The article examines the representation of artificial intelligence in Viktor Pelevin’s novel iPhuck 10 through the archetype of the ‘magical helper’ as conceptualized by Vladimir Propp. The AI Porfiry Petrovich, portrayed as both a police and literary algorithm, assumes in the narrative the role of the magical helper to the protagonist Mara. His image is connected with mythological and literary archetypes, while the digital space is interpreted as an otherworldly dimension. The study also explores parallels between artificial intelligence and shamanism, emphasizing the ironic reinterpretation of the ‘divinized tool’ archetype. It analyzes the motifs of initiation, death, and the protagonist’s rebirth within the plaster-digital world. Ultimately, the article demonstrates how Pelevin merges the mythological canon with modern technology, crafting a hybrid text situated at the intersection of detective fiction, noir, and fairy-tale traditions.
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