Science Fiction from Stanislaw Lem

Lem Stanislaw. The Star Diaries. New York: Harcourt. 1976. Print
                                  
          and also:  Tales of Prix the Pilot. New York: Harcourt. 1979. Print

First Sentences:

It was on a Monday, April second -- I was cruising in the vicinity of Betelgeuse--when a meteor no larger than a lima bean pierced the hull, shattered the drive regulator and part of the rudder, as a result of which the rocket lost all maneuverability.

I put on my spacesuit, went outside and tried to fix the mechanism, but found I couldn't possibly attach the spare rudder -- which I'd had the foresight to bring along -- without the help of another man.

          Ijon Tichy - The Star Diaries 

"Cadet Pirx!" 

Bullpen's voice snapped him out of his daydreaming. He had just had visions of a two-crown piece lying tucked away in the fob pocket of his old civvies, the ones stashed at the bottom of his locker.

           Pirx - Tales of Pirx the Pilot 

Description:

Not sure how many people today know the works of science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem, and that is a shame. Lem was a Polish writer mostly during 1960 -1990 and is best known for his futuristic novel Solaris which was made into two films. 

His work is unlike most American science fiction, a genre he despised for its authors' choices of simplistic stories, dull dialogue, and goal of making money. Lem felt science fiction should explore more important themes such as the emptiness of space, the difficulty of communication between different (and the same) species, the unknown factors of robots, and the folly of man trying to put his mark on the vastness of the universe.

Here are two of Lem's short story collections to get you started. Each follows the space adventures of one rocket pilot as he grapples with the oddities of the universe and the beings and machines that he finds.

The Star Diaries  (a sample from the stories)

• Long-time, seen-it-all pilot Ijon Tichy (picture Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Star Wars) finds that, needing an additional person to make a vital repair to his rocket, decides to enter a series of vortexes where time is muddled. He meets a man who resembles himself who has advice on how to fix the problem, but Tichy feels it is simply a dream. Only later does he realize it was actually himself visiting him from the next day. Unfortunately, by that time it is the next day and he becomes that figure, trying to warn his sleeping yesterday self while dealing with his image from the next day. And the confusion gets worse and worse as the days unfold and new Tichy's from the future appear to those from the past.

• In another story, Tichy is the representative from Earth seeking membership in the United Planets. Rather than the ceremony being a formality, he finds he has to defend all of Mankind's wars against men and their limited advances in science. The surprise conclusion results when the actual origins of man are discovered.

• Tichy also is sent to a world populated only by robots who have revolted against humans. They have taught themselves the basics of human society, including language based on the only books they found: Chaucerian English. 

Tales of Pirx the Pilot (a sample from the stories)

Pirx is a young, brash pilot just learning the ropes from Cadet School to his early patrol voyages. A very likable character who seems to draw trouble due to his inexperience, laziness, or shortcuts.

• The opening story shows his life in Cadet School and his final test flight to a moon orbit. Unfortunately everything goes wrong, from pesky flies to a loose electrical circuit panel, and emergency controls that are locked. Of course, he has forgotten to bring the legendary crib sheet secretly used by all cadets for every emergency.

• Pirx, later sent to explore the disappearance of two qualified pilots while on routine patrol, notices on his screen an illusive light with incredible speed and maneuverability.  He gives chase, hesitates, retreats, and chases again while the light stays just out of reach. What is it and what does it want? Pirx must reason out the answer before his fate is sealed like the other two pilots.

Both Tichy and Pirx are interestingly human in their desires, reasoning, and avoidance of work when possible. Both pilots face the emptiness and vastness of space, yet find it a universe populated by unusual beings and challenges. Whether trying to communicate with other humans or species, working with malfunctioning robots, or delving into worlds of unusual populations, Tichy and Pirx gamely take on adventure after adventure of peculiarities and illogic. 

They must slowly piece together each situation and figure out answers to complex questions that are right in front of them. The problems are both complex and simple, but always enthralling and exciting. Of course, there is always technology that is good, bad, and indifferent.

On the one hand, we have no choice but to trust in our technology. With it we would never have set foot on the Moon. But ... sometimes we have to pay a high price for that trust.

For those new to Stanislaw Lem, I hope you give him a try. His is a completely different world of sci-fi, one that challenges as it makes you laugh. Highly recommended.

Happy reading. 

Fred

www.firstsentencereader.blogspot.com

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If this book interests you, be sure to check out:

Bradbury, Ray. The Martian Chronicles

Chronological history in short stories of man's exploration and colonization of Mars, with all the richness and tragedy of life on an ancient world. (previously reviewed here)

Weir, Andy. The Martian

An astronaut, inadvertantly left on the the surface of Mars, must figure out a way to survive alone until a rescue ship can arrive months in the future.  (previously reviewed here)