Sotnikov. Obelisk

The stories of Vasily Bykov raise difficult questions - the behavior of a person in the most challenging conditions and the moral choice before death. It is considered that the stories "Sotnikov" and "Obelisk" marked a new stage in the author's work.
Sotnikov is the surname of the main character, highlighted in the title of the story, although the author initially planned to name the work "Liquidation." Through the personality of the main character, the author showcases the heroism of Soviet soldiers and officers, the tragedy of captivity, partisan life, and the fatal circumstances of death - the liquidation of Sotnikov.
"Obelisk" continues the tale of the partisans of Belarus and the heroism of ordinary people - a school teacher and his students. Like in "Sotnikov," the main character voluntarily goes to his death, hoping to save his students.
Both stories were adapted into films in the Soviet Union, and for the story "Obelisk," Vasily Bykov was awarded the State Prize of the USSR in 1974, and in 2013, the story "Sotnikov" was included in the list of books recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.