This is for Alex_Ivanov...

[Tugay-bey]

Zemlyak,I've a dumb question for you.I've read V.Pikul's "Bogatstvo" and "Katorga",among with many of his other things,and my opinion on "Katorga",as korennoy sakhalinets,would be....well,it's mostly fiction.Have you read "Bogatstvo"? If you have,what your opinion,as kamchadal,would be on that?

Originally posted by Tugay-bey
Zemlyak,I've a dumb question for you.I've read V.Pikul's "Bogatstvo" and "Katorga",among with many of his other things,and my opinion on "Katorga",as korennoy sakhalinets,would be....well,it's mostly fiction.Have you read "Bogatstvo"? If you have,what your opinion,as kamchadal,would be on that?

I haven't read Bogatstvo, but I've read Katorga... I would appreciate if you briefly explain me what is wrong with this book... I know little details of history of Sakhalin in the early 20 century, and maybe because of this I used to consider this book more or less historically correct...

P.S. After I'll read Bogatstvo, I'll post my opinion here.

[Tugay-bey]

Well,the history part is mostly dead on,exept small details,wich can make or break the whole thing.V.Pikul calls native nivkhu "gilyaks".This is a deragatory term.Aynu never have traveled to Hokkaido,the Laperuse Strait is way to dangerouse to cross for a small craft.Cruiser "Novik" never plase it's artillery on shore(impossible!),and it was sunk way too far away from Korsakov(were I was born,BTW).It's buerried in the sands right on travers of Novikovo.
Plus the geography of the Island is a little incorrect.Mainly travalling distansies.
And,o yes,there's only ONE wolf,that ever been on the Island.He cross Tatar Strait in winter,has been promptly shot,and currently still displaid in our musiem.
And Japaneese atrosities are grossly exaderated.There has been ethnic cleansing during the Russo-Japaneese war,but on much lesser scale.