Victor Pelevin''s unforgettable first novel, Omon Ra, is the story of a young man who always dreamt of becoming the ultimate Russian hero, a cosmonaut in the mould of Yuri Gagarin. Enrolling as a cadet at the Zaraisk flying school, it is not long before he is chosen to be the sole pilot of a mission - to the dark side of the moon.

''An inventive comedy as black as outer space itself. Makes The Right Stuff look like a NASA handout.'' Tibor Fischer