The Cyberiad: Stories
Dec 2002 · HMH
4.1star
35 reviewsreport
eBook
312
Pages
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About this eBook
“Lem has an almost Dickensian genius for vividly realizing the tragedy and comedy of future machines.” —The New York Times Book Review
These are the stories of Trurl and Klapaucius, master inventors and engineers known as “constructors,” who have created marvels for kingdoms. Friends and rivals, they are constantly outdoing and challenging each other to reveal the next great evolution in cybernetics, and the exploits of these brilliant men are nothing short of incredible.
From tales of love, in which a robotic prince must woo a robotic princess enchanted by pleasures of true flesh, to epics of battle, in which the heroic constructors must use their considerable wit to outsmart a monarch obsessed with hunting, to examinations of humanity, wherein Trurl and Klapaucius must confront the limits of their skills and the meaning of true perfection, these stories are rich with profound questions, unimaginable marvels, and remarkable feats.
Hailed as “the most completely successful of [Lem’s] books,” The Cyberiad is an outrageously funny and incomparably wise collection of short stories, taking an insightful look at mechanics, technology, invention, and human ambition (The Boston Globe).
These are the stories of Trurl and Klapaucius, master inventors and engineers known as “constructors,” who have created marvels for kingdoms. Friends and rivals, they are constantly outdoing and challenging each other to reveal the next great evolution in cybernetics, and the exploits of these brilliant men are nothing short of incredible.
From tales of love, in which a robotic prince must woo a robotic princess enchanted by pleasures of true flesh, to epics of battle, in which the heroic constructors must use their considerable wit to outsmart a monarch obsessed with hunting, to examinations of humanity, wherein Trurl and Klapaucius must confront the limits of their skills and the meaning of true perfection, these stories are rich with profound questions, unimaginable marvels, and remarkable feats.
Hailed as “the most completely successful of [Lem’s] books,” The Cyberiad is an outrageously funny and incomparably wise collection of short stories, taking an insightful look at mechanics, technology, invention, and human ambition (The Boston Globe).
Ratings and reviews
4.1
35 reviews
ROY LONG
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02 September 2024
I was thoroughly captivated by the stories of Trurl and Klapaucius, two master constructors whose genius knows no bounds. Each tale is a brilliant blend of imagination, wit, and philosophical inquiry, exploring themes of love, ambition, and the very essence of humanity through the lens of futuristic cybernetics. The rivalry and friendship between these two extraordinary inventors drive the narrative, making every story a fascinating journey into the wonders and dilemmas of their creations. From
Jan Zawadzki
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10 November 2013
This is a must-read from a sci-fi mastermind. The book sits somewhere in between sci-fi and fantasy, and blends these themes uniquely - I'm not a fan of fantasy generally, but the Cyberiad stands out. I keep coming back to this book every few years, one of my very favorites. Btw - as you read this, appreciate the translation genius of Michael Kandel (book was originally written in Polish!!)
1 person found this review helpful
Sam Buttelwerth
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05 August 2017
Awesome book! Loved to so much! Glad my dad bought it for me!
About the author
Stanislaw Lem is the most widely translated and best-known science fiction author outside of the English language. Winner of the Kafka Prize, he is a contributor to many magazines, including the New Yorker, and the author of numerous books, including Solaris.
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