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Russian Book. Publisher: AST, M. Pages: 384. Year: 2018. Cover: Hardcover.
390 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
14 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Stanisław Lem
511 books4,544 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.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 5, 2016
Novel about Chemical puzzle of death of senior men's.
It’s easy to read blend of narrative elements from this detective genre but unlike other stories of this sort, nature plays vital role in this book.
Furthermore, reader goes through progress of action thinking if it was result of complete coincidence.
It’s easy to read blend of narrative elements from this detective genre but unlike other stories of this sort, nature plays vital role in this book.
Furthermore, reader goes through progress of action thinking if it was result of complete coincidence.
Read
June 15, 2016I don't know how I ended up with a reference to this edition, but as it's too much work to find out what original title matches the two short story collections (Høysnue / Mugg og Mørke) I've read in Norwegian translation, I'm just going to leave it in.
March 5, 2022
Murder stories or thrillers aren't the types of stories that Lem is associated with. Well after reading Katar I honestly don't know why. An amazing read (ok, ok an amazing audiobook for running). Now, thinking about it now. I really can't say why. The story seems too simple, it seems to lack action etc. BUT I would listen to it again. Why? Because it is written in a way that can't be summarized in a four-sentence paragraph. Great read.
February 21, 2019
Stanisław Lem: my absolute fav in my teens.
November 17, 2024
lo panie co tu sie wydarzylo...
January 16, 2026
Mam wrażenie, że dość nietypowa książka jak na Lema, ale nadal ciekawa. Nie jest tak naukowa jak inne jego powieści. Ale historia wciąga.
December 23, 2015
„Śledztwo” jest naprawdę niezwykłym opowiadaniem. Opowieść o sprawie, której nie da się wyjaśnić z czasem przeradza się w metafizyczny esej na temat tego, czy da się istnieć w świecie, który z natury nie ma racjonalnego wyjaśnienia. Czy dla zachowania sensu tego, kim jest Śledczy i zasadności jego dążenia do znalezienia sprawcy powinniśmy sfabrykować dowody na istnienie kogoś, kto jest winny? Cała opowieść utrzymana jest w mrocznej atmosferze pytań o metafizyczny sens naszych działań. Jest to jednocześnie naprawdę ciekawa powieść kryminalna. Podobnie jest z opowiadaniem „Katar”, które w pewnym sensie porusza podobną tematykę naszego poznawania świata, w tym wypadku jesteśmy postawieni przed problemem tego, że nie zawsze świat jest taki, jaki nam się wydaje. Czasem musimy przyznać, że absurdalny splot możliwych wypadków, który z początku jest dla nas niemożliwy do akceptacji jest zarazem najbardziej sensownym i racjonalnym wyjaśnieniem pewnych zjawisk. Lem z niezwykłym literackim talentem potrafi przemycać pewne trudne kwestie filozoficzne w swoje opowieści. Pozwala to zrozumieć ich istotę (choć w małym stopniu) komuś kto z uprawianiem filozofii nie miał do czynienia.
“Investigation” is a really extraordinary tale. A story about the investigation, which is not possible to solve, transforms into the metaphysical essay concerning whether it is possible to exist in the world that is not rational and comprehensible from its nature. Should we fabricate the evidence for the existence of someone who is guilty to preserve the sense of the Investigator and the validity of his search? The story keeps us in a dark atmosphere of the metaphysical questions about the purpose of our actions. At the same time this is a really good detective novel. “The chain of chance” raises the similar questions about our understanding and knowing of the world but in this particular example we are brought to the fact that what it seems to be for us is not what it really is. We must sometimes admit that the most absurd sequence of events - that is completely unacceptable at first - is the best rational answer and explanation of some phenomena. Lem is able to smuggle some difficult philosophical problems into his stories with his amazing talent. Thanks to that their essence is understandable (even in a small way) for people who are not used to the philosophical writing.
