What do you think?
Rate this book
Ijon Tichy #5
Wizja Lokalna
Polish
314 pages
First published January 1, 1982
37 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Stanisław Lem
504 books4,502 followersStanisław Lem (staˈɲiswaf lɛm) was a Polish science fiction, philosophical and satirical writer of Jewish descent. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. He is perhaps best known as the author of Solaris, which has twice been made into a feature film. In 1976, Theodore Sturgeon claimed that Lem was the most widely read science-fiction writer in the world.
His works explore philosophical themes; speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of mutual communication and understanding, despair about human limitations and humankind's place in the universe. They are sometimes presented as fiction, but others are in the form of essays or philosophical books. Translations of his works are difficult and multiple translated versions of his works exist.
Lem became truly productive after 1956, when the de-Stalinization period led to the "Polish October", when Poland experienced an increase in freedom of speech. Between 1956 and 1968, Lem authored 17 books. His works were widely translated abroad (although mostly in the Eastern Bloc countries). In 1957 he published his first non-fiction, philosophical book, Dialogi (Dialogues), one of his two most famous philosophical texts along with Summa Technologiae (1964). The Summa is notable for being a unique analysis of prospective social, cybernetic, and biological advances. In this work, Lem discusses philosophical implications of technologies that were completely in the realm of science fiction then, but are gaining importance today—like, for instance, virtual reality and nanotechnology. Over the next few decades, he published many books, both science fiction and philosophical/futurological, although from the 1980s onwards he tended to concentrate on philosophical texts and essays.
He gained international fame for The Cyberiad, a series of humorous short stories from a mechanical universe ruled by robots, first published in English in 1974. His best-known novels include Solaris (1961), His Master's Voice (Głos pana, 1968), and the late Fiasco (Fiasko, 1987), expressing most strongly his major theme of the futility of mankind's attempts to comprehend the truly alien. Solaris was made into a film in 1972 by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky and won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972; in 2002, Steven Soderbergh directed a Hollywood remake starring George Clooney.
He was the cousin of poet Marian Hemar.
His works explore philosophical themes; speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of mutual communication and understanding, despair about human limitations and humankind's place in the universe. They are sometimes presented as fiction, but others are in the form of essays or philosophical books. Translations of his works are difficult and multiple translated versions of his works exist.
Lem became truly productive after 1956, when the de-Stalinization period led to the "Polish October", when Poland experienced an increase in freedom of speech. Between 1956 and 1968, Lem authored 17 books. His works were widely translated abroad (although mostly in the Eastern Bloc countries). In 1957 he published his first non-fiction, philosophical book, Dialogi (Dialogues), one of his two most famous philosophical texts along with Summa Technologiae (1964). The Summa is notable for being a unique analysis of prospective social, cybernetic, and biological advances. In this work, Lem discusses philosophical implications of technologies that were completely in the realm of science fiction then, but are gaining importance today—like, for instance, virtual reality and nanotechnology. Over the next few decades, he published many books, both science fiction and philosophical/futurological, although from the 1980s onwards he tended to concentrate on philosophical texts and essays.
He gained international fame for The Cyberiad, a series of humorous short stories from a mechanical universe ruled by robots, first published in English in 1974. His best-known novels include Solaris (1961), His Master's Voice (Głos pana, 1968), and the late Fiasco (Fiasko, 1987), expressing most strongly his major theme of the futility of mankind's attempts to comprehend the truly alien. Solaris was made into a film in 1972 by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky and won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972; in 2002, Steven Soderbergh directed a Hollywood remake starring George Clooney.
