Review: The Gospel According to Artyom

The Gospel According to Artyom by Dmitry Glukhovsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Note: This really should've been a review that comes after writing about the main story. But there is much for me to ponder over in regard to Metro 2033, which requires a detailed discourse. So, here goes.

// Spoilers for the main story //

This short excerpt, more of an epilogue, is a companion piece to the main story of Metro 2033, added during a later edition, to provide more context as to the mental state of our protagonist Artyom.

Following the destruction of the Botanical Gardens, and the Dark Ones' nest that was located in it, the whole metro rose in celebration, at the elimination of a dangerous threat to their existence. Artyom, who played an instrumental role in bringing about this victory, was hailed as a hero.

Little do they know that their hero is a broken man, plagued with remorse and guilt. For only he knew, in the literal last minutes before their demise, that the Dark ones were not the harbingers of human extinction. Rather, they could've been the heralds of a future, a better tomorrow, which saw humans once again retake their rightful place on the surface. With whom, the remnants of humanity could've formed a harmonious alliance, in order to build a better world.

But all those hopes and dreams, turned to ashes, with the Dark ones themselves. Even after knowing the truth, Artyom is unable to share it with anyone; for fear of undermining the fragile and false sense of safety that the people of the metro now possess. And for fear of being mistaken for being brainwashed by the 'evil' creatures before their extinction.

So now, he wanders the wasteland, alone, as a stalker, visiting the tomb, the shrine, the monument of his failures, seeking forgiveness to the spectres that remain. The boy from the Exhibition, who once dreamt of taking on the role of knights and slaying dragon, lost his innocence, and grew tired with the weight of reality presented to him.

It's one thing to see your heroes live long enough to turn to villainy. A whole another to see them defeated despite victory, lose their conviction and will, turn to a shadow of their former self. Yet, the conflict and suffering he feels, define his humanity. And even though he might die, taking this secret, and his demons to his grave, without knowing it, Artyom is the last lamp bearer of the spirit of humanity. Whether he accepts it or not.

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This whole prologue, gave me strong vibes of Ender, post his victory over the Formics. And much like Ender, after the weight of his actions almost crush him, Artyom too finds his purpose, as the caretaker, as the bridge that serves as a foundation to a better future.

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