Memoirs of a space traveler : further reminiscences of Ijon Tichy

In this sequel to The Star Diaries, Ijon Tichy, space traveler of future centuries, discovers that "out there" isn't very different from "down here." Throughout these nine wild adventures, surprise follows witty surprise. Line drawings by the Author. Translated by Joel Stern and Maria Swiecicka-Ziemianek. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book Ijon Tichy is an ordinary space traveler who always follows his extraordinary curiosity, especially when it leads him to scientists working on the fringes of knowledge. Their plans are grandiose, and the bargains they make too often Faustian, for the ends they pursue concern humanity's greatest obsessions: immortality, artificial intelligence, and consumer goods. By turn philosophical, satirical, and absurd, Lem's stories find Tichy both a participant in and an observer of strange experiments, One scientist has created artificial consciousness in black boxes, fooling machines into thinking they're human; another has created a gelatinous substance that shows disturbing signs of free will; still another has fallen victim to his own doppelgänger. But there are triumphs, however temporary. The revolution in laundry brought on by rival manufacturers of intelligent washing machines gives way to chaos as ever more sophisticated machines seduce their owners or turn to crime. Faulty time machines, intergalactic tourists, intelligent (but suicidal) potatoes—Ijon Tichy navigates them all with common sense and resourcefulness and in so doing shows why he endures as one of Lem's most popular characters. About the Authors: Joel Stern and Maria Swiecicka-Ziemianek translated Memoirs of a Space Traveler . Their whereabouts are currently unknown. There is no evidence that washer-dryers of dubious reputation are responsible. Annotation This sequel to Return From the Stars recounts more adventures of the zany space jockey.

ijon Tichy Is An Ordinary Space Traveler Who Always Follows His Extraordinary Curiosity, Especially When It Leads Him To Scientists Working On The Fringes Of Knowledge. Their Plans Are Grandiose, And The Bargains They Make Too Often Faustian, For The Ends They Pursue Concern Humanity's Greatest Obsessions: Immortality, Artificial Intelligence, And Consumer Goods.

by Turn Philosophical, Satirical, And Absurd, Lem's Stories Find Tichy Both A Participant In And An Observer Of Strange Experiments, One Scientist Has Created Artificial Consciousness In Black Boxes, Fooling Machines Into Thinking They're Human; Another Has Created A Gelatinous Substance That Shows Disturbing Signs Of Free Will; Still Another Has Fallen Victim To His Own Doppelgänger. But There are Triumphs, However Temporary. The Revolution In Laundry Brought On By Rival Manufacturers Of Intelligent Washing Machines Gives Way To Chaos As Ever More Sophisticated Machines Seduce Their Owners Or Turn To Crime.

faulty Time Machines, Intergalactic Tourists, Intelligent (but Suicidal) Potatoes—ijon Tichy Navigates Them All With Common Sense And Resourcefulness And In So Doing Shows Why He Endures As One Of Lem's Most Popular Characters.

about The Authors:
joel Stern And Maria Swiecicka-ziemianek Translated memoirs Of A Space Traveler. Their Whereabouts Are Currently Unknown. There Is No Evidence That Washer-dryers Of Dubious Reputation Are Responsible.

"Ijon Tichy is an ordinary space traveler whose extraordinary curiosity leads him to scientists working on the fringes of knowledge. Their plans are grandiose, the bargains they make too often Faustian, for the ends these scientists pursue concern humanity's greatest and most ancient obsessions: immortality, artificial intelligence, and top-of-the-line consumer items." "By turns philosophical, satirical, and absurd, Lem's stories follow Tichy's adventures as both an observer of - and a participant in - strange experiments. Artificial minds confined to black boxes are fooled into thinking they're human; a gelatinous substance show disturbing signs of free will; a brilliant scientist falls victim to his own doppelganger. But sometimes there are triumphs, however temporary. Tichy witnesses the revolution in laundry brought about by rival manufacturers of intelligent washing machines - and the trouble caused as the ever more sophisticated machines seduce their owners or turn to crime."--BOOK JACKET Ijon Tichy is an ordinary space traveler whose extraordinary curiosity leads him to the very fringes of science. Their plans are grandiose, the bargains they make too often Faustian, for the ends these scientists pursue concern humanity's greatest and most ancient immortality, artificial intelligence, and top-of-the-line consumer items. By turns philosophical, satirical, and absurd, Lem's stories follow Ijon's adventures as both an observer of--and participant in--strange experiments. Faulty time machines, intelligent washing machines, suicidal potatoes--Ijon Tichy navigates them all with common sense and in so doing shows why he endures as one of Lem's most popular characters. The adventures and encounters of Ijon Tichy, tourist of the universe. Tichy reveals that "out there" is not so different from "down here," since people are people everywhere. When not traveling in space, he is a magnet for eccentric unrecognized inventors of spenetic genius, whose spooky experiments are revealed to him with megalomaniacal pride.