About the book: 2001 / Fans of classic science fiction! Who among you does not know the name Eric Frank Russell? Indeed, it’s probably difficult to find in our the country of a science fiction lover who is not familiar with the name of the man whose books we all grew up with, generation after generation. The author of the stories “My Shadow and I” and “Sky, Sky”, “Touchstone” and “The Thinker” - and many other works that literally introduced us all to the “golden age” of English-language fiction? An author who is subtle, wise and frankly, cheerfully ironic? Before you is Eric Frank Russell in his best, brilliant form. Before you is “Mad World.” Are you - are you personally - sure that our Earth will not one day turn into a total “psychiatric hospital of the Universe”? In front of you is “Wasp”. Incredible, mischievous, fascinating adventures of a “cosmic super agent” sent to a distant planet... Before you is “Space Marathon”. People, aliens and robots - in imaginable and unimaginable plot combinations. Don't miss it! The first volume of E. F. Russell's three-volume set includes two unrelated novels and a collection of related short stories (erroneously presented in the book as a novel), framed by an article on the author's work and a bibliography. Contents: Andrey Balabukha. Systematizer of madness, or On balancing on the brink (preface), p. 5–18 Eric Frank Russell. Mad World (novel, translation by B. Minchenko), p. 19–296Eric Frank Russell. Space Marathon (collection), p. 297–512Prologue. Al Store (story, translation by P. Kirakozov), p. 299–323 Part one. Journey to Mechanism (story, translation by P. Kirakozov), p. 324–388Part two. Journey to Symbiotica (story, translation by P. Kirakozov), p. 389–455Part three. Journey to Hypnotica (story, translation by P. Kirakozov), p. 456–512Eric Frank Russell. Wasp (novel, translation by G. Vesnina), p. 513–717 Brief bibliography of the works of E. F. Russell, p.. 718