He was the cousin of poet Marian Hemar.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 1, 2025
Լեմի հերթական ֆուտուրիստական, փիլիսոփայական, երգիծական, քաղաքական գիտաֆանտաստիկան շատ լավն էր, չնայած՝ բավական բարդ: Այն գրքերից է, որ եթե մի պահ ուշադրությունդ շեղեցիր, պիտի հետ գնաս ու նորից կարդաս, հակառակ դեպքում մնացածը լրիվ անիմաստ կլինի:
Բարդ է կարդացվում, բայց Լեմն ընդհանրապես բարդ է կարդացվում: Դա միշտ հարկավոր է հիշել նրա գրքերը վերցնելուց առաջ: Այո, կա հետաքրքիր պատմություն, բայց ոչ այդքան լավ մշակված սյուժե: Այն քո ձեռքից բռնած չի ուղեկցելու, այնպես որ ինքդ պետք է փազլը հավաքես ու ստանաս ամբողջական պատմությունը:
Գիրքը ասղտաճանապարհորդ Յոհան Տիխիի հերթական ճամփորդության մասին է: Այս անգամ մեր հերոսն ընկնում է անախորժ իրավիճակի մեջ: Մի մեծահարուստ նրան տուն է նվիրում ու քցում դատական գործընթացների մեջ: Մի որոշ ժամանակ Տիխին չի կարողանում լքել Շվեյցարիան, այնպես որ ստիպված է լինում ժամանակն անցկացնել գրադարանում ու ուսումնասիրել մի այլ քաղաքակրթության պատմությունը, որը բավական նման է մեզ, բայց միևնույն ժամանակ ունի լիքը տարբերություններ: Օրինակ՝ էվոլյուցիան գնացել է այլ ճանապարհով, ու մարդիկ առաջացել են թռչուններից: Նրանք չունեն սեռական բազմացում, այլ բազմանում են սպորներով: Գրքի երկրորդ հատվածում Տիխին մեկնում է այդ մոլորակ ու տեղում ծանոթանում բնակիչների հետ:
Ինչ վերաբերվում է փիլիսոփայությանը, ապա այն բազմակողմանի է, ինչպես Լեմի գրեթե բոլոր գրքերում: Ինձ ամենաշատը դուր եկավ բարեկեցության թեման: Արդյո՞ք մենք պատրաստ ենք ապրել լրիվ բարեկեցիկ, առանց խնդիրների, հանցագործությունների, դժվարությունների կյանքով: Հա, իրականում դա մեծ ու բարդ հարց է:
Մի խոսքով, աբսուրդ դատավարություն, բերանից դուրս եկող սպոռներով բազմացող հասարակություն, կենդանիների մեջ ապրող մարդիկ, կիսակենդանի ու բանաստեղծություններով խոսող Շեքսպիր, մարդկանց բարեկեցությունն ու անվտանգությունն ապահովող մանրէներ: Ինչ ասես չկա այս գրքի մեջ: Հաստատ խորհուրդ կտամ:
Բարդ է կարդացվում, բայց Լեմն ընդհանրապես բարդ է կարդացվում: Դա միշտ հարկավոր է հիշել նրա գրքերը վերցնելուց առաջ: Այո, կա հետաքրքիր պատմություն, բայց ոչ այդքան լավ մշակված սյուժե: Այն քո ձեռքից բռնած չի ուղեկցելու, այնպես որ ինքդ պետք է փազլը հավաքես ու ստանաս ամբողջական պատմությունը:
Գիրքը ասղտաճանապարհորդ Յոհան Տիխիի հերթական ճամփորդության մասին է: Այս անգամ մեր հերոսն ընկնում է անախորժ իրավիճակի մեջ: Մի մեծահարուստ նրան տուն է նվիրում ու քցում դատական գործընթացների մեջ: Մի որոշ ժամանակ Տիխին չի կարողանում լքել Շվեյցարիան, այնպես որ ստիպված է լինում ժամանակն անցկացնել գրադարանում ու ուսումնասիրել մի այլ քաղաքակրթության պատմությունը, որը բավական նման է մեզ, բայց միևնույն ժամանակ ունի լիքը տարբերություններ: Օրինակ՝ էվոլյուցիան գնացել է այլ ճանապարհով, ու մարդիկ առաջացել են թռչուններից: Նրանք չունեն սեռական բազմացում, այլ բազմանում են սպորներով: Գրքի երկրորդ հատվածում Տիխին մեկնում է այդ մոլորակ ու տեղում ծանոթանում բնակիչների հետ:
Ինչ վերաբերվում է փիլիսոփայությանը, ապա այն բազմակողմանի է, ինչպես Լեմի գրեթե բոլոր գրքերում: Ինձ ամենաշատը դուր եկավ բարեկեցության թեման: Արդյո՞ք մենք պատրաստ ենք ապրել լրիվ բարեկեցիկ, առանց խնդիրների, հանցագործությունների, դժվարությունների կյանքով: Հա, իրականում դա մեծ ու բարդ հարց է:
Մի խոսքով, աբսուրդ դատավարություն, բերանից դուրս եկող սպոռներով բազմացող հասարակություն, կենդանիների մեջ ապրող մարդիկ, կիսակենդանի ու բանաստեղծություններով խոսող Շեքսպիր, մարդկանց բարեկեցությունն ու անվտանգությունն ապահովող մանրէներ: Ինչ ասես չկա այս գրքի մեջ: Հաստատ խորհուրդ կտամ:
November 23, 2018
“Der Wohlstand hatte die Gesellschaft rammdösig gemacht, der Bevölkerungszuwachs ließ die Städte bersten, es gab kaum noch eine Grenze zwischen Politik und Lumperei.” (S. 367)
November 27, 2025
My heartfelt thanks to the translator of this book, Luca Bernardini, for this titanic effort, thanks to which we now have an Italian edition of one of Lem's least translated novels (Wizja lokalna in the original Polish, meaning something along the lines of "On-site Inspection" or "Observation on the Spot"). (Can I hope for the juvenilia next?)
