Alexander Kerdan’s new book includes the novel “The Guard” and the story “The Court of Officer’s Honor” about the defenders of the Fatherland, soldiers and officers who fought in Afghanistan and Chechnya, who faithfully fulfilled their duty during the Cold War and in the days of peace. The author knows firsthand about military service. He served in the Armed Forces for almost thirty years, rising from a military school cadet to a colonel. The autobiographical nature and utmost sincerity of Alexander Kerdan's military prose, his deep knowledge of the psychology of his heroes and empathy for their losses and losses, the desire to understand the true origins of heroism and betrayal - all this constitutes the living nerve of the book, making it interesting to a wide range of readers.