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1%%The sections on Volodya Pochkin and Louis Sedlovoi are waiting to be expanded!! Step right up!
2%%
3Here is a list of characters appearing in Creator/StrugatskyBrothers' novel ''Literature/MondayBeginsOnSaturday'' and its sequel, ''Literature/TaleOfTheTroika''.
4
5Note: All character images on the page are the beloved [[CanonIllustrations "canon" illustrations]] by Evgeny Migunov, who illustrated the Soviet edition of the book in 1965 and reworked and updated some of the illustrations in 1979.
6----
7[[foldercontrol]]
8!!Main Characters
9[[folder:Aleksandr Ivanovich "Sasha" Privalov]]
10[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/privalov_1965.jpg]]
11 [[caption-width-right:250:1965 version]]
12[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/privalov_1979.jpg]]
13 [[caption-width-right:250:1979 version]]
14The protagonist and narrator. A young, erudite and curious programmer from Leningrad, he went on vacation to the northern town of Solovets, unaware that this trip would change his life forever.
15----
16* JumpedAtTheCall: He muses on the tendency of heroes in fiction (and his fellow scientists in real life) to [[RefusalOfTheCall shy away from the unexpected and wonderful]]; he himself prefers to embrace the rules of the peculiar setting he finds himself in.
17* NerdGlasses: Sports these on Migunov's illustrations, giving him a strong resemblance to Soviet cinema's number one nerd, [[Film/OperationYAndShuriksOtherAdventures Shurik]].
18* UnfazedEveryman: At one point he just gives up being astonished by the strange happenings around him, but remains fascinated and eager to learn more.
19[[/folder]]
20
21[[folder:Roman Petrovich Oira-Oira]]
22[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/transgression_1965.jpg]]
23 [[caption-width-right:250:With Sasha Privalov. (This is what [[{{Teleportation}} transgression]] looks like, apparently.)]]
24A young but already prominent [[SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic mathemagician]]. Editor-in-chief of the wall newspaper.
25----
26* BigBrotherMentor: To Sasha Privalov.
27* DeadpanSnarker: Has some caustic words to say about the state of the Soviet press, the stifling bureaucracy at the Institute and other things, and isn't afraid to [[TakeThat speak up]]. He also directs some seriously {{Armor Piercing Question}}s at Vybegallo during his presentation of the gastrally unsatisfied cadaver.
28* TheNicknamer: Calls Vitka Korneev the "museum property squanderer" once, and calls Sasha "sorcerer's apprentice" while watching him fail at mundane magic.
29[[/folder]]
30
31%%[[folder:Vladimir "Volodya" Pochkin]]
32%%Assistant in Roman's lab.
33%%----
34%%[[/folder]]
35
36[[folder:Viktor Pavlovich "Vitka" Korneev]]
37[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/korneev_1979.jpg]]
38 [[caption-width-right:300:Spooking the living daylights out of Privalov while trying to steal the couch.]]
39An employee in the Department of Universal Transformations. He really needs that magical couch for his experiments and steals it from the museum every night.
40----
41* GeniusBruiser: No slouch in a fight (or looks like it), and a valuable researcher.
42* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He is often referred to as "the rude Korneev", but even at his worst he's just fond of banter and irreverent, and has a definite sense of fairness and decency.
43[[/folder]]
44
45[[folder:Eduard "Edik" Amperian]]
46Friendly, polite and optimistic young Armenian scientist from the Department of Linear Happiness.
47----
48* NiceGuy: That is his chief character trait - which gets lampshaded in the afterword [[DirectLineToTheAuthor allegedly written by A.A.Privalov himself]].
49* HumanityIsSuperior: A self-proclaimed anthropocentrist.
50[[/folder]]
51
52!!Grandmasters of [=NITWiT=]
53[[folder:Fyodor Simeonovich Kivrin]]
54[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kivrin_1965.jpg]]
55Head of the Department of Linear Happiness, famous for his turbulent past and optimistic outlook on life. Edik Amperian's boss.
56----
57* BigFun: Quite corpulent, and always cheerful and optimistic.
