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humanignorance's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of the ideas here were very cool, and if they opposed good sci-fi sense, they did so for the purpose of furthering the entertainment value. I enjoyed most of the stories, and a few were very amusing standouts. The primary exception was the overly-long twenty-first voyage, in which the philosophy and theology were quite boring. Through some archaic-seeming technology, the book shows its age – though this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, just a quirk.
eva_ave's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mushiemush's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
girlofsteel377's review against another edition
5.0
I had seen "Solaris" waaay back in college I think. Beautiful, but slowly paced, and this was a time that I slept through bits of a lot of movies. So I was thinking that this series of "journeys" of Ijon Tichy written by the author of Solaris (which I haven't read) would be serious and dry.
I was right and wrong. The subject matter of spaceship navigator Tichy's voyages are plenty serious and related with the driest of humor. Many of the convolutions of time and space involve Tichy, full well knowing the consequences or potential result, punching his future or past self in the nose. His encounters with different societies explore the extremes of philosophy and religion, particularly Christianity.
His view of earth society as seen from an alien perspective is very funny though also pessimistic. What a foolish bunch we are: in shape, in cultural practices, in evolution, in government, in thought.
Kind of makes me want to read Douglas Adams or Vonnegut.
I was right and wrong. The subject matter of spaceship navigator Tichy's voyages are plenty serious and related with the driest of humor. Many of the convolutions of time and space involve Tichy, full well knowing the consequences or potential result, punching his future or past self in the nose. His encounters with different societies explore the extremes of philosophy and religion, particularly Christianity.
His view of earth society as seen from an alien perspective is very funny though also pessimistic. What a foolish bunch we are: in shape, in cultural practices, in evolution, in government, in thought.
Kind of makes me want to read Douglas Adams or Vonnegut.
mxmlln's review against another edition
1.0
Story: 3 / 10
Characters: 4
Setting: 7
Prose: 8
In many ways, this book is an anthology of short stories. Since the main character is the same throughout, the collection some cohesion and is a much more enjoyable read. None of the stories are terribly good though.
Characters: 4
Setting: 7
Prose: 8
In many ways, this book is an anthology of short stories. Since the main character is the same throughout, the collection some cohesion and is a much more enjoyable read. None of the stories are terribly good though.
barbtrek's review against another edition
4.0
I love Lem’s writing! Where else are you going to find living furniture and killer potatoes! Most of these stories were brilliant but a few just went on too long for my tastes.
alles_allerlei's review against another edition
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tzurky's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book. Sci-fi at its best and most intellectually challenging.
charlieswrittenadventures's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
slow_spines's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
This one took me a while. A series of loosely connected adventures, written over 20 years, most of them readable in around 30 minutes or so. Due to this, it was inevitable that the quality would dip every now and then. For me that came at around the half way mark, where I struggled to stay motivated. Generally I found the shorter voyages more focused and compelling.
The voyages themselves are humorous and inventive but I feel that some of the 60s Polish humour is definitely lost in translation, and that many of the ideas - while still brilliant - have probably lost some of their lustre due to being endlessly retrod since. They are absolutely still worth reading if you enjoy Lem's work or high concept sci-fi generally.
I suspect the editors notes have been pushed to the back of the book so as not to clash with the fictional editor's introductions. Makes sense, but its a shame to only realise in the literal last paragraph of the book that I had been mispronouncing the protagonists name the whole time! Maybe read this first.
Speaking of which, Tichy is a good character. A well-meaning Everyman who commits diplomatic faux pas at every turn, and somehow bumbles his way out of the absurd situations he finds himself in. Although he is intelligent and puts his best foot forward - he almost always chooses his voyage and embarks with a plan - there is the unshakable feeling that he is still a passive agent. What other kind of agency is there in such a bizarre and vast universe? (Its not hard to see how any political points Lem was making could be read into this tension). He is a sympathetic and recognisable character, with a lighthearted curiosity at the profound weirdness his existence. It sounds obvious, but behind all the dazzle and discombobulation he is the secret star of the show.
The voyages themselves are humorous and inventive but I feel that some of the 60s Polish humour is definitely lost in translation, and that many of the ideas - while still brilliant - have probably lost some of their lustre due to being endlessly retrod since. They are absolutely still worth reading if you enjoy Lem's work or high concept sci-fi generally.
I suspect the editors notes have been pushed to the back of the book so as not to clash with the fictional editor's introductions. Makes sense, but its a shame to only realise in the literal last paragraph of the book that I had been mispronouncing the protagonists name the whole time! Maybe read this first.
Speaking of which, Tichy is a good character. A well-meaning Everyman who commits diplomatic faux pas at every turn, and somehow bumbles his way out of the absurd situations he finds himself in. Although he is intelligent and puts his best foot forward - he almost always chooses his voyage and embarks with a plan - there is the unshakable feeling that he is still a passive agent. What other kind of agency is there in such a bizarre and vast universe? (Its not hard to see how any political points Lem was making could be read into this tension). He is a sympathetic and recognisable character, with a lighthearted curiosity at the profound weirdness his existence. It sounds obvious, but behind all the dazzle and discombobulation he is the secret star of the show.