Stanislaw Lem

Polish ScienceFiction author. Best known work is probably "Solaris" which has been made into a Russian movie. Preferable works however include TheCyberiad, MicroWorlds?, a collection of introductions to books not written, and TheFuturologicalCongress?.

I presume it's pronounced as if written "Stanislav".

Solaris: The Official Stanislaw Lem Site http://www.lem.pl

Available in both Polish and English, Solaris is the hot source of official data on SF writer Stanislaw Lem. Published by Lem's secretary and son, the site provides--among other offerings--pictures, commentaries, reviews, autobiographical essays by Lem himself and an extensive index of Lem's books and stories. There is even an index that details which works can be found in each of the 36 languages into which they have been translated! Surfers can read excerpts from Lem's books and much of his short fiction directly from this page.

The content of the site provides a layered view of a complex artist. Especially delightful is the autobiographical section, "Lem about Himself," which is a fusion of an interview and a more conventionally styled article. Short--often hilarious--paragraphs by Lem are alternated with third-person statistics and dates of interest. The result is something that is packed with facts while retaining a charming, anecdotal tone. In addition to maintaining a strong focus on Lem's fiction, visitors to this site may also look at many of his drawings--a witty gallery of black-and-white sketches with SF themes.

Covering its subject matter thoroughly, Solaris is attractively laid out and easy to navigate. Its simple but elegant design allows users to find what they are looking for--whether it is a link to a book vendor, a look at the various covers of a novel such as Memoirs of a Space Traveller or the Lem FAQ--with just a couple of fast clicks. Though it is not searchable in the generally accepted sense, the care taken to make the web page straightforward and accessible is top-notch.

Solaris has the insider track on information about Stanislaw Lem, combining personal details with images and essays that are not available anywhere else. These elements make up a page that will inform and delight anyone, whether it is a hard-core Lem fan or someone who is new to the work of this fascinating and multitalented author.

see:

http://www.cyberiad.info/english/main.htm Official Site
http://world.std.com/~mmcirvin/vitrifax.html (The writing of Stanislaw Lem)
http://www.rpi.edu/~sofkam/lem/ Bibliography

Comments on Solaris

The filmed version of Solaris by Andrei Tarkovsky is rather slow and long, as Russian films tend to be. Good, though. There is also a Hollywood (?) version with George Clooney. The book is referred to - although not by name - in 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet', a recent Salman Rushdie book, which i found comforting. Subvert the paradigm!

CategoryAuthor, CategoryScienceFiction