The Playful Lem (Paperback)
Language: English
Published by Modern Language Association of America, New York, 2026
- Softcover
- New
Seller: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.Grand Eagle Retail
AbeBooks seller since October 12, 2005
Condition: New
£ 22.67
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Paperback. Classic speculative fiction with a comedic approachConjuring worlds in which robots are kings and Earthlings exist on the fringes of the universe, Stanislaw Lem's anachronistic fairy tales and science fiction parables envision knights who fight for the favor of a mechanical princess, a computer that can create anything (so long as it begins with the letter n), and a human astronaut who goes undercover on a planet ruled by robots. In celebrated translations by Michael Kandel and with a new introduction by Bozena Shallcross, the stories in this volume highlight age-old human weaknessesvanity, jealousy, cowardice, and crueltywhile tickling the reader with layered humor ranging from satire to wordplay to slapstick.Lem's oblique approach to indicting aggression and totalitarianism helped him avoid censorship while living under a restrictive government during the Cold War. Originally published in Polish in the 1950s and '60s, the stories collected here both evoke the concerns of the era and foresee today's technological capabilities as well as society's response. Speculative fiction blends witty satire with futuristic realms where robots rule and humans linger on the margins. Parables featuring knightly quests for a mechanical princess, a wondrous computer, and a covert astronaut deliver sharp critiques of human vanity, jealousy, and cruelty. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…
Seller Inventory # 9781603297578
- Title
- The Playful Lem (Paperback)
- Author
- Stanislaw Lem
- Publisher
- Modern Language Association of America, New York
- Publication year
- 2026
- Condition
- new
- Binding
- Paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 160329757X
- ISBN 13
- 9781603297578
Classic speculative fiction with a comedic approach
Conjuring worlds in which robots are kings and Earthlings exist on the fringes of the universe, Stanisław Lem's anachronistic fairy tales and science fiction parables envision knights who fight for the favor of a mechanical princess, a computer that can create anything (so long as it begins with the letter n), and a human astronaut who goes undercover on a planet ruled by robots. In celebrated translations by Michael Kandel, these stories highlight age-old human weaknesses—vanity, jealousy, cowardice, and cruelty—while tickling the reader with layered humor ranging from satire to wordplay to slapstick.
Lem's oblique approach to indicting aggression and totalitarianism helped him avoid censorship while living under a restrictive government during the Cold War. Originally published in Polish in the 1950s and '60s, the stories in this collection both evoke the concerns of the era and foresee today's technological capabilities as well as society's response.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
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Grand Eagle Retail
Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since October 12, 2005
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