Stanisław Lem - Forum

English => Forum in English => Wątek zaczęty przez: SoGo w Stycznia 09, 2005, 08:55:23 pm

Tytuł: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Stycznia 09, 2005, 08:55:23 pm
Gents, I just read Poul Andersons "Power of Mind".
Have you ever read it?!
I mean, after I put it in a line with one of Lem's books,
I saw the different.
Lem's always act in the Rules of the World, the Physic
and all other.
The other ones make their own rules, let them fly
with "over-light-speed" for example.
I'm sorry, but after reading Lem, other SF looks like
Children-Tales for me.
How about you, can you take other SF serious, after
reading Lem?
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Stycznia 11, 2005, 07:03:52 pm
It may suprise You, but yes, there are some decent writers also. Take Bradbury, for instance.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Stycznia 11, 2005, 07:51:59 pm
 :) Today I read some funny line, fitting in this theme:
If you want to put a information somewhere, where
even the devil won't find it, publish they in a SF Magazin.
It was out of the Technology Trap.

And in an Interview with the "Spiegel" 1996 he said to
Star Trek:
This storys will always be Tales.
These authors configure the rules, so they fit with
their story.

Thanks for the authors tip.
I will try to get something from him.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Marca 14, 2005, 04:39:03 pm
Other sf writers? I don`t know why Clifford Simac With his / CEMETARY WORLD/ and /THEY LOOKED LIKE MEN/ came to my mind. The novels are good, both have unexpected ends, absurd ones.
What about Philip Dic ? He has good short stories , some of them are /The Second Model/,/The Gold Man/,but his novels are terrible/ A Zap Gun/ for example.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Marca 15, 2005, 08:00:56 pm
I mean, especially, the big difference between Lem and other authors. Other ones don't care about physically laws or reallistic future science, lem still do.

thats what I mean. He's not a PulpFiction- writer.
He's an prophet of the future.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Socrates w Marca 16, 2005, 07:47:38 am
Pulp Fiction is a great movie.  Thought I should just throw that in.  Sorry.
Cheers, SOcrates
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Karel w Marca 16, 2005, 02:14:32 pm
He thought that Lem is a Science-fiction, not pulp-fiction writer, I guess
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Marca 16, 2005, 02:52:19 pm
Stanislav Lem is undoubtfully a genius.You can it better realize in comparison with someone else.There are also talented writers like A.Clarke,I.Asimov,R.D.Bradbury,I`d like to mention Ukrainian Strugatsky brothers.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Marca 16, 2005, 09:25:50 pm
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He thought that Lem is a Science-fiction, not pulp-fiction writer, I guess


Right. Pulp means trash, and bad stories on bad paper for a few cents.

The film is independent, but not mented in all way.

What is in the case of Marcellus Wallace? :)
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Socrates w Marca 17, 2005, 03:59:56 am
That question's been hunting me for ages.  One day I'll have to corner Tarantino and force him to spill the beans.
Cheers, Socrates
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Karel w Marca 17, 2005, 07:50:38 am
Cytuj

What is in the case of Marcellus Wallace? :)

Nothing. Tarantino doesn´t have any definite idea, he just wanted to make an interesting plot. It was the easiest way to do it.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Marca 20, 2005, 10:49:04 am
Actually I don`t like Q.Tarantino,for stupidness and disgusting immorality of his movies.Tarantino makes trash for Americans and third world countries,he spelt the beans already,PULP-FICTION-is all he can make.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Marca 30, 2005, 11:35:16 am
It `s a nuisance to talk about Tarantino/Buratino-Russian nosed Pinoccio/ at Sci-fiction forum.Recently I have discovered for myself the works of Chechish SF writer Karel Chapek.His short stories like "Ofir","Halo","A Man who Could Fly" are amazing.He is also known as the inventor of the word "robot". He named robots a fantastic creatures of his play "R.U.R."which was published in 1920.His Play "The Means of Macropulos" was screened by soviet cinematographists.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Marca 31, 2005, 01:48:05 am
Yes, Chapek was already discussed somewhere around here; we've talked about animated psyhodrama-comedy Futurama (kickass), where in one episode (,,Fear of a bot planet'') the bot planet (a planet, where robots are only inhabitants) was named ,,Chapek-9" (or something).

