Alexey Makhrov
Year of publication of the first book: 2015
Roman Zlotnikov’s cycle “Conversation with the Leader” was written in collaboration with aspiring writer Alexei Makhrov. The first book in this series was published in 2015. Well, at the moment the series consists of three books, each of which has received many rave reviews from fans of alternative history. This series of books once again confirmed that Roman Zlotnikov occupies a high place in our world for good reason. And the writer himself is capable of writing equally interestingly in a wide variety of genres.
The plot of the book series “Conversation with the Leader” briefly
But as it turned out, the adventures of the main character of Zlotnikov’s books “Conversation with the Leader” are just beginning. His trip to reconstruct the beginning of the war ended with him ending up on June 22, 1941 near Brest. And now he has to do the incredible. He needs to get out of the maelstrom of war and meet Stalin. After all, his knowledge, as in the books of the series, will certainly help end this war faster and with fewer losses. Well, the experience gained during the Chechen campaign will help this once office plankton overcome all difficulties. After all, now even death will not stop him. What can we say about some kind of captivity in which our main character will end up in Zlotnikov’s last book, “Meeting with the Leader.”
As for the reviews of Roman Zlotnikov’s “Conversation with the Leader” series, they are predominantly positive. Yes, there are many shortcomings and absurdities in the books, both regarding historical and technical issues. Yes, the book contains the glorification of some controversial historical characters. But the fascinating plot, the writer’s style and a certain novelty of the topic allow you to plunge headlong into this alternative world. In this regard, the book “Meeting with the Leader” by Zlotnikov, as well as the entire “Conversation with the Leader” series, is a must-read for all fans of alternative history and simply good books about misfits.
Series of books “Conversation with the Leader” on the Top books website
The series of books by Roman Zlotnikov “Conversation with the Leader” became especially popular to read after the release of the last third book “Meeting with the Leader”. This allowed her to get into ours, as well as take a high place among. And considering that the series is not over yet, this is far from the limit. And soon we will be able to see the cycle among the ratings of our site. Moreover, already in May 2018, Zlotnikov’s new book “The Voice of the Leader” was published.
Books in the “Conversation with the Leader” series in order:
- Conversation with the Leader
- Road to the Leader
- Meeting with the Leader
- Voice of the Leader
Conversation with the Leader - 1
When the phone rang, I was slowly and sadly moving in traffic along the Riga overpass. So, despite the strict traffic rules prohibition, I didn’t see anything wrong with answering. Moreover, judging by the signature displayed on the screen, it was my old friend and colleague Volodka, nicknamed Batonych, who called. He was an avid fisherman and spent all his holidays doing what he loved. Well, I really dreamed of involving me in this. I’m an ordinary office plankton and prefer to relax by lying on the beach in more or less remote southern countries and lazily sipping an ice-cold cocktail through a plastic straw. So usually these stages of our lives took place in completely opposite ends of our world, which has now become so small. However, one time I succumbed to Batonych’s persuasion and his assertion that “you will never forget this vacation,” and went with him to Akhtuba, to the tent... Well, what can I say - Batonych turned out to be absolutely right. Because I will truly never forget that vacation. Because I returned from it broken, with a cold (a week before the end of our “vacation” the weather suddenly deteriorated) and with a leg swollen from a festering cut. After which he decisively told Volodka that fishing is, of course, good, but clearly not for me. However, Batonych was truly inspired by that incident. He set out to prove to me that fishing was just a dream and that I was simply unlucky that time. So, having calmed down for a while, he then again began to convince me that a fishing trip does not always mean the absence of the comfort I so desired. And, for example, in Finland...
I’m listening, Batonych!
Something rustled in the receiver, but there was no follow-up. I sighed and spoke:
Volodya, I’m driving now, although I’m in a traffic jam, but there’s a gap ahead, so I can’t talk for a long time. So if you start your song again about a fishing trip to Finland or Ireland, you can calm down. I'm already on my way to Spain, to the Costa Blanca, to Benidorm. Hotel "Gran Dolphin", four stars - everything I like. This morning I gave all my documents and passport to the travel agency. So I won’t go with you to Finland, or Ireland, or even the Caribbean. That’s it, bye,” I joyfully barked into the phone and was already reaching for the end call button with my finger, when suddenly a voice that was not Volodka’s was heard from the speaker:
Which People's Commissariat do you work for?
