Leo Puchkov is a writer of an unusual fate. This is expressed primarily in the fact that he went directly to his publishers and readers, bypassing all official literary structures.
Biography Facts
Puchkov Lev Aleksandrovich was born in 1965 somewhere in the vastness of Siberia. From the late eighties to 2001, he served in the internal troops. A special forces officer participated in both Chechen wars and other armed conflicts in the North Caucasus. Many hot spots passed and repeatedly risked his life before he felt the need to expound everything experienced in literary works. For a better understanding of the nature of this person, one should take into account the fact that Leo Puchkov, whose biography is very full of events and extreme situations, frankly does not like attention to his private life and does not give any interviews on this subject.
And for the reader of his works of art, it is only important to understand that these books are written by a military officer. And he went personally through most of what he was trying to tell readers about.
The path to great literature
If serious critics, members of the editorial boards of reputable literary magazines, are asked whether the writer Lev Puchkov is familiar to them, then the answer will most likely be negative. Only the most knowledgeable will answer that this is the author of detectives and militants. And the affiliation of the action genre to a large literature can be argued for a long time. But Lev Puchkov is not at all interested in their opinion. He found the road to his success without any regard for literary authorities. He is grateful only to specific publishers who were able to read his manuscripts at one time and appreciate them. And today, the writer is recognized primarily by a wide range of his fans. But his books are published in large editions and by such serious publishing houses as Eksmo.
The largest publishing business analysts unconditionally acknowledge the commercial perspective of this author. This means that someday we will be able to read on the title page with the logo of this publisher - "Leo Puchkov. Complete Works." But while this is premature, the complete works are still in the process of creation. And one can only guess what the continuation will be. So far it is known only that it will not be boring.
Handwriting
What is attractive to the reader Lev Puchkov? First of all, with its unique authorial style. These books capture the reader from the first paragraph and do not release to the last page. The author not only knows how to tightly spin the plot, but does it with overwhelming virtuosity. In his books there are no easily calculated situations, and the outcome of the intrigue cannot be predicted. All characters, including minor ones, are psychologically precisely registered, and their actions are deeply motivated.
The action always develops from one extreme situation to another, in ascending order. The main character is often guessed by Lev Puchkov himself. The author’s books are by no means autobiographical. At least in the full meaning of this definition. However, the author’s experiences in the Chechen wars are easily guessed on the pages of his works.
Black humor
And readers love the books of Lev Puchkov for the characteristic intonation with which the narration is conducted. It is she who provides these works with originality and makes them easily recognizable against the background of the numerous pass-through products of the detective genre. Yes, Leo Puchkov ironizes everything that happens is quite evil, toxic and completely politically incorrect. This is exactly what is commonly called "black humor." But there are not so few examples of it both in world and in Russian literature.
And the author scoffs first of all at himself in the person of the main character, on behalf of whom the narration in his books is most often conducted. But other characters get it too.
"Bloodman"
Lev Puchkov himself, whose library of works currently has more than two dozen novels, divides his books into several thematic cycles. Each is based on the unity of the main characters and the scene. It’s difficult to make a mistake with the choice of a place. With rare exceptions, all events unfold either on the northern slopes of the Caucasian ridge, or along the way to it from the major cities of Russia. The first great success to the author was brought by the novel "Krovnik" and five of its sequels, which constituted the cycle of the same name.
His main character, a former special forces officer, acts at his own peril and risk in the depths of the territory of the enemy. The motive of his guerrilla war during the officially declared truce is revenge for his abducted and murdered wife. A close-knit team of like-minded people helps him, each of whom has his own personal accounts for the proud inhabitants of the Caucasus. All these people have nothing more to lose in this life, and they are able to work miracles in the fight against the enemy.
"Dog work"
A cycle of three novels about the everyday life of intelligence agents on the fronts of the First Chechen War was no less exciting in terms of tension. The name of this trilogy is, as usual, ironic. Under the dog’s work, Lev Puchkov means not only the dirty and ungrateful mission of the main characters, but also the constant presence in the foreground of their existence of several fighting shepherds - full members of the intelligence team. The action in "Dog's Work" takes place not only in the highlands, but also on the ruins of the city of Grozny during the independent Ichkeria.
The books of Lev Puchkov with great artistic force conveyed all the dirt and ugliness of the war, the doom to senseless death of military units, the lies of generals and the venality of politicians on both sides of the front. Perhaps that is why his books never received the attention of filmmakers. So far, no one has seen Heroes of Lev Puchkov on the screen.
