The story is based on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series of games. It was conceived as the first chapter of a novel in which the entire path of “career” growth from a yellow-haired newcomer to a seasoned veteran stalker was to be traced. But during the writing process, it became clear that we could limit ourselves to describing the first steps that a novice stalker takes in the mysterious, frightening and alluring Zone.