I shuddered and stared at the screen of my Samsung (I don’t use an iPhone on principle - I don’t want to support an American manufacturer). The screen clearly showed: “Batonych.” Damn, mobile phone glitches? Probably. But the speech smelled of something familiar. And even the People's Commissariat... I laughed briefly:
Are you working under Joseph Vissarionovich? What does it look like? Well, I don’t know about Stalin himself, but the way Zakariadze portrayed him in Liberation is quite similar.
There was silence on the line for a few more moments, and then they carefully asked:
What is... liberation?
The traffic ahead had stalled again, so I decided not to interrupt the amusingly developing conversation and continued:
Well, such a film epic.
Roman Zlotnikov, Alexey Makhrov
Conversation with the Leader
© Zlotnikov R., Makhrov A., 2015
© Design. LLC Publishing House E, 2015
* * *When the phone rang, I was slowly and sadly moving in traffic along the Riga overpass. So, despite the strict traffic rules prohibition, I didn’t see anything wrong with answering. Moreover, judging by the signature displayed on the screen, it was my old friend and colleague Volodka, nicknamed Batonych, who called. He was an avid fisherman and spent all his holidays doing what he loved. Well, I really dreamed of involving me in this. I’m an ordinary office plankton and prefer to relax by lying on the beach in more or less remote southern countries and lazily sipping an ice-cold cocktail through a plastic straw. So usually these stages of our lives took place in completely opposite ends of our world, which has now become so small. However, one time I succumbed to Batonych’s persuasion and his assertion that “you will never forget this vacation,” and went with him to Akhtuba, to the tent... Well, what can I say – Batonych turned out to be absolutely right. Because I will truly never forget that vacation. Because I returned from it broken, with a cold (a week before the end of our “vacation” the weather suddenly deteriorated) and with a leg swollen from a festering cut. After which he decisively told Volodka that fishing is, of course, good, but clearly not for me. However, Batonych was truly inspired by that incident. He set out to prove to me that fishing was just a dream and I was simply unlucky that time. So, having calmed down for a while, he then again began to convince me that a fishing trip does not always mean the absence of the comfort I so desired. And, for example, in Finland...
- I’m listening, Batonych!
Something rustled in the receiver, but there was no follow-up. I sighed and spoke:
– Volodya, I’m driving now, although I’m in a traffic jam, but there’s a gap ahead, so I can’t talk for a long time. So if you start your song again about a fishing trip to Finland or Ireland, you can calm down. I'm already on my way to Spain, to the Costa Blanca, to Benidorm. Hotel "Gran Dolphin", four stars - everything I like. This morning I gave all my documents and passport to the travel agency. So I won’t go with you to Finland, or Ireland, or even the Caribbean. That’s it, bye,” I joyfully barked into the phone and was already reaching for the end call button with my finger, when suddenly a voice that was not Volodka’s was heard from the speaker:
– Which People’s Commissariat do you work for?
I shuddered and stared at the screen of my Samsung (I don’t use an iPhone on principle - I don’t want to support an American manufacturer). The screen clearly showed: “Batonych.” Damn, mobile phone glitches? Probably. But the speech smelled of something familiar. And even the People's Commissariat... I laughed briefly:
– Are you working under Joseph Vissarionovich? What does it look like? Well, I don’t know about Stalin himself, but the way Zakariadze portrayed him in “Liberation” is quite similar.
There was silence on the line for a few more moments, and then they carefully asked:
– What is... liberation?
The traffic ahead had stalled again, so I decided not to interrupt the amusingly developing conversation and continued:
- Well, it’s such a movie epic. Several films with the same characters. Don't remember? Strange... Judging by your voice, you are clearly aged, so you should remember. It was shown for the first time in the seventies.
- In the seventies? – they clarified even more carefully on the phone.
- Well, yes. Then they repeated it several times on TV. Either by the Twenty-third of February, or by the Ninth of May. I was just at school. Very impressed. They don't shoot like that now. They don’t know how, and you need a lot of money for such shooting. It's unlikely they'll pull it off.
- By the Ninth of May?
- Well, yes, for Victory Day.
There was silence again for a while on the phone, and then they quietly asked:
-Where are you now?
“I’m standing in a traffic jam on the Riga overpass,” I answered in bewilderment.
– What is the Riga overpass?
I laughed nervously. Is he crazy? However, perhaps this is so. A psycho who really imagines himself as Stalin. Well, there are all sorts of people who consider themselves Napoleon, and here too...
“Listen,” I began angrily, “don’t you know where the Riga overpass is? You're stupid? Or are you completely playing with your Stalin? In this case, you need to go to Kashchenko. Fuck you! – I angrily smeared my finger on the virtual button with the red handset and threw the mobile phone
