Name: The Truth and Other Stories
SKU: 53611245
Price: 75.08 NZD
Availability: InStock
Author: Stanislaw Lem
ISBN: 9780262046084

Type

Physical Book

Author

Stanislaw Lem

Publisher

The Mit Press

Year

2021

Language

English

Pages

326

Format

Hardcover

ISBN13

9780262046084

Synopsis "The Truth and Other Stories "

Twelve stories by science fiction master Stanisław Lem, nine of them never before published in English.Of these twelve short stories by science fiction master Stanisław Lem, only three have previously appeared in English, making this the first "new" book of fiction by Lem since the late 1980s. The stories display the full range of Lem's intense curiosity about scientific ideas as well as his sardonic approach to human nature, presenting as multifarious a collection of mad scientists as any reader could wish for. Many of these stories feature artificial intelligences or artificial life forms, long a Lem preoccupation; some feature quite insane theories of cosmology or evolution. All are thought provoking and scathingly funny. Written from 1956 to 1993, the stories are arranged in chronological order. In the title story, "The Truth," a scientist in an insane asylum theorizes that the sun is alive; "The Journal" appears to be an account by an omnipotent being describing the creation of infinite universes--until, in a classic Lem twist, it turns out to be no such thing; in "An Enigma," beings debate whether offspring can be created without advanced degrees and design templates. Other stories feature a computer that can predict the future by 137 seconds, matter-destroying spores, a hunt in which the prey is a robot, and an electronic brain eager to go on the lam. These stories are peak Lem, exploring ideas and themes that resonate throughout his writing.

Stanislaw Lem

(Author)

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Stanisław Lem (1921-2006) was a prominent Polish writer in science fiction literature. Born in Lviv, he developed a prolific literary career that explored themes such as cybernetics, communication, and the human condition. His work is characterized by a deep philosophical sense and, at times, a humorous tone.

Among his most recognized works are Solaris (1961), The Cyberiad (1965), and The Futurological Congress (1971), all in the science fiction genre. Additionally, he wrote essays like Summa Technologiae (1964), where he reflects on the future of technology. His literary legacy has significantly influenced contemporary science fiction.

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