Biography
Stanisław Lem was a Polish writer of science fiction, philosophy and satire. He was named a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. He is perhaps best known as the author of the 1961 novel Solaris, which has been made into a feature film three times. In 1976, Theodore Sturgeon claimed that Lem was the most widely read science-fiction writer in the world. His works explore philosophical themes; speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of mutual communication and understanding, despair about human limitations and humankind's place in the universe. They are sometimes presented as fiction, but others are in the form of essays or philosophical books. Translations of his works are difficult due to passages with elaborate word formation, alien or robotic poetry, and puns. Multiple translated versions of his works exist.
Awards & recognition
- Golden Medal — Merit to Culture · 2005
- Geffen Award · 2003
- honorary citizen of Kraków · 2003
- Kraków Book of the Month · 1999
- Order of the White Eagle (Third Polish Republic) · 1996
Show all 21 awards →
- Polish PEN Club Award Jan Parandowski · 1995
- Franz Kafka Prize · 1991
- Austrian State Prize — European Literature · 1985
- honorary doctor of Wrocław University of Science and Technology · 1981
- Grand Prix de Littérature Policière · 1979
- Work Flag Order, 2nd class · 1979
- Seiun Awards · 1977
- Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta · 1970
- Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta · 1959
- Gold Cross of Merit · 1955
- honorary doctor of the Jagiellonian University of Krakow
- Locus Award — Best Collection · 2022 · nominated
- International Booker Prize · 2005 · nominated
- Locus Award — Best Science Fiction Novel · 1990 · nominated
- Arthur C. Clarke Award · 1988 · nominated
- Neustadt International Prize — Literature · 1988 · nominated
