About
Stanisław Lem was a Polish science fiction writer, philosopher, and futurologist. Born in Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine), he studied medicine but chose not to practice. His most famous novel, Solaris (1961), was adapted for film by Tarkovsky and Soderbergh. He authored numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Summa Technologiae (1964). His books have been translated into more than 35 languages. He received the Kafka Prize in 1991 and the Order of the White Eagle in 1996.
* 1921-09-12 — † 2006-03-27
Major works
- Solaris (1961)novel
- The Cyberiad (1965)short story collection
- His Master's Voice (1968)novel
- Summa Technologiae (1964)essay
- The Star Diaries (1957)short story collection
Key milestones
- 1973First European named honorary member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
- 1996Awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honour.
- 2021The Polish Parliament declared 2021 the Year of Stanisław Lem, marking the centenary of his birth.
Themes
Artificial intelligenceContact with alien life formsLimits of human knowledgeSatire and humorFuturology and technology
Sources: britannica.com · thebookerprizes.com · sf-encyclopedia.com
