The Ugly Swans by Arkady Strugatsky

In a dystopian world plagued by relentless rain and societal decay, a renowned writer returns to his hometown to find it transformed by enigmatic, frog-like mutants known as "mokretsy." These creatures, possessing superior intellect and a mysterious allure, have captivated the town's children, leading them to reject their parents' outdated values. As tensions rise between the adults and the mokretsy, the writer grapples with his own beliefs and the possibility of a new, enlightened future, ultimately questioning the nature of progress and the cost of true transformation.