58* BewareTheNiceOnes: In his anger, he can be just as terrifying as his associate Junta.
59%% CoolOldGuy[=/=]Really700YearsOld
60* DarkAndTroubledPast: Has caught all sorts of flak for his work in UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia over the centuries -- apparently, the idea that happiness is not to be found in material wealth was too alien for them.
61* ForHappiness: His job, and his chief motivation.
62* LargeHam: Dominates whatever room he's in.
63* OddFriendship: With Cristobal Joseevich Junta.
64* SpeechImpediment: He has a slight stutter that doesn't bother him or anybody else at all.
65** The 1993 English translation replaces the stutter with an AccentOnTheWrongSyllable.
66* TrademarkFavouriteFood: Has much appreciation for fresh apples.
67* TranquilFury: When he reaches this stage and Janus is not around to defuse the situation... better watch out.
68[[/folder]]
69
70[[folder:Cristobal Joseevich Junta]]
71[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hunta_1965.jpg]]
72Head of the Department of the Meaning of Life and a remarkable individual indeed -- [[{{Teleportation}} transgression]] master, accomplished taxidermist, duelist and a simple ex- Grand Inquisitor.
73----
74* CommanderContrarian: Junta's chief scientific ''modus operandi'' seems to be militant skepticism. He has a "Do we need ourselves?" poster in the wall on his floor, "infects" the [[ArtificialIntelligence Aldan]] with [[TakeAThirdOption denialism of the law of excluded middle]], and constantly tries to solve problems for which no solution can exist. Questioning the validity of this approach to his face is a failsafe BerserkButton.
75%% CoolOldGuy[=/=]Really700Years Old
76* CreepyGood: Even his own laborants and apprentices are afraid of him -- but when their professional prestige and safety is threatened, he's got their back.
77* DashingHispanic
78* DeadpanSnarker
79* TheDreaded: Legends are told about Junta's swashbuckling duelist tendencies, his exploits as the ruthless Grand Inquisitor and Charlemagne's headstrong military advisor, and suchlike.
80* DuelToTheDeath: Has a habit of challenging people whose comments or behaviour he finds insulting to this. It usually resolves peacefully anyway.
81* GratuitousSpanish: Calls Kivrin and Privalov by Spanish versions of their names (Teodoro and Alejandro, respectively). Also, at one point he mockingly calls himself ''pobrecito''[[note]]a dummy[[/note]] at math, and wishes the main characters ''Buenaventura''[[note]]Good luck[[/note]] at the start of ''Tale of the Troika''.
82* HiddenHeartOfGold: Despite his fearsome reputation, he has his moments. He and Fyodor Simeonovich get along swimmingly, and he seems to harbor [[IntergenerationalFriendship genuine respect for Sasha Privalov]], too.
83* TheNapoleon: The narration describes him as quite short, and he's most definitely not going to just stand there when his deepest principles get trodden on ([[HairTriggerTemper or even looked at funny]]).
84* OddFriendship: With Fyodor Simeonovich Kivrin.
85* UsefulNotes/{{Patronymic}}: Notably, he is one of Institute's only two "ex-foreigners of honor" with a Russified patronymic -- as a sign of great respect and acceptance by his colleagues, as well as the omnipotence of Soviet bureaucracy.
86* UsefulNotes/SpanishInquisition: He was the Grand Inquisitor of Spain once. Some of the old habits survive to this day.
87* TaxidermyIsCreepy[=/=]TaxidermyTerror: PlayedForLaughs with the rumors of a stuffed Nazi officer in his study.
88* {{Teleportation}}: Junta's skill at various types of transgression is unsurpassed at the Institute.
89* TranquilFury: Almost never raises his voice when he's mad -- but watch out for that [[DuelToTheDeath glove landing at your feet]]...
90[[/folder]]
91
92[[folder:Gian Giacomo]]
93The exquisitely urbane and elegant Head of the Department of Universal Transformations, and Vitka Korneev's boss.
94----
95* BenevolentBoss: Is unfailingly supportive of his protégé Korneev's work, despite the latter's personal flaws.
96* CompellingVoice: Uses it on Sasha to make him feel sleepy, cutting short their conversation in the Hut on Chicken Legs.
