"Koba the Dread" is a 2002 book by the historian Martin Amis that explores the life and legacy of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union. The title refers to the nickname of Koba, which was one of Stalin's early aliases. The book examines the impact of Stalin's regime on the Soviet people and the broader implications of totalitarianism. Amis uses a blend of historical analysis and personal narrative to illustrate the horrors of Stalin's rule, including the Great Purge and the famine in Ukraine. The work critiques the romanticization of revolutionary figures and highlights the moral complexities of power and ideology.