Dmitry Glukhovsky

Dmitry Glukhovsky (Дмитрий Глуховский; born Moscow, 1979) is a Russian writer and journalist, best known for the post-apocalyptic science fiction novel Metro 2033 and the franchise of novels and video games that grew out of it. Written in Russian, his work belongs to the traditions of dystopian fiction and social satire, and it has reached international readers through translation and adaptation.

He grew up in Moscow in the final years of the Soviet Union and, after finishing school, chose to study abroad. He settled on Israel, largely for cost reasons, and earned a degree in journalism and international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He then worked for Euronews in Lyon and later for Russia Today, reporting from conflict zones as a war correspondent, an experience that shaped his views on politics and nationalism.

He began writing as a schoolboy, and the idea for Metro 2033 came to him during long rides on the Moscow Metro, along with the legends of hidden underground refuges meant to survive a nuclear war. After several publishers turned the manuscript down, he released it online in instalments, accompanied by music and illustrations, and its popularity led to a print edition in 2005. The story follows a young soldier through a network of stations where survivors have split into rival tribes, a satire of Russian society. His later books range widely: Sumerki blends mystery and fantasy, Futu.re imagines a Europe of immortality and restricted childbearing, and Text marked a turn toward realist fiction.

His lasting influence lies largely in the expansion of Metro into video games, where he worked as a writer, and in his early use of the internet to publish and promote his fiction. His outspoken political criticism has also made him a controversial figure in contemporary Russia.