Stalker facts for kids
Stalker is a word that can mean different things! It can describe a person, but it's also the name of a famous science fiction novel, a movie, and even a popular video game. It's important to know which meaning people are talking about when they use the word.
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What a Stalker Is
Sometimes, "stalker" refers to a person. In this case, it means someone who repeatedly bothers another person, even when that person doesn't want to be bothered. This can involve following them, sending unwanted messages, or trying to contact them over and over. It's about giving someone unwanted attention that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. It's never okay to make someone feel that way.
The Story of Stalker
The word "Stalker" is also famous because of a science fiction story.
The Roadside Picnic Novel
In 1972, two Russian writers, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, wrote a novel called Roadside Picnic. This book is about a special place called the "Zone." The Zone appeared after aliens visited Earth, leaving behind strange and dangerous things. People called "stalkers" are brave (or maybe a little crazy!) individuals who go into the Zone to find these alien objects. It's a very exciting and thought-provoking story.
The Stalker Movie
The novel Roadside Picnic was so popular that it was made into a movie. In 1979, a famous director named Andrei Tarkovsky created a film called Stalker. The movie is based on the book but tells its own unique story about a guide, also called a "Stalker," who leads two men into the mysterious Zone. They are searching for a room that is said to grant wishes.
The Short Story
There is also a short story simply called Stalker that is based on the ideas from the novel Roadside Picnic. It explores more adventures and mysteries within the strange Zone.
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Video Game
Another popular use of the word "Stalker" is in a series of computer games. The most well-known is S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. This game lets players explore a dangerous area inspired by the Zone from the Strugatsky brothers' novel. Players take on the role of a "Stalker" who has to survive in a harsh environment, fight strange creatures, and uncover secrets. It's a thrilling adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world.
See also
- In Spanish: Acoso físico para niños