Wizja lokalna is certainly not a book for the casual reader, but the Lem aficionado will find it an absolutely indispensable read.
Wizja lokalna is certainly not a book for the casual reader, but the Lem aficionado will find it an absolutely indispensable read.
Read
June 27, 2019Jedna z moich ulubionych książek Lema. Punktem wyjścia są szaleństwa i przerośnięte ego Tichego na Ziemi, lecz w pewnym momencie zaczyna się właściwa część książki gdy Tichy dostaje zadanie ponownej wizyty i weryfikacji jednego z odwiedzonych światów. Świata, który zasłynął w Dziennikach Gwiazdowych kurdlami i sepulkami. Niestety, sepulki nie zostały objaśnione.
Świetna mieszanina komedii z poważnymi tematami. Zresztą, Lem tym bardziej pozwala sobie posuwać się wyjątkowo daleko w swoich rozważaniach właśnie dzięki ochronnemu kokonowi komedii absurdów i niepowagi. Jednak kryją się w tym niezwykle trudne i całkiem poważne pytania o etykę, o kulturę i o to jak te zależą od naszych uwarunkowań biologicznych.
Podoba mi się zdecydowanie światotwórstwo Lema, który pozwala sobie tutaj na uwikłanie w tak gęstą siatkę nowych pojęć i idei, że powstaje wrażenie jakbyśmy ledwie zerknęli na prawdziwą kulturę, prawdziwy świat. Świat pełen sprzeczności, trudny albo i niemożliwy do pełnego zrozumienia przez obcych, a przy tym jednocześnie w jakiś sposób znajomy. Mało który pisarz potrafi w kreacji światów tak sprawnie i trafnie imitować złożoność naszego prawdziwego świata. Przy Wizji Lokalnej wiele fantastycznych światów wydaje się zabawkowymi uproszczeniami.
Jednocześnie jest to książka, która może nie podejść wielu czytelnikom ze względu na gęste słowotwórstwo i całą plejadę idei i zjawisk, które bardzo często były jedynie lekko sugerowane. Czasami tekst wymagał od czytelnika uwagi, aby ten mógł odtworzyć mglisty obraz świata przedstawionego.
Świetna mieszanina komedii z poważnymi tematami. Zresztą, Lem tym bardziej pozwala sobie posuwać się wyjątkowo daleko w swoich rozważaniach właśnie dzięki ochronnemu kokonowi komedii absurdów i niepowagi. Jednak kryją się w tym niezwykle trudne i całkiem poważne pytania o etykę, o kulturę i o to jak te zależą od naszych uwarunkowań biologicznych.
Podoba mi się zdecydowanie światotwórstwo Lema, który pozwala sobie tutaj na uwikłanie w tak gęstą siatkę nowych pojęć i idei, że powstaje wrażenie jakbyśmy ledwie zerknęli na prawdziwą kulturę, prawdziwy świat. Świat pełen sprzeczności, trudny albo i niemożliwy do pełnego zrozumienia przez obcych, a przy tym jednocześnie w jakiś sposób znajomy. Mało który pisarz potrafi w kreacji światów tak sprawnie i trafnie imitować złożoność naszego prawdziwego świata. Przy Wizji Lokalnej wiele fantastycznych światów wydaje się zabawkowymi uproszczeniami.
Jednocześnie jest to książka, która może nie podejść wielu czytelnikom ze względu na gęste słowotwórstwo i całą plejadę idei i zjawisk, które bardzo często były jedynie lekko sugerowane. Czasami tekst wymagał od czytelnika uwagi, aby ten mógł odtworzyć mglisty obraz świata przedstawionego.