“Investigation” is a really extraordinary tale. A story about the investigation, which is not possible to solve, transforms into the metaphysical essay concerning whether it is possible to exist in the world that is not rational and comprehensible from its nature. Should we fabricate the evidence for the existence of someone who is guilty to preserve the sense of the Investigator and the validity of his search? The story keeps us in a dark atmosphere of the metaphysical questions about the purpose of our actions. At the same time this is a really good detective novel. “The chain of chance” raises the similar questions about our understanding and knowing of the world but in this particular example we are brought to the fact that what it seems to be for us is not what it really is. We must sometimes admit that the most absurd sequence of events - that is completely unacceptable at first - is the best rational answer and explanation of some phenomena. Lem is able to smuggle some difficult philosophical problems into his stories with his amazing talent. Thanks to that their essence is understandable (even in a small way) for people who are not used to the philosophical writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2020
ENG/PL
What a climatic book! Although, I must admit, if it wasn't for "opening up to other genres" the closer I got to the end, I would call this book very non-Lem-like. The philosophical considerations stuck in the mouths of the protagonists of "Investigation" (or perhaps metaphysical, spiritualistic?) left no illusions that it was nobody who changed the book jacket in some stupid joke, but only Lem presented himself from a side I didn't know yet. An intriguing personality, even more intriguing works.
PL
Ależ to jest klimatyczne! Chociaż, przyznam, gdyby nie "otwarcie się na inne gatunki" im bliżej końca, nazwałabym tę książkę bardzo nielemową. Wetknięte w usta bohaterów "Śledztwa" rozważania filozoficzne (czy może - metafizyczne, spirytualistyczne?) nie pozostawiły jednak złudzeń, że to nikt nie zmienił obwoluty książki w jakimś głupim dowcipie, a jedynie Lem zaprezentował się z nieznanej mi jeszcze strony. Intrygująca osobowość, jeszcze bardziej intrygujące dzieła.
What a climatic book! Although, I must admit, if it wasn't for "opening up to other genres" the closer I got to the end, I would call this book very non-Lem-like. The philosophical considerations stuck in the mouths of the protagonists of "Investigation" (or perhaps metaphysical, spiritualistic?) left no illusions that it was nobody who changed the book jacket in some stupid joke, but only Lem presented himself from a side I didn't know yet. An intriguing personality, even more intriguing works.
PL
Ależ to jest klimatyczne! Chociaż, przyznam, gdyby nie "otwarcie się na inne gatunki" im bliżej końca, nazwałabym tę książkę bardzo nielemową. Wetknięte w usta bohaterów "Śledztwa" rozważania filozoficzne (czy może - metafizyczne, spirytualistyczne?) nie pozostawiły jednak złudzeń, że to nikt nie zmienił obwoluty książki w jakimś głupim dowcipie, a jedynie Lem zaprezentował się z nieznanej mi jeszcze strony. Intrygująca osobowość, jeszcze bardziej intrygujące dzieła.
June 14, 2012
Śledztwo i Katar to dwie charakterystyczne książki. Oddzielone między sobą o pewien odcinek na linii czasu dzielą podobną konstrukcję i założenia. Podwaliny te są w swojej surowości wręcz genialne. Oba tytuły to powieści detektywistyczne, ale dalece odbiegające od standardu latami utrwalanego przez kryminały. Poszukiwanie sprawcy zdaje się być jedynie tłem dla wewnętrznych przeżyć detektywa pochłoniętego bez reszty przez pracę i potrzebę rozwikłania sekretu. Tajemnica ta zdaje się być niemożliwa do rozwiązania, a sam bohater szamocze się nieraz jak w pułapce. Dość powiedzieć, że dodatkowym walorem książek są zaskakujące, nietypowe zakończenia.
September 6, 2015
Po raz kolejny Lem zadziwił mnie znajomością wielu dziedzin nauki. Kryminał niekryminalny.
February 21, 2022
bardzo opornie szła mi ta książka, momentami bardzo nużąca. Zdecydowanie wolę inne pozycje od Lema
April 2, 2023
8/10 przepiękny styl wyrażania myśli, cudowny klimat! gdansk stocznia?
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews