Laughter in the Dark

Nikolai Nikolaevich

A pickpocket by profession, upon his release from Prison, our titular hero Nikolai Nikolaevich soon finds a job in a science lab via his scientist neighbor, Kimza. From the very beginning, we're acquainted with his obscene language and vulgar slangs, and Nikolai uses them without any shame, almost seamlessly, that not only gives an idiosyncratic character to him but allows him to make 'Soviet-Satire' and humor. Over time, with Kimza's alluring proposal, Nikolai's role changes from being a lab assistant to sperm donor for research (artificial pregnancy and what's more…)¹. In time taking advice from his thief friend, he bargains for high pay and diet for his donation, and for the fair share of alcohol. His ideas are based on the characters and influences from the Soviet rule, and the footnotes give the text more authenticity in this regard.

1.       Their idea was to send my sperm to the Andromeda galaxy in a glass test tube that would be like an impregnated belly. Nine months later, just like that, there’d be little Nikolai Nikolaeviches on planet Andromeda. A hundred or so would be born right away, and they’d fucking well adapt fast to their new surroundings. You don’t believe this could happen?

The story then follows his daily schedule as a sperm donor and his growing love for Vlada Yurevna. Under the policies of Lysenko, who rejected works done in genetics and heredity, and who was fervently supported by Stalin, as expected by Kimza, their lab is cracked down. Nikolai who believes that Morganism is somehow related with morgue and sexing the corpses is convinced that politics has entered their work. Shortly, he is interrogated by authority but he swirls it with wit and ignorance.

Swearing, cursing and denouncing – these can be found aimed at anyone or anything, but most particularly at the conflicting interests of the regime and people. The broader picture of Soviet regime surfaces out as the story progresses – time just before and after Stalin's death. After Stalin's death, the science lab gets reinstated and Nikolai gets his job back but this time he becomes subject for complicated experiments than before, as a puppet in the science quests: one being to track down his brain cell responsible for sexual activity. He takes part in another secret experiment to find pattern on how books are related to his sexual arousals when finally everything is too much for him.²

2.         That's absolutely right! That's it—jacking off! Jack-ing off! Absolutely jacking off. All of Soviet and world science, Kolya, is nothing but jacking off—ninety percent of it! And Marxism-Leninism? It's obvious onanism. Yours at least is harmless. But how much blood has been spilled by Marxism-Leninism—just in its laboratory (that is, in Russia)? An entire oceanful! An ocean! And have we ever produced any beneficial, useful jizz? Not a drop. Everything all around us is jacking off! The Party jerks off. The government engages in onanism. Science is masturbating, and it seems to everyone that, any minute, some crippled Kimza will start yelling: ‘Attention—Orgasm!’ and things will get easier, the bright future will begin. That's Communism. Well, Kolya, you have done your jerking off and goofing off, and now it's time to stop.

In this anti-Soviet satirical work which densely uses Mat (Russian obscene language) and obscenities, the ongoing struggle for scientific achievement and recognition during the period could be inferred at the cost of ordinary people³ distinctive to Soviet regime trying to achieve greatness. Nikolai doesn't realize he's making fun of the time; he just can't get angry about things so makes fun of them instead.⁴ A concoction of science fiction and profane humor, Nikolai Nikolaevich mimics aspects of Soviet Union, that is being in constant watch and threat by the authority.

3.       "It’s hard to tell the difference between killing and giving birth.”

4.       Anyone else wouldn’t even keep his own prison cell in the shape Stalin kept the whole country. He was a real mob boss.” Believe it or not, I had no urge to touch Stalin’s body at the funeral.

For Nikolai, every step, even if that is imagination has dead ends, ending in political obscurities or social misfortune. If we don't mind his language, his mindset is enough to surprise us, which encompass more than just his story. Nikolai is a by-product of the regime whose raw and fragile life could be molded by the users. Talking to his drinking buddy, Nikolai has shared his experience of being used, being happy and then being free. These three tiers are characterized by the changes in the Soviet Union and Nikolai's understanding of the world around. His consciousness is less likely driven by his sexual fantasies then by his cloudy motive to go on living. This impeccable translation has rendered the rightful tone to the text.

Camouflage**

Author: Yuz Aleshkovsky

Translator: Duffield White (edited by Susanne Fusso)

Publisher: Columbia University Press (Russian Library Series)

Author's Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuz_Aleshkovsky

Review Copy Courtesy: Columbia University Press

** Coming Soon