October 1, 2016
There are species called "Kurlandczycy" on "Encja" planet. There is philosophy and analogy to changes of the beginning of XX century In this book and eg. Their Middle Ages. There is anatomy of these beings and the world written on the pattern of our. And there are "bystry", which are forces of nature in quantum Physics of our understanding that can bring convenience and safety to these beings an even immortality.
November 11, 2022
Za te rozważania o ziemskiej prokreacji umieszczonej w odchodowym odcinku ciała (kalectwo w wymiarze astronomicznym!), dyskusję wielkich XX-wiecznych filozofów i rymującego post mortem Szekspira- 4 jak nic!
February 17, 2024
trudna.
February 25, 2018
Precyzyjna, szczegółowa i dopracowana wizja innej cywilizacji. Wymagająca skupienia i smakowania. Jedno z dzieł Lema, które nie pozostawia niedosytu.
November 18, 2022
Absolutnie cudowna. Unikalna wizja pozaziemskich cywilizacji przeplata się z satyraadministracyjno-polityczną tworząc niesamowitą całość.
Zabawna, ale skłania do myślenia. Lektura, która utkwi w pamięci na dłużej.
No i na maturze można wykorzystać.
Zabawna, ale skłania do myślenia. Lektura, która utkwi w pamięci na dłużej.
No i na maturze można wykorzystać.
October 10, 2021
unlesbar. eins der sehr wenigen bücher, die ich weglegen musste.
June 29, 2023
"Wizja Lokalna"(Local vision) is not an ordinary sci-fi, there is way more in it. Except different planet and civilizations we can find here many interesting philosophical considerations about nature, God as well as how to stabilize and make civilizations safe and happy, how to manage with emptiness and suffering, and also how different two totalitarian system could be.
To all these questions, our good old friend Ijon Tichy have to find the answer when studying the planet "Encja".
PLOT
This book is divided into three major parts, of whom my favorite is the second one. Below, I break each one down for you. I tried to do this briefly, but I didn't quite succeed.
First Part
Ijon Tichy comes back from space to spends his holiday here on earth.
He picked Switzerland as his place of dwelling, but very quickly he found out that Switzerland is different from how he imagined it.
He cannot find peace in the crowded, modern hotel and feels like an outsider. In addition to that, he falls victim to a famous millionaire and is involved in a political affair.
While traveling on the train, Ijon Tichy meets an older man reading his "Star Diaries". This man turned out to be Roger Gnuss, who oversaw the MSZ branch of "Instytut Maszyn Dziejowych" (Ministry of Extraterrestrial Affairs branch of Institute of Historical Machines).
Gnuss invite Tichy to visit the Institute and after some time we are being guided to this huge building. We learn what the Institute is working on, its method of analyzing planets and civilizations, and his new amazing technologies that are able to partly simulate the future based on reports and other data.
While there they simulated the future by comparing Ijon Tichy report from Encja to so called wsad a huge database of information about Encja and her civilization. The result of this operation were two simulated papers addressed to Ijon Tichy from the future. From them, he learned that the planet he described as Encja in his "Star Diaries" was actually just Encja's recreational satellite.
Second Part
After the simulation, Ijon Tichy achieve access to database (original database since wsad is just an extracted version of it, and it already takes around 3000 years to read) that was used in the process. He wants to get to know more about Encja and civilizations that live there - Kurdlanczycy (habitats of Kurdlandia) and Luzanie (habitats of Luzania).
Both of this species build totalitarian political countries, but they have very little income. Most of the Kurdlandia's territory is covered with a thick layer of mud. Kurdlandczycy have build system called Nacjomobilzm (national mobilism). They live inside huge animals called Kurdle. They treat them like saints and almost never leave them.
Luzania on the other hand, seems to be a typical sci-fi modern city. But what differs it from others is "Bystry". Bystry are something like a new chemical element. They are in some way intelligent.
They enter the structures of objects and can manipulate them in a way that depends on the conditions, and thanks to a process called "Bystrowanie" almost every object in Luzania have "Bystry" in it.
From what I understood they are connected to a database and when certain conditions arise they find the appropriate protocol for a situation and act upon it. For example, Luzans can't fight with each other. When you want to hit someone, strange things start to happen. Your clothes are petrified, you're starting to slide because your shoes became slippery, etc.
