STALKER is on my list of games to play in the near future, and in the last few weeks I've found the time to read the first few chapters of the novella ("Roadside Picnic," by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, available online- legally- for free) which inspired the game.
Now, I imagine there are a few of you out there who have both played STALKER and read the stories. Here's the question:
Should I try to finish the stories before I play the game?
By the way, this isn't an invitation for ankle-biters to yap about how I should've played the game two years ago for crying out loud. I want to know how much bearing the original novella has on the game, and whether either has spoilers for the other.

I actually own the book :P!

I find if you read the novel while playing the game, it's most immersive. (that is a word isn't it)

They shouldn't have much in the form of spoilers. The STALKER game is actually based upon the Russian movie "Stalker", which is based upon "Roadside Picnic". This means that although there are similarities as far as the anomalies and the likes, it'd be near impossible for there to be spoilers of any kind.

I think the developer just sort of took the universe and atmosphere from the book/movie and then added in Chernobyl for the rest of the plot.

You don't need to finish reading the book first.

You don't really need to read the book before you play the game since STALKER was just inspired by the book and not based on it. It's still fun to read, and it does add to the immersion of the game like Syphonz said.

Thanks to all three of you for the helpful remarks. It'll be a few months before I get around to STALKER, so I'll probably finish the stories before I play it... And now I can do so with a clear conscience. Much obliged, gents.

There's certainly no major overlaps. The final chapter of the game is clearly inspired by the final chapters of the book but only loosely and its only in the plot macguffin rather than the plot specifics.

Saying that, now I've read Roadside Picnic I want to play the game again and see the film!

Imagine Roadside Picnic and Stalker existing as fictional works within the world of STALKER, shaping the way people think about the Zone, just as they do in our world. It makes a lot of sense. ;)

-- Alex

The film is not really that good. Sure it's made by a famous russian director but russians that I know would argue that the book is the best to read.

The problem with S.t.a.l.k.e.r is that some things are in Russian, and if you read the book it will make more sense. I had to ask a russian friend what the hell they're saying (dialogues) in S.t.a.l.k.e.r. That's about my only gripe with the game and that is it seems like they ran out of time to make an ending that made sense and proper translations :P

My information may be of use to you, Stalker!

Read the book, as it will help make the world more real for you. But expect differences in your expereience in-game.

- J