Bacter posted:

EDIT: Uh, ok, so "Roadside Picnic", maybe their most famous short story? is a PRETTY clear inspiration, dealing as it does with aliens who come to earth in what's called "The Visitation", and leave behind a bunch of weird artifacts that people explore. The game does significantly depart from the story, in that there's no second visitation, and in a couple other ways.

EDIT EDIT: Apparently, both S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Metro 2033 were 'heavily inspired' by this story! Kinda cool!