Reminiscences

Abstract

In his early memoirs, Trakhtenbrot told several stories. The greater part is an intellectual history of Soviet research in theoretical computer science from the 1950’s to the late 70’s. A second story – of academic and political disputes that shaped the course of Soviet research in the area – is briefly indicated. Finally, there is a laconic suggestion of the scientific life of a gifted, prolific mathematician and scholar.

Of course the emphasis in each story is on the Soviet side, but the international context in which research in theoretical computer science has been conducted for several decades is very apparent. The parallel between Soviet and American research is especially visible to me personally because, long before I had the pleasure of meeting and later collaborating with Trakhtenbrot, I was first delighted and then warmly thrilled to watch through the medium of research papers and notes the thinking of a scholarly soul mate. Repeatedly and independently, Trakhtenbrot’s and my choices of scientific sub-areas, even particular problems, and in one instance even the solution to a problem, were the same. The similarity of our tastes and techniques was so striking that it seemed at times there was a clairvoyant connection between us

This contribution is based on a draft written already in 1985.