Arkady Strugatsky, Boris Strugatsky
Definitely Maybe: A Manuscript Discovered Under Unusual Circumstances AKA One billion years before the end of the world AKA For billions of years to the end of the light.
Dmitri Malyanov is a young astronomer, working on stellar astronomy. As he tries to resolve his equations, he feels that he is on the edge of a revolutionary discovery.
But as he approaches the solution, strange phenomena start occurring all around him, preventing him from finishing his work: telephone ringing all the time, a beautiful girl claiming to be his wife's friend appearing on his doorstep and so on. Malyanov's friends, also researchers encountering similar problems, are all suddenly being involved in a process of painful decision-making - should a scientist withdraw under pressing circumstances or should one continue the fight until whatever end?
"Malyanov knocked on Vecherovsky's door. He heard strange noises and nobody opened. Malyanov felt cold in his stomach. Then he heard familiar footsteps and Vecherovsky opened the door. He looked a bit shaken. His usually so impeccable suit had strange stains on it and there was an acrid smell in his flat. Tiny particles of ash flew around.
"Will you come in?", asked Vecherovsky.
"What's going here?!"
"Nothing. It's just me and the Universe."
"You must be crazy to go on! They'll smash you!"
Vecherovsky adjusted his glasses and looked at Malyanov with his hazel eyes: "So will you come in or stay out?"
