“We can't afford to be depressed.” Dmitry Bykov and Kirill Martynov: a conversation about literature, progress, humor, the future and Pugacheva — Novaya Gazeta Evropa

Freedom Letters has published Dmitry Bykov's book “The Doug”, a sequel to the famous novel by the Strugatsky brothers “The Distant Rainbow”. Kirill Martynov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe, spoke with Dmitry Bykov about why the Doug should be read, about depression as a capitulation to evil, Alla Pugacheva's role in Soviet and Russian politics, and regression after the victories of progress. And also about how to play evil jokes, why a …