The database material used in the experiment is stored in huge library. Ijon spends many months there trying to understand Encjans. I absolutely loved this part. It was beautifully written and while reading it I felt like I was there in this library with tons of books studying another civilization, learning about their habits, history and religion. Here we can find most of mentioned above philosophical considerations.
For example, Lem allows us to see how civilization with a different understanding of god could develop and what problems it causes.
For habitats of Luzania, every new discovery or invention was taken as a proof of god. They taught that if for example machines were able to substitute Encjan in hard work, that means that god himself made nature subordinate to them. God himself provided them an environment that they can take over and use for their cause.
One of my favorite problems covered in this section was the consideration of so-called "program autoewolucji" ("auto evolution program") which was about implementing small changes like removal of bad gene, reduction of congenital defects etc.
Drawback of this program was that those changes could never be stopped, because even the healthiest get sick and the oldest fall into senile stagnation.
Implementing these changes would gradually make people less human, and it is impossible to pinpoint where a new species arises. Improving one thing will lead to improving another, and the Diderot effect will occur.
All those steps may lead to "better" creature superior to human or Encjan in every aspect, but it will be as close to human as computer.
Introducing these small changes is in fact a camouflage, a generic suicide in installments. Because the best end product we can achieve is a huge digital machine or a computing center. So why divide this process and stretch it over time. It would be easier to build this computing center already.
Following this line of reasoning, only those who can agree to building a computing center on legs can start preparing to improve their children.
Third Part
Filled with theoretical knowledge and having some understanding of Encjans we are ready to confirm our suppositions by first-hand observations. Ijon Tichy finally goes on a trip to Encja.
Starting with very weird events in Kurdlandia such as observing how one Kurdel ate another Kurdel's ear, then vomited on him and left. After that and other weird situations like that, Tichy meets one of the habitats of Kurdlandia, with whom he initiates an interesting conversation. Here we learn more about how exactly life in Kurdlania looks like, and about morality and values of Kurdlands.
Tichy then travels to Luzania to learn more about their culture. Just minutes after landing, very bizarre things starts to happen. But I don't want to spoil that for you.
The most interesting thing for me to learn about here in Luzania was "Bystry" system. We learn more about the begging and the initial purpose of the project.
The whole Bystry system was very interesting to me, and exploring it gave me great pleasure.
Lem never fails to surprise me with his creativity and imagination.
SUMMARY
As I said at the outset, this is a very unusual piece of sci-fi, but I think that's what I like most about this book. Lem really impressed me with this large world that he build. I also enjoyed the philosophical parts in this book, they were really engaging and thought provoking. If you haven't read this book already, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. You shouldn't be disappointed.
To all these questions, our good old friend Ijon Tichy have to find the answer when studying the planet "Encja".
PLOT
This book is divided into three major parts, of whom my favorite is the second one. Below, I break each one down for you. I tried to do this briefly, but I didn't quite succeed.
First Part
Ijon Tichy comes back from space to spends his holiday here on earth.
He picked Switzerland as his place of dwelling, but very quickly he found out that Switzerland is different from how he imagined it.
He cannot find peace in the crowded, modern hotel and feels like an outsider. In addition to that, he falls victim to a famous millionaire and is involved in a political affair.
While traveling on the train, Ijon Tichy meets an older man reading his "Star Diaries". This man turned out to be Roger Gnuss, who oversaw the MSZ branch of "Instytut Maszyn Dziejowych" (Ministry of Extraterrestrial Affairs branch of Institute of Historical Machines).
Gnuss invite Tichy to visit the Institute and after some time we are being guided to this huge building. We learn what the Institute is working on, its method of analyzing planets and civilizations, and his new amazing technologies that are able to partly simulate the future based on reports and other data.
While there they simulated the future by comparing Ijon Tichy report from Encja to so called wsad a huge database of information about Encja and her civilization. The result of this operation were two simulated papers addressed to Ijon Tichy from the future. From them, he learned that the planet he described as Encja in his "Star Diaries" was actually just Encja's recreational satellite.
Second Part
After the simulation, Ijon Tichy achieve access to database (original database since wsad is just an extracted version of it, and it already takes around 3000 years to read) that was used in the process. He wants to get to know more about Encja and civilizations that live there - Kurdlanczycy (habitats of Kurdlandia) and Luzanie (habitats of Luzania).
