Details Out Of Books Tales of Pirx the Pilot
| Title | : | Tales of Pirx the Pilot |
| Author | : | Stanisław Lem |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 216 pages |
| Published | : | November 30th 1990 by Mariner Books (first published 1961) |
| Categories | : | Science Fiction. Fiction. European Literature. Polish Literature. Short Stories. Humor. Fantasy. Science Fiction Fantasy |
Stanisław Lem
Paperback | Pages: 216 pages Rating: 4.1 | 4820 Users | 126 Reviews
Narrative Supposing Books Tales of Pirx the Pilot
In Pilot Pirx, Lem has created an irresistibly likable character: an astronaut who gives the impression of still navigating by the seat of his pants-a bumbler but an inspired one. By investing Pirx with a range of human foibles, Lem offers a wonderful vision of the audacity, childlike curiosity, and intuition that can give humans the courage to confront outer space. Translated by Louis Iribarne.A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book.
Be Specific About Books In Pursuance Of Tales of Pirx the Pilot
| Original Title: | Opowieści o pilocie Pirxie |
| ISBN: | 0156881500 (ISBN13: 9780156881500) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Pirx |
Rating Out Of Books Tales of Pirx the Pilot
Ratings: 4.1 From 4820 Users | 126 ReviewsAssessment Out Of Books Tales of Pirx the Pilot
Tales of Pirx the Pilot takes a restrained approach to science fiction, one which could almost be described as realism except for the nuclear-powered rocket ships, moon bases, and robots. The book consists of five episodes from the life of Pirx, a rather ordinary guy who becomes a rather ordinary rocket pilot, with the first two stories happening while he is in training and the next three from his career. Pirx is not the best rocket pilot ever: he does not defend earth against alien invasion orA collection of stories that follow the career of Pirx, a space pilot top-loaded with self-doubt who somehow manages to get through one misadventure after another, often involving faulty technology and bureaucracy. The tales start from his days as a cadet, and end with the flight of a rickety old ship bound for Mars with a mysterious past and a robot that knows the fate of the previous crew. Lem can be a mixed bag, but I rather enjoyed this.
Goes a long way with a strange kind of fake technological mysticism, where readers are led to the magic waters three times only to be diverted to a somewhat lame scientific diagram, explaining everything but revealing nothing special. Until Terminus! Where we finally get to play and imagine a soul through the science. Otherwise, we're in space and on the moon. Been there done that.
Reading Lem makes me happy.
Reading Lem makes me happy.
Pirx is not the best I have read by Lem, but, for me, these simple tales are very satisfying. The progression is chronological but with large gaps as Lem captures interesting episodes of Prix career from young cadet to full-fledged navigator. Over time, Pirx loses his air of the preening day-dreamer spinning fantasies of glory. While Prix grows into his profession and into adulthood, Lem never let's us forget that space flight is a serious business and that the cost of getting better at it is
Tales of Pirx the Pilot has much of the humor of Lems other works without the complexity. Pirx is an Everyman, hes not a hero like many of his literary colleagues though he gets the job done, nor a comedic bumbler like Bill the Galactic Hero, though he has his share of bumbles. Hes a working-class pilot, going to what appears to be pilot trade-school, learning his craft, and taking his suitcase into his first commercial ship more like a factory worker with his lunch pail than a modern jet pilot.
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