97* MasterOfIllusion: The narration refers to him as "the great prestidigitator". He is seen conjuring himself up a quick illusion of an elegant suit after the all-consuming cadaver catastrophe.
98* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: The way he talks to Privalov on their first meeting, being as ceremoniously courteous as possible. Privalov responds in kind, to their mutual delight.
99* SharpDressedMan: Never a wrinkle on his suit, always an air of expensive cologne around him.
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Sabaoth Bhaalovich Odin]]
103Head of the Department of Technical Service. Yes, the [[MeaningfulName name]] is not a coincidence.
104----
105* AlmightyJanitor: He is the actual {{God}}, working as head of maintenance at the Institute.
106* TheArchmage: Can do anything. At all. Unfortunately, due to a tricky condition in the omnipotence equation, that means he can really do nothing.
107* UsefulNotes/{{Patronymic}}: Notably, he is one of Institute's only two "ex-foreigners of honor" with a Russified patronymic -- as a sign of great respect and acceptance by his colleagues, as well as the omnipotence of Soviet bureaucracy.
108* PhysicalGod: Himself.
109* Really700YearsOld: OlderThanFeudalism, at the very least.
110* RealityWarper: His mere presence is said to make clocks tick faster and straighten out the treks of elementary particles caught in a magnetic field.
111[[/folder]]
112
113!!Administration of [=NITWiT=]
114[[folder:Janus Poluektovich Nevstruev [=(2 of.)=]]]
115[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yanus_1965.jpg]]
116 [[caption-width-right:250:1965 version]]
117[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yanus_1979.jpg]]
118 [[caption-width-right:250:1979 version]]
119The Institute's ideal director -- one person in two. The slightly younger-looking one (A-Janus) is a rather ordinary administrator, and the older-looking one (S-Janus) is an internationally renowned scientist.
120----
121* AbsentMindedProfessor: S-Janus gives this impression, having trouble remembering recent events. [[spoiler:[[RetroactivePrecognition Future events]], on the other hand, are no problem...]]
122** EinsteinHair: Migunov's 1979 illustrations give him this, completing the image.
123%%* AlternateSelf
124* BenevolentBoss[=/=]ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Extremely supportive of the younger staff, and even prepared to sidestep the regulations when the situation requires it. His S-instance is especially attentive and understanding.
125* {{Catchphrase}}: "Right." (Cue respectful silence from everyone present.)
126* LargeAndInCharge: Is described as very tall on his first appearance, dwarfing the group of humans around him; and is the director of [=NITWiT=].
127* [[spoiler:MerlinSickness: S-Janus is A-Janus from the far future, who will have subjected himself to an experiment turning himself into a "contramotus" -- a creature living backwards in time. Every midnight S-Janus leaps not into the morning of the next day, [[MindScrew but into the morning of the day before]]. Thus, the far future has no Janus in it, but the past and present has two of them at once, living in opposite directions in time.]]
128* [[spoiler:MultipleChoiceFuture: Despite his situation, he hints at the possibility of this trope in his final conversation with Sasha in part 3 of ''Monday''.]]
129* Really700YearsOld: Was born in 1841, [[spoiler:and will prosper for at least a century to come... and then the same amount of time in the opposite direction, if not longer]].
130[[/folder]]
131
132[[folder:Modest Matveevich Kamnoyedov]]
133[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/modest_1979.jpg]]
134The deputy director for the administration of buildings and contents of [=NITWiT=]. Will not let anyone disobey the regulations like the stability on the Universe depends upon it.
135----
136* {{Catchphrase}}: "You will desist!"[=/=]"That's enough of that!", depending on the translation.
137* DelusionsOfEloquence: Being a bureaucrat working in a magical institute, he fails to get the local TechnoBabble but still tries to use it. For example, he pronounces the word homunculus as "hum-moonkles".
138* ObstructiveBureaucrat: All the power of science and magic combined cannot stop Modest when he's dead-set on obeying the rules.
