In superbly crafted prose, "Memories of a Meltdown" describes the days that followed the nuclear nightmare at Chernobyl from the author's perspective as both an outsider and a victim. Blending the realism of journalism with the emotional resonance of fiction, Makhzangi conveys the quiet but steadily mounting atmosphere of fear and panic, the dubious reliability of official statements, and an overall loss of the sense of safety.

Translated by: Samah Selim