Lem, Stanislaw

▪ 2007

      Polish science-fiction author (b. Sept. 12, 1921, Lwow, Pol. [now Lviv, Ukraine]—d. March 27, 2006, Krakow, Pol.), wrote both traditional science fiction and dark allegorical tales that veered between humanism and despair about human limitations. His best-known novel was Solaris (1961; Eng. trans. 1970), a deeply philosophical work about contact with an alien intelligence—a planet-girdling, sentient ocean. The Soviet screen adaptation Solyaris won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Festival in 1972; an American remake (Solaris) was released in 2002. Lem's renown rested primarily on Solaris, Głos pana (1968; His Master's Voice, 1983), and Cyberiada (1965; The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age, 1974), a collection of profound yet comic tales about two intelligent robots who travel about the galaxy. Lem's first novel, Czlowiek z Marsa (“The Man from Mars”), was serialized in the Polish magazine Nowy swiat przygod (“New World of Adventures”) in 1946. Szpital przemienienia (1955; Hospital of the Transfiguration, 1988; filmed 1979), was written in 1948 but was initially suppressed by Communist Party censors. His first published book, Astronauci (1951; “The Astronauts”), was adapted for an East German film, Der schweigende Stern (1960; U.S. title First Spaceship on Venus). Lem also wrote nonfiction criticism. His scathing evaluations of other writers' work led the Science Fiction Writers of America, which had granted him an honorary membership in 1973, to oust him in 1976. Lem's books were translated into more than 40 languages.

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