The classic of Russian science fiction, Vladimir Mikhailov, began in literature as a poet. And from poetry to science fiction there is one step, there are enough examples of this. His first fantastic experience, the story “A Special Necessity,” came at a good time. Gagarin’s flight, “Well, let’s go!”, the approach of space to man, enthusiastic crowds on the streets... Science fiction overnight turned from yesterday’s literary Cinderella into the fairy-tale Firebird, and science fiction writers from the cramped confines of “second-class literature” entered the mainstream. A whole galaxy of wonderful masters from Efremov and the Strugatsky brothers to Gansovsky, Savchenko, Gurevich, Larionova, Bulychev (I could go on for a long time) have enriched the fantasy genre. And one of the most noticeable in this constellation was a star named Vladimir Mikhailov. The cycle about Captain Uldemir belongs to the best works of the writer. In the first book of the cycle, “My Brother's Keeper,” the author poses the problem of choice to the heroes (and readers). The Supernova outbreak, which threatens the Earth with the total destruction of humanity, can be completely nullified by extinguishing the blast wave with advanced technologies of the future. But in the vicinity of the star there is the planet Dal, inhabited by people from Earth. The chances of a successful evacuation of its population are extremely small, and in the event of an unsuccessful attempt, both the Earth and the Dales will burn in flames. “Then come and let us reason” is a direct continuation of “The Watchman...”. This time, the main character is faced with the task of stopping the madmen living on neighboring planets, preventing them from destroying each other in nuclear fire. The plot of “The Overlord,” which continues the cycle about Captain Uldemir, is also based on war. But this war is completely different from those that have been waged since ancient times by the intelligent and irrational inhabitants of the Universe. The claims of the ruler of the planet Assart do not extend to adjacent territories. He needs someone else's history in order to reshape it according to his own understanding, becoming the lord of time.