Макс Кідрук. Де немає Бога

Макс Кідрук

Work proposed for translation: 

Де немає Бога
A novel (2018)
Length: 480 pp.
Copyright: Author: pr@tamarinbooks.com

Maks (Maksym) Kidruk (born in 1984) is one of the most popular contemporary Ukrainian writers, author of numerous novels in the genres of techno-thriller, science fiction and psychological drama. His work is distinguished by a unique combination of profound scientific concepts and suspenseful plots. An engineer by training, Kidruk studied in Sweden. These early travels inspired his writing career: his early books contain adventure and travel essays. However, his real breakthrough came with novels such as Where There Is No God and Don’t Look Back and Keep Quiet, which touch on themes of ethical choice, human loneliness and technological progress. In 2022, Maks Kidruk published his novel Colony, which transports the reader to the 22nd century, where the Earth has become uninhabitable due to an ecological disaster, forcing humanity to seek a new home on distant planets. In this story, the author presents a frighteningly realistic scenario for the future. Maks Kidruk’s books have been translated into several languages and have gained recognition not only in Ukraine but also abroad. Kidruk actively works with his audience, popularising science and literature through lectures and podcasts.

The novel Where There Is No God raises issues of humanity in the face of superhuman trials. According to the plot, a plane flying from Kathmandu to Lukla (the most dangerous airport in the world) crashes in the middle of the deserted Himalayan highlands. Seven strangers who miraculously survived find themselves cut off from the world in terrible cold, without water or food. They are forced to seek answers to questions that previously seemed abstract: what should be sacrificed for survival? Where is the line between human and animal nature? Which is more important — morality or instinct? The characters’ different life stories and worldviews clash in a ruthless struggle for existence. Among them are an ambitious entrepreneur, a pastor, a former servicewoman, and a pregnant woman. This situation reveals their hidden fears, weaknesses, and true nature. In a world where the laws of civilisation disappear, only one truth remains: it is not the strongest who survive, but those who are willing to cross invisible boundaries. Where There Is No God is not only a thriller about survival, but also a profound exploration of human nature. The novel touches on universal themes of morality, faith, and choice that resonate with anyone who has ever wondered who we are in the worst circumstances.