(Drivebycuriosity) - Stanislaw Lem belongs to the most important science fiction authors of the 20th century. His novel "Solaris" is his most known work, especially because of the 1972 movie adaption by Andrei Tarkovsky. Lem`s novel "The Invincible", first published in the year 1964, is maybe even more important ( amazon ).
Space crusier "The Invincibel" arrives on a remote planet. Commander and crew have to find out what happened with a similar space ship which got lost on this planet. The plot begins like a traditional scifi adventure and space opera but the plot turns fast into a complex and philosophical work, typical for Lem (this is a spoiler free blog).
The reader gets a lot of action, technology, cosmology, & alien settings. But Lem gives the reader much more. He presents an almost academic description of evolution, but not the evolution we know on earth which lead to plants, animals & humans. Lem describes a very different - but equally plausible - development.
What the book makes outstanding is the pivotal role of information (or data) for the plot. This book made me aware how important information is for our live and almost everything. Lem also introduced nanotechnology into the genre ( wikipedia). The Invincible shows how visionary Lem really was, maybe even more than Heinlein, Clark & Asimov.
Unfortunately the foreword has too many spoilers. I recommend to read it after the book, then it helps to digest the novel. Anyway "The Invincible" aged very well and is highly recommended.
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