I was really surprised Netgalley was offering a re-branded ‘older book’!

"Dialogues" by Stanislaw Lem is a remarkable collection of science fiction stories that offers readers a thought-provoking journey through the cosmos and the depths of human imagination. As one of the most prolific and imaginative science fiction writers of the 20th century, Lem's work continues to be celebrated for its intellectual depth and visionary storytelling.

The collection presents a series of philosophical dialogues between two beings, often a human and an alien intelligence. These conversations explore a wide range of topics, from the nature of consciousness and the limitations of human knowledge to the implications of technological advancement and the mysteries of the universe. Lem's ability to delve into complex scientific and philosophical concepts while maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity is truly remarkable.

One of the standout qualities of "Dialogues" is Lem's ability to challenge the reader's preconceptions and provoke deep contemplation. The stories serve as a mirror to humanity, forcing us to confront our own limitations, biases, and hubris. Through the lens of these dialogues, Lem masterfully explores the intricate interplay between science, technology, ethics, and the human condition.

Lem's prose is both intellectually stimulating and accessible, making "Dialogues" a compelling read for both seasoned science fiction enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre. The stories are timeless and continue to resonate with contemporary discussions surrounding artificial intelligence, space exploration, and the ethical dilemmas posed by technological advancements.

In summary, "Dialogues" by Stanislaw Lem is a captivating collection of philosophical science fiction that challenges the mind and expands the boundaries of human imagination. It is a testament to Lem's genius as a writer and his enduring influence on the genre. This book is a must-read for those who seek intellectually engaging and conceptually rich science fiction literature.

“Dialogues” is the first of Stanisław Lem’s nonfiction to be published in English. First published in 1957 in Poland, it was an interesting work exploring the realm of cybernetics. Lem uses the form of dialogues to explain the concept of cybernetics, using two characters called Hylas and Philonous which I suppose come from the 1713 book Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous written by George Berkeley. In Berkeley’s book, three concepts in the fields of metaphysics are are discussed, namely perceptual relativity, the conceivability/master argument, and Berkeley’s phenomenalism. The name of the two characters come from the Greek Philonous “lover of mind” and Hylas “matter”, which in Berkeley’s original work represents Berkeley’s thinker’s opponents, particularly John Locke.

While borrowing the style and the characters from Berkeley, Stanisław Lem also brings fresh ideas in his philosophical essays, although some of Lem’s ideas already look outdated with the advancement of technology since he wrote them. Even in the 1971 foreword, Lem already admits how some of his ideas are proved to be wrong, while there are also some others that are spot on. Not all people will enjoy the form, but it serves as a good medium for philosophical discussions to bring up a topic such as cybernetics which was controversial at that time. The first edition was published only one year after cybernetics stopped being called “bourgeois pseudoscience” in the Eastern Bloc.

Lem begins his discussion in Dialogues I, particularly about atomic consciousness. Much of the discussion in the next Dialogues also revolves around the theme of consciousness. Citing an example of what would happen to the consciousness of an atomic copy of a person if we choose to recreate a similar carbon copy using the atomic structure of an original, Lem’s attempts to rebuke some thoughts about the possibility of creating a clone. If logically it’s possible, Lem also invites us to consider the ethical and philosophical problems that could arise from such action. Readers from the 21st century might notice some parts of the discussion which have turned otherwise. Regardless, it’s an interesting work to reflect how technologies have advanced in the past few decades.

It was an interesting read, a bit dated but full of food for thought. It's not easy read but I liked it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I thought this was a decent read. I liked the dialogue format of the writing, and even though I didn't agree with everything Lem wrote back then, it was thought-provoking. Some good ideas are packed in here.

My thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher MIT Press for an advanced copy of this collection of scientific essays.

The late Polish science fiction writer and thinker Stanislaw Lem collection of essays Dialogues is translated for the first time into English by Peter Butko. Conceived and written in 1957 the essays deal with the subject of cybernetics, a new field that Mr. Lem was quite high on and expected great things from. Later in 1972 Mr. Lem updated the books, as more knowledge showed that his great dreams for cybernetics should be tempered by reality.

The form of the book was borrowed form George Berkeley's Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous. Instead of three dialogues, Mr. Lem made seven at the time, and two more later in 1972.

The book is interesting, if dated. For a fan of Mr. Lem's science fiction tales it is not necessary even for a completest. The book has it's moments and at no time was I bored, even though some of it was way above my paygrade in reading, but I never really thought about giving up on the book.

I love those recent translation of some works of Stanislaw Lem a very interesting figure of the science-fiction world. This is non-fiction here, and yes it's dated, but still relevant and really interesting to read if you love science. I can't recommend it enough! And again good work to finally translate those!