This is my first Lem book. It was not an easy read. There were many words I had to look up or re-read parts to grasp the meaning. And I probably didn't fully get some of the stories. But there is a satisfied feeling that I am left with. These are intriguing stories told by a master. Terminus, for example, is one of those stories that I know I will keep thinking about. ( )

According to my Goodreads page, I didn’t care for the one Stanislaw Lem book (IMAGINARY MAGNITUDES) I read 36 years ago. I have a vague memory of it being leant to me by someone I was attempting to humor by reading it. Not a good way to approach a book so I will have to revisit that one. Reading and enjoying TALES OF PIRX THE PILOT has encouraged me to read more. This collection of Sci-Fi stories starts out as one thing and then along with it’s main character melds into something else. The first four stories set up the last. Something of the silliness of youth permeates Pirx the Pilot in the first story THE TEST until the end reveals something else has really been going on. Each story has some of that youth but it seems to dissipate faster and faster. We learn along with Pirx to see the workings of his world and it’s patterns and that the threat of repeating the previous mistakes of others is ever present. The fourth story, THE ALBATROSS shifts nicely to setting up the mood for the final story. And the final story, TERMINUS, is fantastic. Replaying the theme of the other stories of history being a kind of loop we have to struggle not to repeat, TERMINUS is a haunting echo caught in our ear. The ending of the story solidly defines who Pirx the Pilot has become—snuffing out the last of his youth. ( )

DNF. I love the idea of this book. But unfortunately the 30 words per sentence writing style just does not play well with my ADHD brain.

This book comprises five stories. I read the first, ‘The Test’.

Someone else wrote that this book will leave you thinking, ‘yeah, that’s probably how space travel will work’ — and not in a good way. And from the one story I read, that’s an absolutely accurate description.

I'm always in a bit of a muddle, do I enjoy Pirx stories more than Tichy stories? I'm still not sure.

This is a bit of a weird read and it's a shame that the stories are in the order they're in (though I understand that they're chronologically ordered). The last story (Terminus) feels like it's a fairly large swing away from the stories that I feel make up the bulk of the book (The Conditioned Reflex and On Patrol) that are about Pirx replicating someone else's actions. Terminus is just somewhat depressing.

But Lem always has an enjoyable writing style and Pirx is a bit of an odd character at times, so this is still a great read. ( )

Loses nothing in translation (is that good or bad?). Come to think of it I don't think Hemingway would lose anything in translation either. The message is definitely in the content and not the form. Worth it even if only for the story about the schizophrenic robot holding 'memories' of dead shipmates. ( )