Vasily Orekhov is the author of popular fantasy and science fiction novels, a very extraordinary and peculiar personality.
Let's try to understand his biographical data, as well as the literary work that won the hearts and minds of many modern readers.
Aliases
Vasily Orekhov, whose books are becoming popular day by day, is a mysterious and original author. However, this characteristic also applies to his works.
The first thing that is unusual about this talented man is his many pseudonyms.
Vasily Orekhov writes under fictitious names, and endows his pseudonyms with bright, distinctive features.
For example, Vasily Midyanin is the creator of interesting stories and novels in the style of action, as well as the author of many literary articles, prefaces and afterwords, and reviews. Translator of many novels by Sheckley and Simak. Known for his bold controversial works "Night Monster" and "What to do, Faust." He graduated from the Theological Seminary in Kyiv and the Printing University in Moscow. Currently working as editor-in-chiefin the fantasy department (Eksmo publishing house).
The next pseudonym of the writer is Vasily Orekhov, a science fiction writer in the action genre, who became famous for his exciting novels of the Stalker series. Vasily Orekhov put his unsurpassed talent and skill into this project, depicting strong inimitable images and impressive exciting adventures.
True story
Who writes under these two pseudonyms, harmoniously combining a writer of different genres and forms, a translator and an editor?
The real name of this amazing, paradoxical person who manages to live three lives at once is Vasily Ivanovich Melnik.
According to official information, Melnik was born in November 1972 in the capital of the Russian Federation. Muscovite by birth and "according to concepts", he lived all his childhood in a big city.
Growing Creativity
Little Vasya had only one dream - he wanted to write. He was attracted not so much by creating his own images, but by reproducing something new on a blank slate - his thoughts, his reflections, his worldviews.
Therefore, in everything that a young man encountered by the nature of his activity - be it computer games, periodicals, bookselling - he sought to realize himself, achieve some progress, introduce fresh ideas and concepts.
At the age of twenty-eight, Vasily Ivanovich graduated from the State Printing University, becoming a specialist in publishing and book trade. After that, he worked as the head of the science fiction department at one of the largest private publishing houses in Russia, Centerpolygraph.
Two years later, the young specialist took the position of deputy editor-in-chief of the science fiction magazine Star Road, but very soon the energetic and gifted Melnik got bored with this type of activity, and he moved to the position of the leading editor of the science fiction department in the largest publishing company in Russia - “Eksmo.”
Due to his activities, Vasily Ivanovich constantly came into contact with fantastic fiction. Therefore, it is not surprising that at the age of thirty-five he wanted to test himself in this field. In addition, Melnik already had a successful attempt at writing - a few years before that, he made his debut with his fantastic story under the name Midyanin.
First books
The first work of Melnik, signed by a pseudonym, was the story “The Last Hunt”, published in one collection of fantasy-combat genre. This was followed by another book written by Vasily Orekhov - “The Defeat Zone”. This work is interesting because it was written for the world famous series S. T. A. L. K. E. R.
S. T. A. L. K. E. R
"Stalker" (an abbreviation of English capital letters) is a series of games developed by a Ukrainian company in the genre of a first-person shooter, using elements of a role-playing game and action-adventure. During the video game, the player perceives events through the eyes of the protagonist.
The game is based on battles with firearms and throwing weapons. By controlling their character, the player can improve in strength, agility and other abilities.
Russian project S. T. A. L. K. E. R. is an inter-author series of the computer game of the same name. The authors who participated in the project had to artistically adapt their novel to fit a video game scenario.
Obviously, Melnik's early experience in the field of online games helped him brilliantly cope with his task - to create a series of action novels as part of a literary-game project.
Fictional universe
From now on, most of the plots of Vasily Orekhov's works will relate to a fictional world, some kind of anomalous Zone in which the characters live.
In the S. T. A. L. K. E. R. this fictional universe was the forbidden area around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. After a terrible explosion, terrifying mutants and monsters appeared, the world is no longer subject to the old laws and orders.
And here comes the fearless and strong Hemulen, able to penetrate the forbidden Zone, possessing all the talents and abilities to win the fierce battle and achieve the desired.
Hemulen cycle
Vasily Orekhov creates a real superhero with superhuman strength, dexterity and courage.
The Hemulen is a completely fictional character. Three novels by Orekhov are dedicated to him. He also appears in some of the writer's other books.
What is special about his heroVasily Orekhov? Books about the Hemulen portray the reader as a cool and successful adventurer who often recalls the character from his favorite cartoon, the ostrich, in difficult situations. The lines of this fictional bird support and encourage the protagonist in his many dangerous adventures.
What tests will Vasily Orekhov put his character through? Line of Fire (the second book in the Hemulen trilogy) will tell readers not only about the stalker's military exploits, but also about his love affairs.
The main character's chosen one is Dina, a stripper who is kidnapped by sinister forces from behind the Perimeter. To save his love, the Hemulen must return to the Zone and reach a block where almost no one has ever returned alive.
Other works
Besides the cycle about the Hemulen, Vasily Orekhov created many other unsurpassed images and adventure stories. His action-packed novels, both personal and co-authored with other writers, continue to excite the minds and imagination of fantasy action fans. This is Starship Troopers, and Mission Impossible, and Iron Doctor, and Aggression Factor.
Many of Vasily Orekhov's books can not only be read in print, but downloaded to your mobile devices in fb2 format - this is an improved format for electronic versions of books, where each element is described by its own tags.
What works of the writer are available for such a modern reading? First of all, the entire S. T. A. L. K. E. R. series, as well as individual works - “ZoneDeath”, “The Last Hunt”, “The Empire Strikes Back”…
Books by Vasily Orekhov, including fb2 format - and you can find it on many digital library sites.
Current activities
What is the consummate science fiction writer doing now? In addition to writing books, Vasily Orekhov heads the "Special Projects" department at the AST publishing house. Shortly before that, he served as editor-in-chief for creating scenarios for online games.
Having so many hypostases and creative tasks, Vasily Melnik works tirelessly, trying to do his job in the best possible way.
For his contribution to the literary activity of Russia, the writer was awarded several prizes and incentives (in most cases for compiling almanacs, anthologies and inter-author collections of the fantastic genre).
I really hope that he will please us not only with new fantastic action films, but also with lyrical fantasy novels, exciting computer games and high-quality translations by interesting foreign authors.
