Hell suddenly opened up. At the beginning of the 21st century, after a new powerful explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the surrounding territory became a Zone hostile to humans, filled with predatory mutants and deadly traps. However, local physical anomalies give rise to artifacts - incredibly valuable objects for which the world's scientific centers are willing to pay a fortune. The most risky and fearless adventurers, called stalkers, go to the Zone to get rich. But the law of the jungle reigns here, and few survive... This book includes works by Russian-speaking authors from different countries, the action of which takes place in the world of the famous computer game "S.T.A.L.K.E.R."