139[[/folder]]
140
141!!Other Staff
142[[folder:Naina Kievna Gorynych]]
143[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/naina_1965.jpg]]
144A sly and cranky old witch, groundskeeper of [=NITWiT=]'s Log Hut on Chicken Legs museum.
145----
146* Literature/BabaYaga: Quite possibly, herself.
147* CreepyHousekeeper
148* {{Greed}}: She's a complete miser when it comes to cash, and tries to get some out of everything and everyone she comes across while not spending a single kopeck.
149[[/folder]]
150
151[[folder:Vasily the cat]]
152[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vasilij_1979.jpg]]
153A moody talking cat, and Naina's {{familiar}}. Knows stories and songs from all over the world, but never more than partially.
154----
155* AllWitchesHaveCats
156* CatsAreSnarkers
157* ForgetfulJones: This ridiculously erudite storyteller is unfortunately (and hilariously) plagued by amnesia.
158* FunnyAnimals
159* OneSceneWonder: Most of his memetic factor comes from the storytelling scene by the oak.
160* TheStoryteller: Parody of the wise cat from Pushkin's Ruslan and Ludmilla prologue.
161* VerbalTic: It doesn't come through that well in English, but try saying "mneeeeh" to any Russian sci-fi geek -- [[MemeticMutation and they'll instantly know who you're referring to]].
162[[/folder]]
163
164[[folder:Ambrosi Ambroisovich Vybegallo]]
165[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vibegallo_1979.jpg]]
166A cynic and a fool, he exploits the public's erroneous idea of fundamental science to promote his own insane, unscientific and dangerous experiments and ideas.
167----
168* BadBoss: Won't let Stella transfer to any other department, however disgusted and terrified she is of her workplace.
169* ConMan: A painfully recognizable caricature of a classic pseudoscience hack. Uses people's flashy expectations from science for his own gain, buzz-talks and grovels his way out of any trouble.
170* FameThroughInfamy: Despite Vybegallo's scandalous reputation, he's better known outside the Institute than any of the other, more reasonable and scrupulous scientists.
171* FeigningIntelligence: Talks exclusively in flowery, politicaly charged buzzwords, trying to convince his audience he at least has a point -- and at most, is a misunderstood genius. Unfortunately, the general public and influential paper-pushers fall for it.
172* GratuitousFrench: All taken from Literature/WarAndPeace and inserted into his speech, not always appropriately.
173* KnowNothingKnowItAll
174* LawyerFriendlyCameo[=/=]TakeThat: Of Trofim Lysenko, the infamous Soviet quack agriculturist and geneticist.
175* MadScientist: {{Downplayed}}. No, he's quite mad - in his own self-serving, calculating way. But a scientist he is not.
176* VerbalTic: "er..." and "that is", marking him firmly as an illiterate fraud (especially in Russian).
177[[/folder]]
178
179[[folder:Magnus Fyodorovich Redkin]]
180[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/magnus_1979.jpg]]
181 [[caption-width-right:250:One of many mishaps with his lifetime project.]]
182A determined and hard-working employee of the Department of Linear Happiness who is not a bad guy at all, but terrible at magic.
183----
184* HighHopesZeroTalent: He hasn't progressed past bachelor in three hundred years, despite being as determined to crack the secret to human happiness as the Institute's best.
185* MagnumOpus: The invisibility pants. They were his bachelor thesis, and he has been perfecting and debugging them for the last three hundred years.
186** More recently, his obsessive search for the White Thesis, putting him at odds with Vitka Korneev.
187* MagnusMeansMage
188[[/folder]]
189
190[[folder:Merlin]]
191[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/merlin_1979.jpg]]
192A vain and unscrupulous old relic from the Department of Forecasts and Prophecies.
193----
194* PublicDomainCharacter: It's worth mentioning that Merlin's personality is based on the Merlin from ''Literature/AConnecticutYankeeInKingArthursCourt'', not on [[Myth/ArthurianLegend Arthurian Legends]] Merlin.
195* YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe: Tells everyone's [[SarcasmMode favourite]] story of his adventure with the head of the local municipal council in this manner. Roman mocks his manner of speech, and Merlin seems to be [[SarcasmBlind none the wiser]].
196[[/folder]]
197
198%%[[folder:Louis Ivanovich Sedlovoi]]
199%%One of the few competent scientists from the Department of Absolute Knowledge. Invented the imaginary time machine.
200%%----
201%%*
202%%[[/folder]]
203
204[[folder:Stella the witch]]
205[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stella_1979.jpg]]
206 [[caption-width-right:300:Flying around Sasha Privalov.]]
207Vybegallo's reluctant lab assistant. Has a knack for (terrible, but that's all that's required) poetry.
208----
209* ScreamingWoman: In her very first appearance, observing Vybegallo's insatiable humanoid, her role boils down to basically this. (Not that most of the male scientists at the scene are much better, though.)
210* SmurfettePrinciple: The only female in Sasha's immediate friend circle.
211[[/folder]]
212
213[[folder:Aleksandr Ivanovich "Sanya" Drozd]]
214[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/drozd_1965.jpg]]
215A movie technician who somehow ended up at [=NITWiT=]. Artist and designer for the wall newspaper.
216----
217* NeverLendToAFriend: He never has any money, so constantly asks his friends to lend him some. One time he even asked [[AbsentMindedProfessor Janus Poluektovich]]. And then forgot how much Janus had given him. And had no idea what to do.
218* RidiculousProcrastinator: Whines about his life and plays around with a tape recorder instead of doing work. Oira-Oira's presence is the only thing that finally gets him to start working on the masthead.
219[[/folder]]
220
221[[folder:Photon the parrot]]
222[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/examination_1979.jpg]]
223A small green bird which the main characters meet in part 3, and whose fate is intricately linked to that of Janus Poluektovich.
224----
225* MerlinSickness: [[spoiler:Just like his master, he lives his days in the opposite order to the ones of everybody else's.]]
226* PollyWantsAMicrophone: Obligingly responds to mentions of the scientists' names with what he remembers about them (provided the name has an R in it).
227* SweetTooth: "Sugar-r-r!".
228* TeamPet: On his way to this for the main characters ([[spoiler:but from his own perspective, [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments he has been this until his dying day]]]]).
229[[/folder]]
230
231[[folder:[=Aldan-3=]]]
232The computer Sasha works on. Sentient and animate.
233----
234* BenevolentAI: Aldan's obliging, industrious, playful personality is a joy to work with.
235* ButtMonkey: Something always goes awry when people connect alien peripherals or their own minds to it.
236* GrowBeyondTheirProgramming: Became animate after Fyodor Simeonovich put someone's immortal soul into it.
237* LogicBomb: Is subjected to one every other night when Cristobal Junta connects his mind to the poor machine to discuss yet another impossible problem.
238[[/folder]]
239
240!!Other Characters
241[[folder:The Solovets militia (Lieutenant Sergienko and Sergeant Kovalyov)]]
242Two servants of the law Sasha Privalov runs into while experimenting with the unchangeable coin.
243----
244* HelloAgainOfficer: Sasha bumps into Kovalyov while exploring the town, and is then apprehended by him in the middle of experimenting with the unchangeable five-kopeck piece (which technically became an instrument of petty theft in his hands). Then, after the commotion over the sofa seems to be over, Kovalyov returns again to investigate how the coin came to escape the museum, and Sasha has to avoid the hypervigilant militiaman.
245* MeddlesomePatrolman: However petty the problem at hand is, Kovalyov will try to get to the bottom of it -- just in case. He has his orders, you know. Unfortunately (for him, that is), Modest Matveevich is [[UnstoppableForceMeetsImmovableObject just as stubborn]].
246* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: They're not evil, they're just upholding the law and don't wish Sasha any real harm.
247[[/folder]]
248
249[[folder:G. Pronitsatelny & B. Pitomnik]]
250Two science journalists who make a name for themselves and Vybegallo by reporting his discoveries (and misreporting everybody else's).
251----
252* AuthorAvatar[=/=]SelfDeprecation: Arguably.
253* {{Tagalong Reporter}}s: They always follow Vybegallo around in his publicity stunts.
254* ThoseTwoGuys: They appear together in every scene they're in.
255[[/folder]]

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