History Literature / HardToBeAGod

''Hard to Be a God'' (Russian: "Трудно быть богом" ''Trudano byt bogom'') is the fourth novel by the Creator/StrugatskyBrothers to be set in the Franchise/NoonUniverse.

''Hard to Be a God'' (Russian: "Трудно быть богом") is the fourth novel by the Creator/StrugatskyBrothers to be set in the Franchise/NoonUniverse.

''Literature/HardToBeAGod'' (Russian: "Трудно быть богом") is the fourth novel by the Creator/StrugatskyBrothers to be set in the Franchise/NoonUniverse.

* TheDungAges
* TheEmpire: The entire Gulf region (which the Kingdom of Arkanar is part of) is officially ruled by one of those. The problem is that Empire has been on a slow decline for centuries, gradually losing control of all of it's outlying "provinces." By the time the novel opens, most outlying provinces are acting as independent powers in all the ways that matter. So long as they never formally break their ties from the Empire, the emperors seem content to let them do that (though the novel strongly suggests that the Empire couldn't rein in it's former subjects even if it wanted to).

* ItGotWorse - and worse and worse.

''Literature/HardToBeAGod'' (Russian: "Трудно быть богом") is the fourth novel by the Creator/StrugatskyBrothers to be set in the NoonUniverse.

* ImplausibleFencingPowers: Don Rumata, justified by the facts that his [[WeWillHavePerfectHealthInTheFuture physical condition is superior to any native]] and that his swordfighting techniques wouldn't be discovered in Arkanar for another couple of centuries. Still, even the best swordsman cannot hold long [[RealityEnsues against multiple attackers, all of whom weight more than himself]].

* TheChessmaster: Don Reba.
* ImplausibleFencingPowers: Don Rumata.

The protagonist Anton is an Earthling observer (not a "progressor", the institute of progressors was only created later) on a [[TheDungAges Dung Ages]] planet going through a Renaissance and a religious backlash, just starting to border on a full-blown Inquisition. He {{angst}}s, borderline violates the {{Alien Non-Interference Clause}} and achieves what is probably the most DownerEnding in any Strugatsky novel. Notable as an exploration of the AlienNonInterferenceClause concept and because the (arguably equivalent to) WhyDontYouJustShootHim solution with which a typical action hero might have ended the story is presented as a horrible failure for everyone involved. Two films and a [[http://www.hardtobeagod.com/en/ computer game]] InspiredBy the book followed.

* UpperClassTwit: Don Sera, Don Tameo and the other nobles.

''Literature/HardToBeAGod'' (Russian: "Трудно быть богом") is the fourth novel by the StrugatskyBrothers to be set in the NoonUniverse.

* CatchPhrase: "I see no reason for noble dons not to do X" by Don Sera. X can be anything from playing dice to getting whipped by the inquisition. Achieved memetic status in Russia.

* [[spoiler: KillTheCutie. [[BeyondTheImpossible Twice.]] ]]

* DeathByGenreSavvy - [[spoiler: Reba, who counted too much on Rumata's ThouShallNotKill]]

** the Monks supplanting the Grey Stormtroopers works like SS supplanting SA.

* OutGambitted - [[spoiler: Tsupick, Aba, and Rumata. And ultimately Reba, who is killed by Rumata]].

* TheToblerone: Baron Pampa
* ThoseTwoGuys: Don Sera and Don Tameo

* WhatTheHellHero: in the finale, Rumata [[spoiler: goes berserk and slaughters dozens of people to get to Don Reba and kill him off]].
* [[spoiler: DownerEnding]]

* SmugSnake: Don Reba

* ChildrenAreInnocent - Prince, Uno

* EvilChancellor: Don Reba
* FromNobodyToNightmare: Don Reba

* GoodIsNotNice - Arata

* TheEmpire: The entire Gulf region (which the Kingdom of Akranar is part of) is officially ruled by one of those. The problem is that Empire has been on a slow decline for centuries, gradually losing control of all of it's outlying "provinces." By the time the novel opens, most outlying provinces are acting as independent powers in all the ways that matter. So long as they never formally break their ties from the Empire, the emperors seem content to let them do that (though the novel strongly suggests that the Empire couldn't rein in it's former subjects even if it wanted to).
* TheChessmaster: Don Reba

* RebelLeader: Arata

* TitleDrop

* AlienNonInterferenceClause: [[spoiler: Not exactly, the novel is in between the non-interference era and the progressors era. Rumata is saving scientists from prosecution, but isn`t allowed to influence political matters.]]

* CrapsackWorld: And how. After a series of ill-advised wars that all ended in loses, common people in Akranar are living in extreme poverty and the nobles struggle to hold on to their wealth. The king is incompetent and the kingdom's educational system is in shambles. The kingdom is surrounded by hostile powers on all sides. The only people who really thrive are the Grey Stormtroopers and the local criminal gang. You can pretty much count on everything that shows the slightest hint of goodness being twisted, corrupted, used in the service of darkness or outright destroyed.

* BerserkButton: [[Spoiler: Never, ever hurt Kira.]]

* AlienNonInterferenceClause [[spoiler: Not exactly, the novel is in between the non-interference era and the progressors era. Rumata is saving scientists from prosecution, but isn`t allowed to influence political matters.]]

* BerserkButton

* GodGuise

* DualWielding