Lem is awesome, but avoid the ones that have come to english via a multihop route. Books translated by Kandel are fabulous. Trurl invents an electronic bard. K

Lem is awesome, but avoid the ones that have come to english via a multihop route. Books translated by Kandel are fabulous. Trurl invents an electronic bard. Klaupacius challenges it: "Have it compose a poem -- a poem about a haircut! But lofty, noble, tragic, timeless, full of love, treachery, retribution, quiet heroism in the face of certain doom! Six lines, cleverly rhymed, and every word beginning with the letter s!" The electronic bard's response: Seduced, shaggy Samson snored. She scissored short. Sorely shorn, Soon shackled slave, Samson sighed, Silently scheming, Sightlessly seeking Some savage, spectacular suicide.