There is reason to believe that this file was created without checking with the published book, by combining files that already exist on the network. The text of the book most likely does not correspond to the printed edition. Vasil Bykov is an outstanding master of military prose of the 20th century. The main theme of the writer's works - man at war - has always highlighted the problem of moral choice in the harshest conditions of war: between life at the cost of betrayal and death with honor. The writer is characterized by an uncompromising position, which served as a reason for attacks by Soviet criticism: the writer was reproached for blasphemy against the Soviet system. But he simply managed to realistically define the line beyond which moral decline begins, and truthfully show that a genuine moral feat does not look like a spectacular heroic action. The book includes the author’s most famous, sensational war stories, which brought the writer world fame and recognition from millions of readers. Contents: 1 Crane cry (story, translation by V. Rudova), pp. 7-742 Alpine ballad (story, translation by M. Gorbachev), pp. 75-1713 It doesn’t hurt the dead (story, translation by M. Gorbachev), pp. 172-3524 Sotnikov (story, translation by V. Bykov), pp. 353-4715 Obelisk (story, translation by G. Kureneva), pp. 472-5246 To survive until dawn (story, translation by V. Bykov), pp. 525-6307 To go and not return (story, translation by V. Bykov), pp. 631-7588 Sign of Trouble (story, translation by V. Bykov), pp. 759-957