Both of this species build totalitarian political countries, but they have very little income. Most of the Kurdlandia's territory is covered with a thick layer of mud. Kurdlandczycy have build system called Nacjomobilzm (national mobilism). They live inside huge animals called Kurdle. They treat them like saints and almost never leave them.
Luzania on the other hand, seems to be a typical sci-fi modern city. But what differs it from others is "Bystry". Bystry are something like a new chemical element. They are in some way intelligent.
They enter the structures of objects and can manipulate them in a way that depends on the conditions, and thanks to a process called "Bystrowanie" almost every object in Luzania have "Bystry" in it.
From what I understood they are connected to a database and when certain conditions arise they find the appropriate protocol for a situation and act upon it. For example, Luzans can't fight with each other. When you want to hit someone, strange things start to happen. Your clothes are petrified, you're starting to slide because your shoes became slippery, etc.
The database material used in the experiment is stored in huge library. Ijon spends many months there trying to understand Encjans. I absolutely loved this part. It was beautifully written and while reading it I felt like I was there in this library with tons of books studying another civilization, learning about their habits, history and religion. Here we can find most of mentioned above philosophical considerations.
For example, Lem allows us to see how civilization with a different understanding of god could develop and what problems it causes.
For habitats of Luzania, every new discovery or invention was taken as a proof of god. They taught that if for example machines were able to substitute Encjan in hard work, that means that god himself made nature subordinate to them. God himself provided them an environment that they can take over and use for their cause.
One of my favorite problems covered in this section was the consideration of so-called "program autoewolucji" ("auto evolution program") which was about implementing small changes like removal of bad gene, reduction of congenital defects etc.
Drawback of this program was that those changes could never be stopped, because even the healthiest get sick and the oldest fall into senile stagnation.
Implementing these changes would gradually make people less human, and it is impossible to pinpoint where a new species arises. Improving one thing will lead to improving another, and the Diderot effect will occur.
All those steps may lead to "better" creature superior to human or Encjan in every aspect, but it will be as close to human as computer.
Introducing these small changes is in fact a camouflage, a generic suicide in installments. Because the best end product we can achieve is a huge digital machine or a computing center. So why divide this process and stretch it over time. It would be easier to build this computing center already.
Following this line of reasoning, only those who can agree to building a computing center on legs can start preparing to improve their children.
Third Part
Filled with theoretical knowledge and having some understanding of Encjans we are ready to confirm our suppositions by first-hand observations. Ijon Tichy finally goes on a trip to Encja.
Starting with very weird events in Kurdlandia such as observing how one Kurdel ate another Kurdel's ear, then vomited on him and left. After that and other weird situations like that, Tichy meets one of the habitats of Kurdlandia, with whom he initiates an interesting conversation. Here we learn more about how exactly life in Kurdlania looks like, and about morality and values of Kurdlands.
Tichy then travels to Luzania to learn more about their culture. Just minutes after landing, very bizarre things starts to happen. But I don't want to spoil that for you.
The most interesting thing for me to learn about here in Luzania was "Bystry" system. We learn more about the begging and the initial purpose of the project.
The whole Bystry system was very interesting to me, and exploring it gave me great pleasure.
Lem never fails to surprise me with his creativity and imagination.
SUMMARY
As I said at the outset, this is a very unusual piece of sci-fi, but I think that's what I like most about this book. Lem really impressed me with this large world that he build. I also enjoyed the philosophical parts in this book, they were really engaging and thought provoking. If you haven't read this book already, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. You shouldn't be disappointed.
June 1, 2018
Eigentlich eine ganz nette Idee, aber etwas arg langwierig ausgeführt. Mich interessiert die Darstellung anderer fiktiver Kulturen ja immer sehr, aber hier liest es sich leider streckenweise wie ein Wikipedia-Artikel. Außerdem endet die Geschichte ohne Plot, sie hört mitten in der Handlung einfach auf und jede Menge angefangener Handlungsstränge werden nicht weiter oder zu Ende geführt. Aber sehr witzig geschrieben und vor allem hervorragend ins Deutsche übersetzt!!! Lustig ansonsten wieder, dass wie fremd und anders und außerordentlich andere Kulturen auch sein mögen, dass die Männer allein die öffentliche Rolle spielen und Frauen nur in Zusammenhang mit Fortpflanzung von Interesse sind, ist gleich. Wenn man diese von Männern erdachte prä-Frauenbewegungs-SciFi liest, in der weibliche Freiheit einfach außerhalb jeglicher Phantasie und Vorstellungskraft lag, wird klar WIE viel sich durch den Feminismus bereits verändert hat. Denn auch in den patriarchalsten Winkeln dieser Welt ist heute klar, dass etwas anderes möglich ist.
