Translated by Michael Kandel
Illustrations by Daniel Mruz
Trurl and Klapaucius
are constructor robots who try to out-invent each other. They travel to
the far corners of the cosmos to take on freelance problem-solving jobs,
with dire consequences for their employers. Asking their machine that can
do anything to do nothing almost destroys the universe. Lem creates other
cybernetic triumphs -- laser-eyed beasts, dragons of improbability, electronic
bards, and involuted story-telling machines that never finish a tale --
brilliantly funny examples of his talent for intellectual slapstick, bizarre
invention, and keen insight.
The Cyberiad, by Stanislaw Lem.
ISBN 0-15-623550-1
English translation copyright (C) 1974 by the Continuum Publishing Company.
Some material from this book has been reproduced in the form of a hypermedia
book report, in the context of satire on current events. Stanislaw
Lem's book The Cyberiad inspired Will Wright to write SimCity,
the best selling city simulation game from Maxis Software, and it will inspire
you too! So read it, and you'll want to read more of his work!