Roadside Picnic

Three years pass, and the narrative’s perspective shifts to that of Richard Noonan, the engineer and entrepreneur who supplies equipment to the Institute. At the Institute’s headquarters, Dr. Valentine Pillman—the Nobel Prize winning physicist interviewed in the book’s Introduction—gently ribs Richard for collecting a massive paycheck in return for doing little to no work. Most of what’s recovered out of the Zone is still poorly understood, and much of it appears to have no purpose. However, there are a few alien artifacts that have a profound technological impact, particularly the so-called spacells, small batteries that generate an enormous amount of energy and are capable of reproducing themselves.

Richard, it turns out, has long served as a covert operative for a secretive government organization working to halt the illicit flow of contraband out of the Zone. Richard receives a call from his handler, General Lemchen, who demands an in-person meeting in a half hour. When he arrives at the meeting, Richard expects praise for having effectively stopped the flow of Zone materials through Harmont. All the old stalkers are purportedly dead or retired, while the young ones lack the wherewithal or mentorship to operate with much success.