Introduction: Contextual Fragments: Cultural excursions in Moscow: Entering the city.

An introduction to the book, Contextualizing Transition: Interviews with Contemporary Russian Writers & Critics, is presented, describing the social changes that have occurred in Moscow, Russia from 1995 to 1996. The image of Moscow changes with truly unprecedented speed. The city boasted first-class hotels and fancy Western and Russian stores. Hotels cater business conventions, banquets, charity evenings, art exhibitions, and fashion shows. The most striking phenomenon was the emergence of nightclubs and discotheques that offered diversified music and openly catered to a sexually diversified clientele. Young adults had regained the public space of interaction.