Stanisław Lem
Writing

Stanisław Lem

Born 12 September 1921 · Lwów, lwowskie, Polska (obecnie Ukraina) · Died 27 March 2006

Stanisław Lem (September 12, 1921 – March 27, 2006) was a Polish writer of science fiction, philosophy and satire. He was named a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. He is perhaps best known as the author of the 1961 novel Solaris, which has been made into a feature film three times. 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 due to passages with elaborate word formation, alien or robotic poetry, and puns. Multiple translated versions of his works exist.

Known for

Solaris
Solaris
The Congress
Ikarie XB 1
The Silent Star
Pilot Pirx's Inquest
Ijon Tichy: Raumpilot
Solaris
Roly Poly
Hospital of the Transfiguration
His Master's Voice
Thirty-Minute Theatre
His Master's Voice
Una investigación interrumpida de R
The Congress
Solaris
Revisiting Solaris
Solaris
Layer Cake
Hospital of the Transfiguration
Professor Tarantoga und sein seltsamer Gast
Pilot Pirx's Inquest
The Investigation
Solaris
Roly Poly
Solaris
Ikarie XB 1
Trap
Space Travel
The Silent Star
Stanisław Lem · Midrow