Metro 2033

I came to Metro 2033 after playing the game first, curious to learn more about the world that sucked me in. I quickly realized the book is very different from the game, and in a good way. Where the game leans on suspense and action, the book slows down and builds out an eerie, detailed vision of post-nuclear Moscow’s metro system. It’s shrouded in mystery, layered with supernatural touches, and has a level of suspense that keeps you hooked. What stood out most for me was the sheer depth of the world and the different types of people Artyom encounters. The book really captures the struggle of humanity trying to survive, adapt, and make sense of life in the tunnels after an apocalypse. It dives into philosophical themes about existence, survival, and human nature, things the game could only hint at. Sometimes it does slow down in these moments, but I actually enjoyed the more thoughtful, horror-tinged pacing. That said, if you’re expecting nonstop firefights like in the game, this might feel a little slower than you’d want. There are definitely tense and thrilling moments, but the focus is more on atmosphere and ideas than pure action. Still, I think that’s what makes it such a powerful read. Whether you’ve played the game or not, Metro 2033 is worth picking up. It’s part thriller, part mild horror, and part deep dive into what humanity might become after the end of the world.

Metro 2033 attempts to take a genre filled to the brim with generic stories and create a new and exciting perspective. For the most part it succeeds. By telling the story from a Russian perspective the author exposes the reader to ideas and customs not often heard of in American literature. Its story is creepy and feels like a genuine representation of what a post apocalyptic society would function like. This is why the story succeeds, and its supernatural elements are done extremely well and do not feel out of place. Metros strength is in its atmosphere and situations it creates. The main character Artyom is forced unto a quest whose goal does not become clear till the later third of the book. This allows the book to focus on the world around Artyom and the journey to find out the true purpose of his mission. Many of the factions in the Metro mimic real life nations with some being strictly capitalist while others adopting stricter doctrines such as communism or Fascism. The author takes these factions from real life influences but adds a unique spin to them. For example the Nazi party believes that pure blood Russians are the master race while the Nazi party of 1940’s Germany believed in German superiority. This is present throughout the book, where many of the people trapped in the metro adopt religions and doctrines from the real world but with limited information about it decide to create their own principles. The stations in Metro serve as a “safe zone” for travelers. But due to the ever present threat of rival factions and creatures the reader is never fully at peace even when Artyom is in a friendly environment. One aspect the book does well is making the reader ever tense and on edge. The book develops a sense of ever present danger and make the calmer chapters a welcome change for the reader. This is a great aspect because the reader feels the tension of the protagonist and is able to be more immersed in the book. Overall the book is well written, and the reader will rarely get bored. One issue is the book can feel a bit long since it take so long for the main quest to start. Its a refreshing step away from generic post apocalyptic fiction and tackles a smaller more personal story then books such as The Passage or The Stand. I highly recommend this book to those tired of the genre and in need of a unique perspective.

This is probably one of the most unique books I've read in a long time. An excellent post-nuclear apocalyptic setting based around the world that formed in the Russian metro after civilization is destroyed (for those that don't know, we have duck and cover while the Russians have run-like-hell-to-the-subway-within-20mins-or-your-screwed). The story and setting are very dark and bleak, the element of the dreadful unknown is perfectly done throughout the book. The characters are interesting and unique and the different groups are well done. When reading the book I could really feel and get into the claustrophobic setting and dismal atmosphere of the book, something I can not say very often. This is one of my favorite sci-fi/horror/post-apocalyptic books of all time. I liked it so much I bought the video game (I'm not much of a gamer either). Despite a packed and oft done genre, Metro manages to be an incredibly unique take with a well done and engaging plot. That said, it is a very dark Russian novel with a reoccurring theme of the inhumanity of man after the break down of civil order, is often nihilistic and hopeless so those sensitive to such things or who need some shred of optimism or hope in their post-apocalypse stories beware. Also, important to note is that it's not an action packed book. The book was certainly thrilling to me but the story is built largely around character interactions and dialogue which can be dense in a few places. There are plenty of heavily armed characters and battles, especially towards the end of the book but it isn't the intense fast-paced conflict fans of the video game might be looking for. Only four stars because of the translation. It is replete with grammatical errors (and I'm not being nit picky here, it is very noticeable). It's nothing as bad as a bad Chinese martial arts film subtitled translation, but frequently there are sentences that are clumsy and occasionally ones that require a careful reading to discern what they're trying to say. In my reading it was only a mild problem, every now and then I'd have to read over a sentence again or laugh to myself at the error. However, I lent it to a friend who couldn't get past the first few chapter because of the error laden dialogue.

**Fair warning: Potential light spoilers ahead** Set in the sprawling Moscow metro system following a major nuclear holocaust a couple of decades prior to the novel, we follow the journey of a man in his early 20s named Artyom, who is given a special task by a man named Hunter to journey to the center of the Metro to deliver news of an incredible threat to the entire Metro system and plead for help from the more powerful stations. Artyom is a somewhat naïve, anxious, superstitious, and overly curious protagonist. He bumbles his way around Neo-Nazis, Communists, mutants, and even new age Metro gurus, one of which claims to be the reincarnation of Genghis Khan himself. All of these events and people challenge his beliefs and understanding of the world around him in a very thoughtful and philosophical way. Even the Metro system itself makes for an interesting frenemy, with many seemingly paranormal unknowns lurking in the depths. Just what is going on in the tunnels? And what about the surface? What fates await our unwitting hero? Are the tales of men unfortunate enough to merely glimpse the stars of the Kremlin and become completely hypnotized by their beautiful twinkling true? Are the widely accepted explanations for phenomenon we can't explain ourselves always true? Can you trust everything someone in a position of power tells you? What the hell are all these hushed fearful whispers of Librarians about!? All of these burning questions AND MORE can be answered for you, dear reader, by checking out this novel. Do keep in mind that it's a pretty bleak book, but there are much more moments of levity than you might expect. Artyom is a very lovable, just, and humble doofus. I loved the book, and the ending really made me think about just how spiteful and indignantly hateful humanity as a whole can become when rallied around a common fear. Fear is a major theme in this book, and all the outcomes it can have on a person, both positive and negative. I'd also HIGHLY recommend watching videos of the actual Moscow metro itself if you're unfamiliar, as I had an entirely different image in my head. It's quite opulent, and lent itself to the decaying and increasingly distant greatness of humanity as portrayed in the novel. Check it out!

Many may have come to this book after playing the game. I was fortunate enough to read this masterpiece prior the game's release. Let's get started. First off, for those coming from the game, you'll find that the game follows the book fairly well story-wise. The things Artyom does that leads to the next event are pretty much the same as they were in the book. However, the book has many things that the game does not. First of all, readers will find that the universe presented in the book is far darker, more foreboding, and significantly more personal than that of the game. Artyom's character development goes a long way, and once you reach the end of the book, his final actions will tug viciously on the readers' heartstrings. That is not to say, however, that the other characters are well thought-out. Aside from Khan and his step father, none of the characters in the book seem to have any true depth and are rather faceless characters that are just there to help Artyom do what he has to, and more often than not, these characters will die in horrific or mysterious ways before the reader can establish an emotional attachment to them. Also, near the end of the book, spelling and grammar gets a bit clunky, but that is most likely due to the translation from Russian to English. Also, the book is NOT ACTION PACKED. The Oh-So-Feared nosalises presented in the game don't make the slightest appearance in the book aside from a brief mention. In fact, very little mutant creatures are around at all. The book is mostly story and lore up until the climactic ending. Aside from a few short-comings, Metro 2033 is a must read for anyone in the world. Not only is it a dark and personal story of one man's journey to save what's left of humanity after the catastrophic nuclear apocalypse, but it is also a mysterious novel filled with fantastic character interactions, amazing detail, and a breathtakingly original story. Metro 2033 is by far the best book I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and by all means, I suggest everyone read it. However, overly religious people be warned - there are points in the story where the author clearly has characters proclaim that God, Allah, the afterlife, etc. is not real. If that disturbs you, then don't pick up the book. If you aren't a religious nutcase, then go for it!

My goodness, I've been looking all over for a book with this much imagination and depth! I haven't read anything this intriguing in a very long while. Metro 2033 is another take on Joseph Campbell's Monomyth, but that's not a bad thing. This book had me captivated from chapter one and had me craving more. I'm really looking forward to the authors expansion into this world. Would definitely recommend. UPDATE: I'm compelled to not only expound upon my original review, but also add to it as my wife and I recently finished the sequel, Metro 2034. This novel is superior to its sequel and in fact, stands alone quite well. I would compare it to another favorite novel of mine, Ender's Game, not in the sense of subject matter, but to its similarities in expanding the universe (the Ender Quintet). I was starving for more Metro after completing the novel, and, having finished Metro 2034, I really felt the sequel was too far detached. Much like the Ender's Game sequels, while it increased the realm and added some details to the characters, it felt scattered and really didn't add much depth to the overarching story line of Metro 2033. I'll be posting my Metro 2034 review later, but if you had only one escape into the Metro universe, this is the only one you'd need. For added thoughts on the novel, something that Dmitri does very well is his use of metaphors and similes. He paints the scene so well, you can feel the Metro coming alive around you. It's really something else! What could have been improved on (and I think editing may be partially to blame) is his transitions. There were many moments where a train of thought bled into another so quickly you had to go bad and read it again to make sure they weren't two different thoughts. If you came here after playing the game, keep in mind that the game's story is a parallel universe to book. While they both begin and end the same, there are many differences that make the novel shine. Hopefully this has enticed you to pick up a copy. It is a really great read and will sit proudly on my shelf (once I find a hardback copy).

