About the book: year / About the author AKIMOV IGOR ALEXEEVICH was born in 1937 in Kyiv. He studied at the Kiev Institute of Water Resources Engineers, worked in republican and central newspapers and magazines. He travels a lot around the country as a journalist. The first book of fiction by I. Akimov, “And the Walls Smell of the Sun” (novel and short stories), was published in 1963 by the publishing house of the Central Committee of the Leninist Young Communist League “Molod”. Since 1965 he has appeared in print in collaboration with V. Karpeko. They wrote stories about Soviet intelligence officers - “Misfire” and “Unfinished Business”. One of them (“Misfire”) was made into a television film.I. Akimov is an active author of the magazine “Rural Youth”. The adventure story “The Ballad of Those Who Went on a Mission,” published in this volume, was first published in the pages of “Rural Youth” in 1968. Soon the writer creates a new work - “Dot”, published in the fourth volume of the supplement “Feat” for 1970 under the title “The Legend of the Small Garrison”. This story reflects the heroism and courage of the Soviet soldier in the most difficult - the initial period of the Patriotic War, due to the severity and suddenness of the enemy strike. I. Akimov did not stop working on “The Ballad of Those Who Went on a Mission” even after the publication of the story in the magazine. Entire chapters have been written again, the characters of many characters have been deepened, some episodes are filled with new details.I. Akimov belongs to the generation of young writers who did not see the war, but write about the war as they imagine it based on the available archival and other materials. Nevertheless, the authenticity that emanates from the events described in his works is noteworthy. During these events, the best traits are revealed that are inherited by the current generation of youth from the participants in the great battle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland. This is, first of all, courage, resourcefulness, mutual assistance and readiness for self-sacrifice in the name of completing a combat mission. I. Akimov’s creative style is marked by lyrical narration, dynamic plot, and romantic elation.R. Guilty