The Cyberiad

Stanislaw Lem is perhaps the most original and influential European science-fiction writer of the twentieth century. The Cyberiad one of Lem''s most beloved works follows the exploits of the Trurl and Klapaucius two ingenious ''constructors''. In their adventures through a strange medieval universe they encounter a machine capable of creating anything that starts with the letter ''N''; kings who oppress their people with parlour games; and PhD pirates who demand ransom in knowledge rather than gold. It is a world where UFOs land silently on lawns at dawn and where even the stars can be re-arranged for advertising purposes.