Read the 2012 Olena Bormashenko translation of the 1972 novel Roadside Picnic by the Russian brothers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky which was made into the 1979 film Stalker, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, which I first saw, oh let’s say in the 2010-2017 range. A circuitous route to be sure. If you, like me, only knew the story via the film then you, like me, were largely ignorant of what the book contained until you, like me, finally got around to reading it. The film is mostly a faint echo of the events of the book which has me wanting to watch the (grim) film again because I couldn’t remember anything in the book happening in the film other than some very basic details. As far as I’m concerned, its greatest contribution is this image/vibe:

A simple distillation of the plot is: Aliens visit Earth and then leave. They leave behind both physical objects and less tangible “zones” that have strange effects on humanity and the environment. People go after these objects and die or get grievously injured (physically/mentally) in the process. Mostly they talk about it a lot. Highly recommended.

The song that was playing as I read the final scene and which was the perfect accompaniment was this one from Ian William Craig and Daniel Lentz titled “Stöltzle.” Also highly recommended.