The Star Diaries

Further Reminiscences of Ijon Tichy

De: Stanislaw Lem

Narrado por: David Marantz

This collection of short stories centers around one character, space traveller Ijon Tichy. In these stories, Stanislaw Lem's "Candide of the Cosmos" encounters bizarre civilizations and creatures in space that serve to satirize science, the rational mind, theology, and other icons of human pride.

©1976 The Seabury Press, Inc. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

🌠stellar humor

A firework of ideas and fictional realities. David Marantz read the diaries of this extraordinary traveler Ion Tichy in a very convincing manner. St. Lem balanced and decorated the many philosophical aspects
with hyper-Cosmic humour. We are lucky that the man of many journeys didn't loose it due to the many severe challenges he had to face!

Great stories of fabular space travel

Many reviewers don't seem to realize this was first published in 1957 and the idea are very prescient. Stanislaw Lem was a polymath with excellent credentials in science and its philosophies. He managed to combine science fiction themes with the humor of folk fables. This is not "Douglas Adams meets anybody". You will find little in the way of snappy dialog. It is the IDEAS that are funny and the matter-of-fact way Ijon Tichy deals with highly unlikely problems in space and time travel. His roots are more in Baron von Munchhausen's wild stories.

I must say the performance was marred by the unfortunate hilarity of the reader pronouncing "ennui" as though he were pronouncing the alphabet letters "N" "U" "E". He also gets stuck in a monotone in some of the longer philosophical passages which is a problem with idea-laden exposition.

not my favorite

some good ideas, buta little "all over the place". not the best from the author.

Moments of absolute ridiculous brilliance

A philosopher and commenter of modern society, Lem weaves tales of distant places that are close to home.

Story of a space-traveling Candide

One of the most entertaining and insightful satires written in any genre. I've read only maybe half a dozen books that made me LOL and this one is one of them. I read it some thirty years ago and much of the satire was lost on me but know in my late fifties I can appreciate every reference. Very good translation which is a feat in case of Lem's satirical writing because it relies heavily on made up names and words. The subject matter, the human condition, is universal. I love how he ignores the details that so many writers are overthinking and give their books pedantic and overworked quality. If there was ever a movie made I would see it done in a steampunk fashion. I recommend this book to older readers who enjoy deadpan humor delivery and lived long enough to need a less than serious approach to our human foibles.

Eh... It lost me

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Started good. Kinda Douglas Adams-esque scifi parody, but got pretty repetitive.
And it is full of pseudo-scientific jargon that is at first amusing (again, a la Adams) but at a certain point just makes it really hard to follow.

What about David Marantz’s performance did you like?

Great performance, just not a great book.

No 24th voyage.

There is no 24th voyage, which IMHO, is the best and the most intimidating of them.

Amazing book

I would recommend this to anyone that loves science. Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is the best comparison. However, Lem wrote this before Adams wrote his book. The book is funny, clever and takes little bit of scientific understanding to appreciate. I would recommend this to adults not kids because kids probably won't find it as funny. Overall, this is a great book it's very silly and clever.

A true masterpiece

This book is a true masterpiece. Lem was, beyond any doubt, the best sci-fi writer of all time

Quirky sci-fi Goodness!

Think Douglass Adams meets Frank Herbert! Fun sci-fi with a classic flavor mixed with more modern scientific notes... A wild ride in a Hitchhiker's Guide kind of universe, with very deep and thoughtful bits thrown in, all served in easy little short stories! An enjoyable time through and through..