Rudolf Sikorski
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Rudolf Sikorski (2075 - ?) is a fictional character in Boris and Arkady Strugatsky's series of science fiction novels set in the Noon Universe.
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[edit] Biography
Sikorski was one of the key figures on Earth in the XXII century. It is unclear how he rose up, but in 2137 he was already a member of Earth's World Council as well as of recently founded COMCON-2. In 2137 Sikorski was appointed to the "Stepchildren Case" as its director and curator and classified all information about it, so that nearly nothing was leaked to the public of Earth.
In 2152 he enlisted in the Institute of Experimental History and became a progressor. His first (and, probably, last) mission was that on Saraksh, where he soon became the project chief. In 2157 he met Maxim Kammerer, who later became his apprentice - first on Saraksh and then in COMCON-2. Some sources indicate that Rudolf Sikorski participated on Saraksh project until 2165.
In 2165 Rudolf Sikorski returned to Earth and for the next 13 years devoted himself to the "Stepchildren Case", which he believed was vital for the Earth's existence. In 2178 he assigned Maxim Kammerer to the task of locating a "Stepchild", Lev Abalkin, who disappeared from his view. But Kammerer failed and Sikorski had to lure Abalkin into a trap and assassinating him, because he believed it to be the only way of protecting Earth.
Shortly after the assassination of Abalkin in 2178, Rudolf Sikorski had to leave his position as the head of COMCON-2 under the pressure of public disapproval. Maxim Kammerer became his successor as the chief of COMCON-2.
[edit] Quotations
Probably the most famous words by Sikorski which describe his whole attitude to life are:
"As members of COMCON-2 we are allowed to have a reputation of ignoramuses, mystics and superstitious fools. But we are not allowed one single thing - that is, to underestimate a threat [to Earth]. And if our house suddenly smells of sulfur, we must suppose that a horned devil appeared somewhere near and take any necessary measures, even if that means organizing an industrial production of holy water."
[edit] Trivia
Just as Maxim Kammerer, Rudolf Sikorski was originally given a Russian name by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky - Pavel Grigorievitch (Павел Григорьевич). However, the Soviet censors didn't allow it, so the authors had to find a more Germanic one for him.
[edit] See also
Rudolf Sikorski appeared in "Inhabited Island", "Beetle in an Anthill" and "The Time Wanderers".
| Novels: | Noon: 22nd Century | Escape Attempt | Far Rainbow | Hard to Be a God | Disquiet | Prisoners of Power | Space Mowgli | The Kid from Hell | Beetle in the Anthill | The Time Wanderers |
|---|---|
| Related works: | The Land of Crimson Clouds | The Way to Amalthea | Space Apprentice |
| Planets: | Ark | Arkanar | Earth | Rainbow | Saraksh | Saula | List of minor planets |
| Races: | Ark Megaforms | Headies | Humans | Leoniders | Ludens | Tagorians | Wanderers |
| Personalities: | Lev Abalkin | Leonid Gorbovsky | Maxim Kammerer | Gennady Komov | Rudolf Sikorski | List of minor personalities |
| Miscellaneous: | XXII century timeline | Progressors | Stepchildren Case |
