novel Nikolai Ostrovsky, who also became blind and paralyzed due to his illness), he is the idealistic leader of the Soviet space program. He tells Omon that “just one pure soul is enough for the banner of triumphant socialism to be unfurled on the surface of the distant moon.” Themes Throughout much of the novel, Pelevin establishes space travel as a metaphor for maturation and heroism as one for responsibility. In the beginning of the novel, Omon straddles the boundary between childhood and adulthood. He yearns to become a cosmonaut and a hero; however, when he has the opportunity to do so, he realizes that heroism is nothing but a glorified illusion. Although children believe that the world holds an infinite number of opportunities for adults, they eventually learn that the responsibility adults have is extremely constraining rather than liberating. Adaptations Marcel Dorney's theatrical adaptation of Omon Ra was performed by the Restaged Histories Project in Brisbane, Australia in 2006. References External links Pelevin.Nov.Ru - "Omon Ra" text (Russian) New Directions - publishing house providing English translations of some of the Pelevin's books "Empire and Moon" Review of Omon Ra stage production in RealTime 72 (April–May 2006), 42. 1993 novels Novels by Victor Pelevin Novels set in Moscow Soviet science fiction novels Counterculture of the 1990s 20th-century Russian novels