Boris Strugatsky, the Soviet and Russian legendary science fiction writer, the last remaining member of the Strugatsky brothers duo, died on Monday. He was 79.

      The cause of the writer's death is still indefinite. Some friends of him say he had many heart problems, others say he died of blood cancer.

      Strugatsky, a native of St. Petersburg and an astronomer by education, rose to literary prominence through science fiction novels co-written with his elder brother Arkady, who died in 1991 at the age of 66. The brothers had a great influence on Soviet science fiction and managed to keep it on modern Russian literature.

      The duo published 27 novels and novellas between 1958 and 1988, though many were edited for censorship purposes. Their works are available in 42 languages, including English, where translated titles include Far Rainbow (translated in 1979), Hard to Be God (1973) and Roadside Picnic (1977). The last one made the brothers internationally known for providing the story behind Arseny Tarkovsky’s classic film Stalker in 1979.

      After Arkady Strugatsky’s death of liver cancer, his brother continued writing on his own, publishing two novels, the latest of which came out in 2003. He never was a public person, preferring to keep in the background, but sometimes expressed his opinion about current social and political events. In particular, Boris Strugatsky supported opposition movement and accused Russian top officials of authoritarianism.