The origin of Artyom. It's probably a very well known story to many, so I won't belabor anything here. My only complaints about the book are there a few missed periods, and, in a few places, the translation of Russian to English breaks down leading to a station name not matching the provided metro map. Also, it would have been nice if they have had the map span two pages to make it easier to see the locations, as keeping track of Artyom's placement is critical to immersing yourself in the text.

Was not disappointed in this book. I enjoyed Glukhovsky's storytelling and how in-depth he went into the details of daily life in the Russian metro system after a nuclear war. He definitely doesn't shy away from the more awful parts of a societal breakdown like that depicted in the metro, so I would have to say it isn't a novel for everyone. People die often in the world of Metro 2033, especially during the travels to the surface, and those deaths are rarely pleasant or peaceful. Occasionally when reading I felt the conversations between characters seemed odd or awkward when it came to phrasing. But this is almost certainly due to the book being translated from Russian, and some sayings and manners of speech not translating quite right to English. The story itself was very interesting as the main character (Artyom) essentially stumbles through the tunnels of the metro on his mission, running into various people (who either aid, hinder, or are indifferent to him) and encountering many dangerous situations along the way. Despite the mutual heritage of the occupants, the breakdown of society in a post-apocalyptic age has resulted in numerous factions fighting for dominance. These factions and their varying levels of hostility and control in their territories results in just as much, if not more, of a danger to Artyom as the creatures and phenomenon of the tunnels do. Artyom is essentially swept along in a current that he seems to have little control over. His beliefs, and sometimes even his sanity, become increasingly questioned as he continues along. All the while he is plagued by increasingly disturbing and repeating nightmares of a dark figure calling to him in the tunnels. Below the surface the primary risk to Artyom is the citizens and factions of the metro, while above ground the world is ruled by strange creatures that even radiation exposure seems to not completely explain. However, the worst monster is revealed by Glukhovsky in the end. Will definitely be picking up the other novels.

The pages are thick and it makes the book feels like a great quality. Sometimes books aren’t good quality and are damage easily, this one however gives me hope that it will stay intact.

Livre est bien précisé en anglais... Comme je désirais (contrairement à pas mal de commentaires...) Bref. Super livre... J'avais envie de m'y mettre après avoir joué aux jeux il y a un moment mais je ne suis pas dessus du voyage..! Vraiment superbement décrit et pleins de détails parfois trop... Comme pour beaucoup d'histoire du genre la mise en place peut paraître un peu longue mais passé cela il y a des instants ou je ne pouvais pas m'arrêter avant d'avoir fini certains chapitres ! La traduction est très correcte et contrairement à un autre commentaire je n'ai tické qu'une fois ou deux à la tournure d'une phrase ou à un mot qui ne me semblait pas forcément juste..! Je conseille donc vivement !

I recommend this book. After reading this book, I hid under my bed for a week. Scary!

Comprei o livro como presente pro meu namorado, ele é muito fã de coisas russas, e eu sou maravilhado com a franquia Metro nos jogos! E agora com esse livro vou dar a ele a experiência desse universo pelos livros, enquanto eu tenho a experiência pelos jogos, acho que tá equilibrado! Hah! No demais, livro maravilhoso, cheiroso (cheiro normal de livro novo então sei lá haha!), na capa da frente e de trás tem o mapa do metro, o que achei genial demais! Vale a pena cada centavo, mesmo não tendo lido tenho a história inteira na cabeça por causa dos jogos, então sei que vale a pena porque nos jogos ainda era meio resumido, nos livros é simplesmente uma obra prima!

Il ibro è in buone condizioni. Lo lessi molti anni addietro: Libro bellissimo. Oggi lo ho riacquistato per regalarlo ad un caro amico, che è appassionato anche di videogiochi, ed ha giocato al gioco basato su questo libro. La notizia che avrebbe ricevuto questo libro in regalo lo ha entusiasmato.