I have personally never read any book writen by Chapek. I hope this will change one day.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Socrates w Kwietnia 02, 2005, 07:46:40 am
1) This is not a sci fi forum, this is Lem's forum.  
2) Conversations have a way of geting out of topic at times.  That is normal.  
3) I absolutely hate being told not to discuss something I want to discuss.  Please don;t tell me to do that again.
4) If you don;t want to talk about Tarantino, you don;t have to.  Skip this topic.

Cheers, Socrates
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Kwietnia 04, 2005, 01:36:21 pm
Yah ! I have neved been told off in Internet forums.It seems that some long Cyber Hand can get and spank me. I`m so sorry that sometimes want to tell about sci-fi writers famous in our country.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Kwietnia 05, 2005, 08:48:49 pm
 :-[ Sorry, I hadn't want to start an argue with this topic.
Can't we all be just little Lem-Reader, like before?   :'(
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Kwietnia 12, 2005, 03:06:30 am
You mean Lem readers that watch Tarantino's movies, of course  :D
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Kwietnia 12, 2005, 04:34:42 pm
Though  some of us don`t like his/ TARANTINOS / movies.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Kwietnia 14, 2005, 12:15:24 am
Well, I personally don't like them (Tarantino's movies). I'm just trying to joke ::)
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Kwietnia 18, 2005, 01:13:20 pm
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Well, I personally don't like them (Tarantino's movies). I'm just trying to joke ::)


Yeah, TarantinoMovies are very ... special.
But its a kind of independence and speciality.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Kwietnia 18, 2005, 01:15:01 pm
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You mean Lem readers that watch Tarantino's movies, of course  :D


Right  :)
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Kwietnia 19, 2005, 01:18:05 am
It's a nice avatar You got there, Sogo, too bad it's so squizzed ::)

(http:// http://members.lycos.co.uk/xc543xb/sogoavatar.jpg)
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Kwietnia 20, 2005, 01:09:06 pm
I have just read Heinlein`s /Have space suit -will travel/ a little bit childish but sci-fiction,reminds Lem. I won`t retell it . Just read and I`m sure you `ll like it.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Kwietnia 22, 2005, 12:55:20 pm
Does anybody know Alexander Belyaev a fonder of soviet sci-fiction? Were his works translated into other languages ? I just wonder, HEAD OF PROFESSOR DOUEL especially.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Kwietnia 23, 2005, 10:45:28 pm
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It's a nice avatar You got there, Sogo, too bad it's so squizzed ::)

(http:// http://members.lycos.co.uk/xc543xb/sogoavatar.jpg)


You like it?  :)
Thanks, it shows Faust I think.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Kwietnia 26, 2005, 03:08:46 am
Faust? Hm... I'm not sure.. but ok, if you say so...
Tytuł: Re: Lems life today
Wiadomość wysłana przez: manami w Kwietnia 28, 2005, 12:47:39 pm
hey guys,
can anybody tell me something about how stanislaw lem lives today?
I can't find any information about that topic.
but i'm really interested in that.

pleas write if you no anything!!!

Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: peskanov w Kwietnia 30, 2005, 12:45:35 am
Manami, you must learn how to use a public forum like this; you can't just enter in any thread asking unrelated questions, you must:
1- Use the "search" option to see if your question has been discussed already.
2- If not, open your own thread, with your question.
Answering your question, Lem is alive but his healt is not very good, and he used to write regularly for Polish magazines until now, as far as I know.
I hope some citizen from Poland  can give you more information.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Maja 01, 2005, 03:42:05 am
Well, I'm Polish, as far as I know Lem lives peacefully in Cracow (a big city in southern Poland, about 40 km from where I live). He is rather wealthy (no wonder). As peskanov said, he indeed writes things for magazines (like short essays) from time to time. He gives interviews and occasionaly takes part in various happenings organized by his publishers... And is regularry visited by Holywood producers, wishing to buy film rights ::)

Cheers
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: NEXUS6 w Maja 02, 2005, 03:01:48 am
Are you sure about this regular visits of producers from Hollywood? Did they ask last time about any specific book to louse up ;D?
Tytuł: Re: lems life today
Wiadomość wysłana przez: manami w Maja 02, 2005, 03:41:45 pm
thanks for your
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: manami w Maja 02, 2005, 04:11:01 pm
sorry i made a mistake. thanks for your answers, that's it what i wanted to write  ;).  Nevertheless i have still one question.  Can you tell me the name of the maganzine which lem is writing for?

thanks
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Maja 02, 2005, 06:04:50 pm
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sorry i made a mistake.


There aren't any mistakes, just some good and some not so good choices. ;)
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Maja 03, 2005, 01:40:26 am
Cytuj
 Can you tell me the name of the maganzine which lem is writing for?

thanks


"Tygodnik Powszechny", "Odra", "PC Magazine",  he is also known to have written for "Gazeta Wyborcza" and, I think, "Wprost".

(One of Lem's articles for "Wprost" is described  (but not quoted )  here.  (http://www.worldpress.org/books.htm) )
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Maja 03, 2005, 12:04:33 pm
Did anyone read F. Saberhagen ? Does he writes only about berserkers/ the killing machines whose task is to destroy the life they meet/? Judging by his short stories he is not so bad as it seemed to be .
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Maja 05, 2005, 05:17:17 pm
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Did anyone read F. Saberhagen ? Does he writes only about berserkers/ the killing machines whose task is to destroy the life they meet/? Judging by his short stories he is not so bad as it seemed to be .



I think I read it long time ago.
Whats happening with the machine in the end?
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Maja 09, 2005, 01:10:55 pm
There`s a novel called BERSERKERS I didn`t read it ,it was retold to me by my brother. Iread only a short story where berserker`s theme was continued. I know that some American writers followed Saberhagen`s theme and edited a complete which was called Men and Berserkers.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Maja 17, 2005, 01:50:54 am
Berserkers? This is quite reminescent of 'Eric the Viking', by the late Pythons. Do those Saberhagen's berserkers berserk that much and happily?
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Czerwca 20, 2005, 12:43:05 pm
What about Robert Shakley? He`s a good SF writer American though. He creates mostly short-stories,sometimes amusing and philosophical.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Czerwca 20, 2005, 12:48:47 pm
Shakley was in Kyiv at the presentation of his complete.`tis very pleasant that he knows Ukraine.
It`s a matter of fact that he was one of the most readable writers in our country in the time of USSR.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Czerwca 25, 2005, 02:12:41 am
Ukraine is cool ::) Not just the orange revolution, but also Chernobyl... and stuff. I like this country. As majority of  peple in Poland do nowadays :)

Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Monicks w Lipca 12, 2005, 01:49:25 pm
I don't  :(
I used to have several problems with my thyroid becauce of Chernobyl...
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Lipca 12, 2005, 08:30:49 pm
Well, sorry to hear that... I remember my iodine drinks back in those days ::) I still recall the taste. But I guess this saved my health.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Laslo Katona w Lipca 14, 2005, 11:46:35 pm
Dear Friends!

I have only one question: do any purport (goal, reason) to write a sci-fi novel nowadays? I wanted to wrote one about a planet, where no any sign of the time passing. But the earthlings could create an understanding between the intelligent population of this planet on the ground of the emotions. (It seems, on the Earth it is the first step of everything with all creature.) But I lost my motivation because as I see, the world is too unconcius to see the life in its true nature. The couriuos things, which can anybody make up (invent) are too plain and boring according to reality. And the film industry kills the brain. The movies are narrows the geniuosity of the brain, and the effects and the musik stimulate it, therefore the whole thing is like we hearing a beautiful tune beneath the surface of the sea.
But, may be this is only because I have no any free time to write it. Sorry.

all best to everyone

L. Katona
Hung
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Lipca 15, 2005, 12:54:23 am
Don't get riddiculous, man. You have an idea for a story - write it down, instead of complaining that the world is too dumb to read it!
Of course movies are dumb & stupid, but there are some glorious exceptions! Maybe you've seen nothing but "Space Soldiers", "Lost in Space" and "War of the Worlds" but I assure You, when it comes to making movies, American ones are most spectacular, but not too intelectually demaning, to say the least.

Your idea (the plot about the timeless planet), is cute, use it. But don't get stuck up in the idea alone; You also need to show some style.

I keep my fingers crossed.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Lipca 15, 2005, 09:43:39 am
Okay?
But I really don't understand, what you mean with this post?
Shall we be sad with you [Don't know what Mitleid means in English] or what?
Surely, World is bad.
But only so bad, you let her be.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: SoGo w Lipca 15, 2005, 09:48:39 am
Goddam, write this Story.
You say, there are only bad films, but have you seen "Avalon" [produced with the friendly help of the polish army], the Solaris Movies, 12 Monkeys or many more?
Legends man, and you maybe produce one other of these.
Keep writing.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Deckert w Lipca 15, 2005, 11:13:47 am
Film industry is dominated by American companies. It's not bad, because they have a lot of experience and a great infrastructure.It gives them the incredibly rich movie industry environment which now offers american visioners the ability to create any kind of movies they want. Obviously most of the movies are superficial and depict usually pretty dumb stories. To sell the stupid idea in the movie it has to be outfitted with plenty of superb special effects, good actors and music. And then we have a great product that will fur sure be on the top of Box Office. This is how it works - we all know that. I think that thanks to some bestselling movies with silly scripts producers get more money and part of it can be given to some fresh screen writers and directors which only just appeared on the stage.
It happened quite a few times in the past that movies which were in the begining considered to be a flop became the classic or even cult movies some time later.
At least I really would like to think it's true.  ;D ;D

So write your story Laslo! Hope you have a time to put down your idea. Then publish it in some local magazines or present it on your web page.
Maybe your story will be an inspiration for some great 3D artists like for instance Tomek Baginski, and then you won't need to care about how to find a cash for movie production, how to find a good director, camera operator and so on....

Good luck!
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Laslo Katona w Lipca 21, 2005, 12:10:04 am
Friends!!!!!!

This is amazing! I never deramed about these kind letters! (I was a little unenthusiastic.) Yes, the idea is good (I say it as an objective, "third" person), because the origin of it came partly from that revelation: if you stand on a location of the Moon, the Earth will be on the same (constans) place of the sky. The "moonlings" would know, their "univers" centered by Earth. (The Earth are in the centre of the Moon's circle.)  
My novel is about the possibilities of the understanding between two similar, but not equivalent intelligence. This is a huge field of thoughts, but interesting, neverthless maybe I'm not the perfect person to write it. But I will try.
Some years from now on, and it will be complete  :)
God belss You all!
And million thanks to STANISLAV LEM!!!

Laslo Katona
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: snorri w Lipca 22, 2005, 05:06:46 pm
Other SF Authors that wrote at least some works that I found interesting:

- The Strugazkis ("Roadside Picnic", one of the most Lem-like stories I know, though written in a very different style)
- Philip K. Dick ("Ubik"!)
- Robert Heinlein (I am one of those who like "Starship Troopers" :) )
- Arthur C. Clarke (only the old stuff like "Rama" or "2001"; he was a lousy writer but had fascinating technical ideas)
- Joe Haldeman ("Eternal War")
- William Gibson ("Neuromancer")
- Svend Aage Madsen (an interesting danish author; so far I have only read "See the light of day" and liked it)

-- snorri
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Terminus w Lipca 25, 2005, 01:16:27 am
Cytuj
- The Strugazkis ("Roadside Picnic", one of the most Lem-like stories I know, though written in a very different style)


Well, "Roadside picnic" is just the top of an ice-berg, when it comes to their books! Have You , for example, read "Monday Starts on Saturday" ? It's just as funny as Lem's "Star Diaries", and at the same time very profound and interesting.

Cheers!
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Lutego 27, 2006, 12:15:14 pm
I`m happy to see that someone has mentoned Philip Dick though I don`t really respect him for his style of writing and poor imagination. Also I can`t hide my excitement at fact that someone besides me read Robert Heinlein.
 Roadside Picnic is a great work by Strugatskys,I wonder if you had seen Tarkovskiy`s "Stalker".You won`t regret `cause it is worth seeing.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: daffodil2006 w Marca 28, 2006, 08:14:45 pm
I really admire other writers too. Here is the list of my favourite:

Klifford Simak
Robert Sheckly
Garry Rarrison

Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Pekka w Marca 30, 2006, 09:36:20 pm
Cytuj
Does anybody know Alexander Belyaev a fonder of soviet sci-fiction? Were his works translated into other languages ? I just wonder, HEAD OF PROFESSOR DOUEL especially.


His story about a scientist´s brain being transplanted into an elephant´s head was translated into Finnish.

cheers, Pekka
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: wetal w Kwietnia 20, 2006, 02:22:47 pm
Do you know that recently there was a sci-fiction session in Kyiv ? Some writers came from various countries,I personally know only one of them and this one is not the best exemplar ,it was Harry Harrison from US.We certainly love all his stories about those brave guys who fight with space pirates,space dragons,save space beauties from the captures and while celebrating their victory drink space whisky.
There was also some man from Poland I do not remember his name as I heard it only once and for the first time.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Metalist w Maja 02, 2006, 05:01:32 am
To me, Alexey Tolstoy, Belyaev and the Strugatsky Brothers are the cream of the crop for Soviet sci-fi. "The head of Professor Douel" is a great book (although I remember his assistant actually reanimating Douel's whole head and not just the brain. So I'm not sure about the Finnish translation). I have not found any English translations of Belyaev and Tolstoy although there are a few Strugatsky books floating around Barnes and Noble (usually within sci-fi compilations) Once in a while I will catch Stalker or even The Country of Purple  Clouds on the Bravo Channel. Unfortunately, Tolstoy and Belyaev are unknown in the US, so I always get "corrected" by my American friends who think that I mean Lev Tolstoy.
Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: NIKA w Maja 07, 2006, 03:41:28 pm
For me one of the best SF writer is Karel Chapek with his "Factory of absolute".(I'm sorry for my translation, I don't know how this book called in English)  :( Have you read it? What do you think about it?


Strugazkys are genius writers,"Monday starts on Saturday" is my "table-book", but they aren't science-fictioneers, they wrote social fiction. If our topic is "Lem an other SF", it's uncorrectly to compare Lem with Strugazkys.

Bradbury is a fantasy.

Garrison, Shekley, Simak ,Clark - it's fairy tales wits "science" decoration.


It's seemed to me, that Lem is only writer (exept Stapedon, Chapek and Wells), whom we can called " the author of science fiction".


I don't think, that other books are bad, but it's another genre, not SF.

Tytuł: Re: Lem and other SF
Wiadomość wysłana przez: Q w Maja 27, 2013, 10:41:51 pm
On topic "Lem’s Solaris: Subverting the Utopian Vision of Science Fiction":
http://blog.mixerpublishing.com/?p=725 (http://blog.mixerpublishing.com/?p=725)