The Use of a Dragon

[innate]

I found a page where you can listen to it in mp3 format.

This story is not collected in either of the English-language Tichy books, so it was a good find...

[def]

Yes I admit a good find but I would rather it would be put into text. But I suppose if you didn't find this we would have nothing at all. Anyway if this was published what book would it be in.

[innate]

Well, man, you can always try to find that book that they mention. I have not yet happened to see it, though...
I think it may have been written too late to get into Further Reminiscences.

[Terminus]

It was written in 1983 but first published in Poland in 1993.
As far as I know there is no English edition of it. There is one in German.

It's not an easy thing to get, this dragon piece,  even here in Poland...

[innate]

Hard to get? I thought you guys even had an entire book called Pożytek ze smoka i inne opowiadania...

Incidentally, although I've complained a lot about there not being enough stuff translated into English, I saw something recently that claimed (and it looked like a reasonably reliable source) that sales figures for Lem's books in English have always really, really sucked, so maybe I should be grateful for what we do have.

[Terminus]

Hehe yeah we've got this book but it's rare. Nevertheless, I'm just after one of them

[def]

So do you have a collection of all Lem's books?

[Terminus]

Me? Well yes & no, I'm trying to get them all, but I am still short by a few. Let's say that I have about a half of what is available in Poland (and all is available here  ).

It's quite easy to get them, especially when you like new ones. Recently Wydawnictwo Literackie (the publishing house  relasing Lem) has finished edition of His Complette Works - it includes everything (let's say... that almost) of his relases.

But I myself prefer old books which I can find in an antiquarian bookshop. Therefore I am rather picky. And I take my time.

My current prey is Time not Lost (which includes Hospital of Transfiguration). And the mentioned dragon manual is next in line.

That, I hope, is said enough.

regards!

[Terminus]

O.K. I own the dragon usage guide now  

[innate]

Are they rereleasing the old short stories? It'd be nice if you could avoid having to buy all of the old story collections that had so much overlap.