This book tells about Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev. He was a geologist, an academician. He wrote wonderful books about his travels, wonderful science fiction novels "Plutonia," "Sannikov Land..." But, most importantly, he was an amazing, extraordinary person - one of those with whom you want to "make life." This book is unusual in that it tells about Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev... Vladimir Afanasevich himself. We publish for the first time the pages of his memoirs, his personal letters. The reader will get acquainted with the previously unreleased story of V. A. Obruchev "On Pillars," get acquainted with unknown materials from the archive of the Obruchev family.