January 18, 2020
The 19th book of Lem that I have read. The book consists of 3 parts (Earth / Prediction of an alien planet / Travel to the alien planet & the planet itself), the prediction part is the hardest to read and I honestly spent half a year trying to get through it. Having a bit of experience with Lem's books I can only say that his linguistic choices start to get on my nerves.
The first part is not spectacular, the second one quite similar to a madman's work, the third part is simply genius.
Definitely a book you have to read twice to get all the nuances.
The first part is not spectacular, the second one quite similar to a madman's work, the third part is simply genius.
Definitely a book you have to read twice to get all the nuances.
April 12, 2016
Das erste drittel des Buches fand ich eher verwirrend und schwer lesbar, spätestens mit der Landung auf dem Planeten, wird es interessant und es wird eine interessante - weit vom üblichen SciFi-Standard abweichende - Zukunftsvision, welche gleichzeitig eine Menge versteckter Kritik an Sozialismus und Kapitalismus enthält, aufgezeigt.
December 7, 2016
Lubie czytać Lema. Naprawdę. W "Wizji lokalnej" jest jednak za dużo Lema w Lemie. Lemosłowotwórstwo do potęgi Lema i nadmierna komplikacja świata - fabuły nie odnalazłem. Bardzo długo widziałem tylko zlepek faktów nie łączących się w całość.
March 28, 2021
7/10 - dobra. Dobra, choć zdecydowanie niełatwa i nierówna - wyglądająca na nieco zlepioną z kilku pomysłów na książkę. Pierwsza część to satyryczna przygoda Ijona Tichy w Szwajcarii, podczas której bohater zostaje wplątany w intrygę (związaną z jego Dziennikami Gwiazdowymi) wymagającą podjęcia ważnej dyplomatycznej akcji, a której to brak może zaskutkować poważnymi konsekwencjami dla Ziemi. Lekki wstęp do czekającego nas na niemal 200 stronach wysiłku umysłowego związanego z przygotowaniami do podróży - tj. wizyty w bibliotece, dział planety Encji. W tej części czytelnik zmierzy się z taką ilością neologizmów, że nawet osoby przyzwyczajone do twórczości Lema mogą się poczuć przytłoczone. Niesamowite opisy obcych cywilizacji, do tego z mieszanych źródeł dwóch zwalczających się kultur planetarnych, pełne przekłamań, zniekształceń i dezinformacji wyłaniają tak sprzeczny obraz, że jedynym wyjściem okazuje się doświadczenie organoleptyczne, o czym traktuje trzecia część książki. Tichy wyrusza do Encji gdzie czeka go więcej pytań niż odpowiedzi; zagadek filozoficznych dla których nawet nad wyraz zaawansowane rasy nie mają rozwiązań; pytań o przyszłość człowieka; rozprawy z organizacjami społecznymi i państwowymi itp. Lektura momentami trudna, ale po zakończeniu satysfakcjonująca.
August 6, 2020
Me parecen muy graciosas las circunstancias que llevan a Ijon Tichy a terminar en la panza de un curdlo (me apena un poco no saber cómo salió de ahí o si en efecto salió). Todo lo que se narra es muy interesante y muy verdadero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2023
Uneven. Some parts really interesting, sone boring. But for sure or is creative. It tries to explore some big ideas.
The idea of calculating predictions is pretty good. Especially the probability of being not a accurate. Funny.
The idea of calculating predictions is pretty good. Especially the probability of being not a accurate. Funny.
September 11, 2019
Lo que comienza como un relato ligero y absurdo se convierte en un tratado de filosofía del más alto nivel. Una maravillosa joya.
November 16, 2020
В первой половине книги многовато "бреда" конечно, но мысли в книге озвучны очень интересные.
September 29, 2021
3.5, a może nawet i więcej, ale mam 2 iq i gdzieś w połowie się nieco pogubiłam.
