One Human Minute
Essays by the author of Solaris: “Lem’s delightful sense of humor accentuates his essential seriousness about humanity’s possible fate” (Publishers Weekly). In One Human Minute, Stanislaw Lem takes a hard look at our world and technology—what it means now and what dire implications it could have for the future—in satirical, wise, and biting prose. With this collection of three essays, Lem targets some of the most pressing issues humanity faces, from our unsettling origins to the cybernetic future of our weaponry. “The Upside-Down Evolution” chronicles the Earth’s military evolution from nuclear stockpiles to deadly, robotic microweapons. “The World as Cataclysm” examines how humankind’s dominance on Earth is the result of the extermination of another species just as qualified to rule the world. And the title essay presents a disturbing and fascinating snapshot of every single thing happening on the planet in a sixty-second span. Effortlessly blurring the lines between fiction and nonfiction, scientific essay and fantastical short story, cynical reproach and wry humor, Lem’s One Human Minute combines the best elements of the renowned science fiction author and Kafka Prize winner’s writing into one irreverent and intellectually stimulating package.
English & College SuccessEnglishFictionLiteratureTrades & TechnologySocial Aspects
PUBLISHEROpen Road Integrated Media, Inc.
LENGTH112
LANGUAGEENGLISH
Stanisław Herman Lem (12 September 1921 – 27 March 2006) was a Polish author known for his contributions to science fiction, philosophy, and literary criticism. Born in Lwów, Poland (now Lviv, Ukraine), Lem initially pursued medical studies, which, though unfinished due to fears of military conscription and discomfort with medical practice, laid the groundwork for his scientifically rigorous and philosophically rich writing. His early experiences during World War II, including surviving with false papers to avoid the Nazi Lwów Ghetto, deeply influenced his worldview. Lem's literary career began in 1946 with publications in various genres, including poetry and science fiction. His writings explore complex themes such as the nature of intelligence, human limitations, the challenges of communicating with alien entities, existential despair, and the implications of technological advancements. Notable works include [*Solaris*][1], which delves into the difficulties of understanding an alien intelligence, [*His Master's Voice*][2], focusing on humanity's struggle to decipher an extraterrestrial message, [*The Invincible*][3], a narrative about a spaceship encountering self-replicating machines, and [*The Cyberiad*][4], offering a satirical view of a mechanical universe. His works have been translated into over 50 languages, with sales exceeding 40 million copies worldwide. Known for elaborate neologisms and intricate wordplay, Lem's writing posed significant translation challenges. Several of his works have been adapted for film and television, including *Solaris* (1972, by Andrei Tarkovsky, and 2002, by Steven Soderbergh). Lem's writings are recognised for their philosophical depth, imaginative scope, and incisive critique of humanity's relationship with technology and the cosmos, often blending satire and humour. He was critical of American science fiction, often expressing dissatisfaction with its lack of intellectual depth and commercial focus, advocating for more innovative storytelling. Beyond fiction, Lem authored texts on futurology, literary criticism, and philosophy. His seminal work, [*Summa Technologiae*][5] (1964), discussed future technological and social developments, addressing themes such as virtual reality, cognitive enhancements, molecular nanotechnology, AI, technological singularity, and the moral-ethical implications of advanced technologies. Lem also experimented with metafiction in works like [*A Perfect Vacuum*][6], which consists of reviews of nonexistent books. (Sources: [1][7], [2][8]) [1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109524W [2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109520W [3]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109498W [4]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2683553W [5]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109505W [6]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2683569W [7]: https://english.lem.pl [8]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Lem
One Human Minute
Essays by the author of Solaris: “Lem’s delightful sense of humor accentuates his essential seriousness about humanity’s possible fate” (Publishers Weekly). In One Human Minute, Stanislaw Lem takes a hard look at our world and technology—what it means now and what dire implications it could have for the future—in satirical, wise, and biting prose. With this collection of three essays, Lem targets some of the most pressing issues humanity faces, from our unsettling origins to the cybernetic future of our weaponry. “The Upside-Down Evolution” chronicles the Earth’s military evolution from nuclear stockpiles to deadly, robotic microweapons. “The World as Cataclysm” examines how humankind’s dominance on Earth is the result of the extermination of another species just as qualified to rule the world. And the title essay presents a disturbing and fascinating snapshot of every single thing happening on the planet in a sixty-second span. Effortlessly blurring the lines between fiction and nonfiction, scientific essay and fantastical short story, cynical reproach and wry humor, Lem’s One Human Minute combines the best elements of the renowned science fiction author and Kafka Prize winner’s writing into one irreverent and intellectually stimulating package.
English & College SuccessEnglishFictionLiteratureTrades & TechnologySocial AspectsSocial SciencesPhilosophy
PUBLISHEROpen Road Integrated Media, Inc.
LENGTH112
LANGUAGEENGLISH
Stanisław Herman Lem (12 September 1921 – 27 March 2006) was a Polish author known for his contributions to science fiction, philosophy, and literary criticism. Born in Lwów, Poland (now Lviv, Ukraine), Lem initially pursued medical studies, which, though unfinished due to fears of military conscription and discomfort with medical practice, laid the groundwork for his scientifically rigorous and philosophically rich writing. His early experiences during World War II, including surviving with false papers to avoid the Nazi Lwów Ghetto, deeply influenced his worldview. Lem's literary career began in 1946 with publications in various genres, including poetry and science fiction. His writings explore complex themes such as the nature of intelligence, human limitations, the challenges of communicating with alien entities, existential despair, and the implications of technological advancements. Notable works include [*Solaris*][1], which delves into the difficulties of understanding an alien intelligence, [*His Master's Voice*][2], focusing on humanity's struggle to decipher an extraterrestrial message, [*The Invincible*][3], a narrative about a spaceship encountering self-replicating machines, and [*The Cyberiad*][4], offering a satirical view of a mechanical universe. His works have been translated into over 50 languages, with sales exceeding 40 million copies worldwide. Known for elaborate neologisms and intricate wordplay, Lem's writing posed significant translation challenges. Several of his works have been adapted for film and television, including *Solaris* (1972, by Andrei Tarkovsky, and 2002, by Steven Soderbergh). Lem's writings are recognised for their philosophical depth, imaginative scope, and incisive critique of humanity's relationship with technology and the cosmos, often blending satire and humour. He was critical of American science fiction, often expressing dissatisfaction with its lack of intellectual depth and commercial focus, advocating for more innovative storytelling. Beyond fiction, Lem authored texts on futurology, literary criticism, and philosophy. His seminal work, [*Summa Technologiae*][5] (1964), discussed future technological and social developments, addressing themes such as virtual reality, cognitive enhancements, molecular nanotechnology, AI, technological singularity, and the moral-ethical implications of advanced technologies. Lem also experimented with metafiction in works like [*A Perfect Vacuum*][6], which consists of reviews of nonexistent books. (Sources: [1][7], [2][8]) [1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109524W [2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109520W [3]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109498W [4]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2683553W [5]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL109505W [6]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2683569W [7]: https://english.lem.pl [8]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Lem
