Vadim Darishchev was born in 1964. In 1981 he graduated from high school. In 1984, after serving in the army, he entered the Moscow Higher Technical School. Bauman, after which in 1991 he was assigned to one of the closed research institutes. Soon, after the collapse of the defense complex, Alex Orlov left for free work...Alex Orlov is a literary pseudonym. The writer received the nickname “Russian Edmond Hamilton” among fans, and this is not only due to the number of books written. Few people nowadays know how to develop a space theme like this. He is the author of purely entertaining fiction with a daringly twisted plot, designed mainly for a youth audience. Alex Orlov offers readers a highly masculine version of ethics. There are no “good” and “bad” in his novels. The characters are divided into professionals and non-professionals. The first, due to the fact that they are masters and have reached this level through hard work, and therefore self-improvement, carry within themselves a strange morality - the morality of optimal action. They do not increase pain and chaos in this world in vain. The latter failed to become masters, and, therefore, they have a certain internal flaw. Ultimately, this flaw turns them into either outright scoundrels or powerless victims. From this point of view, Orlov’s skilled professional killer may turn out to be a much more accomplished, integral and moral person than a stupid, lazy, half-educated policeman... The first volume of the author’s selected works fully included the conventional cycle “Shadows of War” and the humorous cycle “Tyutyunin”.