June 30, 2023
(Audiobook), 8/10
Lektor - 5/6 (Ciołkosz)
Lektor - 5/6 (Ciołkosz)
August 21, 2023
Genialne rozważania na temat dobrobytu i nieśmiertelności oraz idealnie lemowski świat stworzony z największymi szczegółami.
March 30, 2025
nie przetrwałam gadania o prawie
June 12, 2025
Very pleasant book, typical Lem
January 12, 2021
На корицата, на появилите се през 2009г. (от ИК "Колибри") "Звездни дневници", гордо стои: "За първи път в България всички пътешествия на Ийон Тихи". Години по-късно, забелязах грешката в това изречение. Липсва думата "почти", точно преди "всички". Изключвайки "изгубеното" 26-то пътешествие, което самият Лем изхвърля от "Дневниците" през 1966г., то остават цели ДВА непреведени РОМАНА за звездния Мюнхаузен: "Оглед на място" и "Мир на Земята". Всъщност, в ОНЗИ сайт, чието име не се споменава има превод на първия (предполагам, качен от самия автор на превода, Павел Николов: "един от титулярните преводачи на Станислав Лем на български език"), но официално никъде не се среща (в бр.15/2015г. на списанието на българския фендъм "Тера фантастика", присъства една глава от романа).
"Оглед на място" е всичко, което може да очаквате от Лем и Тихи: хумор, каламбури, игра на думи (повечето, от които, сътворени от самия Лем), прекроени латински фрази и сентенции, философия, прекрасна социална фантастика, инопланетяни, зад чиито причудливи физиология, нрави и привички, прозират тези на човека.
Сърдечни благодарности на г-н Николов!
"Оглед на място" е всичко, което може да очаквате от Лем и Тихи: хумор, каламбури, игра на думи (повечето, от които, сътворени от самия Лем), прекроени латински фрази и сентенции, философия, прекрасна социална фантастика, инопланетяни, зад чиито причудливи физиология, нрави и привички, прозират тези на човека.
Сърдечни благодарности на г-н Николов!
February 20, 2018
PL
Ta książka jest przedziwna i napisana w taki sposób, że nie można się od niej oderwać mimo, że w kilku miejscach nie mamy pojęcia co się dzieje i tylko nasza wyobraźnia może nam w jakiś sposób nakreślić miejsce akcji i te kosmiczne sceny. Genialna i jednocześnie irracjonalna powieść science fiction. Dla fanów tego pisarza jest to pozycja obowiązkowa.
EN
This book is bizarre and written in such a way that you can not get away from it even though in a few places you have no idea what is happening and only your imagination can somehow map out the place of action and these cosmic scenes. A brilliant and at the same time irrational science fiction novel. For fans of this writer, this is a must-have item.
Ta książka jest przedziwna i napisana w taki sposób, że nie można się od niej oderwać mimo, że w kilku miejscach nie mamy pojęcia co się dzieje i tylko nasza wyobraźnia może nam w jakiś sposób nakreślić miejsce akcji i te kosmiczne sceny. Genialna i jednocześnie irracjonalna powieść science fiction. Dla fanów tego pisarza jest to pozycja obowiązkowa.
EN
This book is bizarre and written in such a way that you can not get away from it even though in a few places you have no idea what is happening and only your imagination can somehow map out the place of action and these cosmic scenes. A brilliant and at the same time irrational science fiction novel. For fans of this writer, this is a must-have item.
July 17, 2015
I've read three parts of Twilight and the Grey trilogy. The last book I didn't manage to finish was 'Ludzie Bezdomni' by Zeromski. I couldn't finish this one. Maybe it was wise. Maybe it was insightful. But it was so damn BORING! An entire book of infodump.
Grey was at least entertainingly stupid, which was one redeeming quality this book doesn't have. Maybe I will try something by Lem again. Maybe.
Grey was at least entertainingly stupid, which was one redeeming quality this book doesn't have. Maybe I will try something by Lem again. Maybe.
January 7, 2019
2/10. Media de los 12 libros leídos del autor : 4/10
Autor polaco que se metió entre los grandes del género (eso decía la crítica) pero a que a mí nunca me gustó mucho salvo dos libros suyos : Relatos del piloto Pirx y Ciberíada
Autor polaco que se metió entre los grandes del género (eso decía la crítica) pero a que a mí nunca me gustó mucho salvo dos libros suyos : Relatos del piloto Pirx y Ciberíada
August 30, 2014
Das Buch kippt in die unwahrscheinlichlichsten Richtungen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews