3 ms·

The Invincible is literally my favourite book of all time - I've discovered it at the age of 12 and kept re-reading it every couple years since then. I'm so hap

The Invincible is literally my favourite book of all time - I've discovered it at the age of 12 and kept re-reading it every couple years since then. I'm so happy that the Anglosphere is finally discovering it properly, now that there is a proper modern translation released in 2020, alongside an excellent audiobook recording(previously there was only one English version available.....translated from German, so a translation of a translation). I've also always wondered if it's possible to somehow translate the ideas of the book into a video game - turns out, you can! The recently released The Invincible video game pays great homage to the book, even if it changes couple details here and there - I've enjoyed it immensely and its portrayal of Regis III.

mike_ivanov 3y ago
For those who care - the PS5 version of the game is on sale right now.
- artyom 3y ago
  A game that caught me completely off guard. It's superb in its execution and captures Lem's atmosphere perfectly.
TomaszZielinski 3y ago
Yes, The Invincible is a great book. Actually I've just realized that for me a re-read is overdue! BTW, for Polish users--there's a comic book [1] that makes a nice gift (tested). [1] https://www.dobrestronybooki.pl/niezwyciezony/ https://www.dobrestronybooki.pl/niezwyciezony/
- gambiting 3y ago
  Oh and also for Polish speakers - there is an absolutely fantastic "superproduction" audiobook of it, with background music, sound effects and famous actors narrating, it's a treat, I very highly recommend it. https://audioteka.com/pl/audiobook/niezwyciezony https://audioteka.com/pl/audiobook/niezwyciezony
  - TomaszZielinski 3y ago
    Oh, thanks! I will check it.
- bosquefrio 3y ago
  It looks super cool! Too bad there isn't an English language version.
  - TomaszZielinski 3y ago
    Given that we're talking about Stanisław Lem, what about using something like Google Lens to translate the text on the fly? :)
- varjag 3y ago
  This is fascinating! Stunning art and close to the color palette I had in my head for it. Knowing Bealrusian and having read the book years ago in Russian am tempted to give it a shot.
  - TomaszZielinski 3y ago
    I have no idea how hard it would be, I've never tried to read Belarusian or Russian (I guess mainly because I don't know cyrilics). But just as I wrote in a neighboring comment, maybe you could use Google Lens or something like that as an aid?
    - varjag 3y ago
      Linguistic distance from Belarusian is not that large although the languages have quite a few deceptive "false friend" words/expressions. But at least I could understand the text shown in the presentation video. And it probably helps I read the story before.
troupo 3y ago
There's a tentative trilogy: The Invincible, Solaris, Eden. Each book asks a question, "what if we run into an intelligence that is completely incomprehensible to or incompatible with humans?"
- gambiting 3y ago
  I'd add Fiasco to that list for the same reason.
  - johngossman 3y ago
    And “His Master’s Voice” and numerous stories. It’s one of his favorite themes.
    - glimshe 3y ago
      "His Master's Voice" is my favorite sci-fi book!
boznz 3y ago
Went to buy it but unfortunately it is not a cheap read even as an ebook especially considering the book is 60 years old. Luckily my library has a one I can pick up tomorrow.
- gambiting 3y ago
  I mean it looks like it's £9.99 on kindle, that's a pretty standard price for a book, no? >>considering the book is 60 years old Sure, but the translation was only done 3 years ago, by modern writers on modern salaries - the fact that the book itself is old shouldn't impact its cost due to that. Unless you mean the original in Polish, then it's literally 15.99PLN, cheap as chips as they say: https://www.publio.pl/niezwyciezony-stanislaw-lem,p61614.html https://www.publio.pl/niezwyciezony-stanislaw-lem,p61614.htm...

mike_ivanov 3y ago

For those who care - the PS5 version of the game is on sale right now.

artyom 3y ago
A game that caught me completely off guard. It's superb in its execution and captures Lem's atmosphere perfectly.

TomaszZielinski 3y ago

Yes, The Invincible is a great book. Actually I've just realized that for me a re-read is overdue! BTW, for Polish users--there's a comic book [1] that makes a nice gift (tested). [1] https://www.dobrestronybooki.pl/niezwyciezony/ https://www.dobrestronybooki.pl/niezwyciezony/

gambiting 3y ago
Oh and also for Polish speakers - there is an absolutely fantastic "superproduction" audiobook of it, with background music, sound effects and famous actors narrating, it's a treat, I very highly recommend it. https://audioteka.com/pl/audiobook/niezwyciezony https://audioteka.com/pl/audiobook/niezwyciezony
- TomaszZielinski 3y ago
  Oh, thanks! I will check it.
bosquefrio 3y ago
It looks super cool! Too bad there isn't an English language version.
- TomaszZielinski 3y ago
  Given that we're talking about Stanisław Lem, what about using something like Google Lens to translate the text on the fly? :)
varjag 3y ago
This is fascinating! Stunning art and close to the color palette I had in my head for it. Knowing Bealrusian and having read the book years ago in Russian am tempted to give it a shot.
- TomaszZielinski 3y ago
  I have no idea how hard it would be, I've never tried to read Belarusian or Russian (I guess mainly because I don't know cyrilics). But just as I wrote in a neighboring comment, maybe you could use Google Lens or something like that as an aid?
  - varjag 3y ago
    Linguistic distance from Belarusian is not that large although the languages have quite a few deceptive "false friend" words/expressions. But at least I could understand the text shown in the presentation video. And it probably helps I read the story before.

troupo 3y ago

There's a tentative trilogy: The Invincible, Solaris, Eden. Each book asks a question, "what if we run into an intelligence that is completely incomprehensible to or incompatible with humans?"

gambiting 3y ago
I'd add Fiasco to that list for the same reason.
- johngossman 3y ago
  And “His Master’s Voice” and numerous stories. It’s one of his favorite themes.
  - glimshe 3y ago
    "His Master's Voice" is my favorite sci-fi book!

boznz 3y ago

Went to buy it but unfortunately it is not a cheap read even as an ebook especially considering the book is 60 years old. Luckily my library has a one I can pick up tomorrow.

gambiting 3y ago
I mean it looks like it's £9.99 on kindle, that's a pretty standard price for a book, no? >>considering the book is 60 years old Sure, but the translation was only done 3 years ago, by modern writers on modern salaries - the fact that the book itself is old shouldn't impact its cost due to that. Unless you mean the original in Polish, then it's literally 15.99PLN, cheap as chips as they say: https://www.publio.pl/niezwyciezony-stanislaw-lem,p61614.html https://www.publio.pl/niezwyciezony-stanislaw-lem,p61614.htm...