"Hard to Be a God" (novel)

"Hard to Be a God" is a science fiction novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. It follows a human observer named Anton, who is sent to a distant planet resembling Earth during its medieval period. Tasked with studying the society without interfering, he grapples with the brutal realities of life there, as well as moral dilemmas and the challenges of humanity. The story explores themes of power, oppression, and the ethical implications of observation versus intervention, raising questions about what it means to be truly human in an uncivilized world.