legend fit for me that shouldn't cause any kind of suspicion and should make me ðîðèÃàã with the fandom. What can be most harmless than an Image of a sewage fitter from Volgograd market, spending all his wages on S.F. literature? It was this very Image of an easy-going guy with all his sins. But devotedly committed to SF that promoted his career of becoming fan N 1. Now they forgive me all peculiar ways of mine, all sort of utterances that 1 make and other actions. I am allowed to do many things because for all of them I'm «Boris Zavgorodny». N.V: Was It hard for you to maintain this Image created by you? B.Z: Not that much, especially at the first stages. Probably, because deep In my heart I am actually this very born. Basides, I used to study at the Moscow Institute of Performing Art, and I was said to be a promising student. Though for the recent time I've become a bit weary of this Image: the mask of a merry fan now started to disconcert me. It's become tiresome to lead this «high life». If you noticed, at the recent Cons that Boris Zavgorodny proved to be dressed more properly and his social manners also Improved, became more respectful. And I want to get rid of this Image of a cool dude and eventually demonstrate my real face. N.V: Did anybody ever suspect you of being an Intelligence service agent? B.Z: Probably not, I gather. But I can't guarantee anything. May be somehwere backstage there was such a talk, but anyway, nobody cast direct accusations In my regard. Though there were some grounds for suspicions. For example how could a regular Soviet citizen attend all sort of Conventions all the time and also go abroad? How can a regular worker without knowing a foreign language lead such an extensslve correspondence with foreigners? Again, one drives at a conclusion that one should possess a pretty sum of money to do this. How could he possibly manage to publish different fanzines, leaflets, club pages in the years of stagnation? But to my mind, If even the question arouse In anybody's mind, he Immediately found an explanation In one phrase: «But this Is Boryal» By the way, as early as In 1984 somebody called me «a Hired agent» of CIA. But of course, It was not serlouse. N.V: Boris Alexandrovlch, why did you decide to expose your real face? The face of a counter-lntelllngence agent? B.Z: Your question Is not quite true. The matter Is that I really considered myself to be a fan. So you'd better speak In this respect: not about a real face but of a real profession, about which none was aware earlier. Yes. I used to beac'ounter-intellegence agent. But gradually with the development of democracy and openness (Glasnost) In our country the fan movement ceazed to be a force, potentially dangerous for our state's security. In the meantime every day new parties and fronts are being established, armed formations operate In many republics, mafia Is rising up. In brelf there was an opinion that I should be replaced Into another front of my activity, since I had been doing my job for more than ten years.  ut I had already got used to my fandom and didn't want to leave It. That's why I claimed my resignation and after the 28-th CPSU Congress I left the party ranks. For the time being I am making my living only out SF. I have my own .literary agency, I publish books, and I'm going to hold an International SF Conventlon-VolgaCon, next year which will give us some influx of hard currency. And the Idea to confess my guilts before the fandom occurred to me after numerous Interviews with the General-Major Kalugln. And the Intention to ease my conscience, as I had taken part In the repressive operations In 1984 played aliso an Important role. I have realised my fault long ago. Due to my «attempts» dozens of people suffered greatly. Their only fault was that they also liked SF as well as I did. I understood all the futility and uselessness of espionage among fans. I reported my views unpon this point to my authorities, but they never listened to me. But it was high time for me to let all my opinions out. N.V: Do you mean to say that now the fan dom has got out from the KGB umbrella? B.Z: Never In the world. I suspect that there are still many unknown to me agents left. Our state security can only loosen up the grip, on the victim's throat, but never release It. Yes, such people that used to be hired by KGB as Chertkov, Fedorov, Brilllantov, left but as It seems to me that new people (Kolobaev from Ivanovo, Kolomlets from Omsk, Mozhaev from Kiev) have taken over and are dealing with our fandom now. There are some small details that make me judge about It. Such a highly experienced professional as I consider myself, can't but see them. I may be wrong but I m likely to be right. N.V: I am Intrigued. Horn can you Identify a KGB agent among fans?  Z: Oh, there are many nuances. Firs thing, all the three usually go to attend Conventions. Second, their Incomes are not clear. Besides, they have relatively recently taken thel r leading posts In the fandom. And the most characteristic feature Is the fact that their predessessors left the «stage» so suddenly. I mean Marat Isangazin from the Omsk club, Boris SIdluk from Kiev, Valeril Okulov from Ivanovo, All the three have now been elected to different Councils (All Union SF Clubs, CouncllSFC Council of Ukrain). And may be finally the most reliable reason to suspect an agent is the very fact that one should never suspect him. N.V: Thank you. And my last question: What would you like to wish our readers ot «Never»? B.Z: More good SF, of course, and less KGB agents at our Cons. Let our conntry turn from the police-governed state Into a law-governed state as soon as possible. And I also wish them to come to the VolgaCon. It's going to be a terrific Convention. Translated by Maria Pesikova More articles on pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, |
