The Ugly Swans by brothers Strugatsky is the most prophetic and profound book which predicted the transformation of humanity we observe now. The humanity mutates into something new. The action takes place in an uncertain mildly-authoritarian country, in an unnamed town. Famous writer Victor Banev comes from the capital to the town of his childhood where the rain never stops. Banev finds himself in the middle of strange events linked to "slimies" or "four-eyes" - strange people suffering from disfiguring "yellow leprosy" manifesting itself as yellow circles around the eyes. These slimies live in a separate colony. The town's adult population is terrified by their existence, considering them to be the cause of all the bad and odd things in the town. Nevertheless, the town's teenagers simply adore slimies, that including Banev's daughter Irma... Science fiction readers weary of the repetitive taste of American SF shoud discover books like the Ugly Swans with appreciation and pleasure. Highly recommended!