"The Cyberiad", by Stanislaw Lem

The Cyberiad, Stanislaw Lem

An utterly delightful collection of science fiction short stories, written by Polish writer, Stanislaw Lem. First published about 50 years ago, these stories weave intriguing tales of fantasy, sometimes reminding you of Alice in Wonderland (though a little more high tech), sometimes Asterix, and at some other times the Matrix series, or the book "Time Machine".

The quality of translation from Polish to English is so good that you can't even imagine that these are translations. The translator seems to have been creative in inventing terms in English for hypothetical terms that must have been used in the original text.

These are stories about two expert 'constructors', Trurl and Klapaucius. They are always busy constructing new machines, with magical, almost God-like powers. The two constructors share an unstated mutual admiration, cooperation, friendly banter, but also at times indulge in sometimes competition, jealousy and even espionage.

These two construct these machines, sometimes for fun, sometimes for monetary reward, and sometimes just to save their lives. There are all kinds of machines constructed by them, including:

• a machine which can create anything that starts with N in English
• a machine which composes poetry
• a disastrous machine which believes 2+2=7
• a machine that gives the perfect advice to its owner
• mathematical models to manipulate probability that results in improbable dragons to become reality
• a love machine
• a storytelling machine
• a machine which can literally pull any information in the universe out of thin air, by finding intelligible patterns in random motion of gas molecules

The machines even have their own personalities. Mostly they are obedient, competent and efficient, but occasionally you encounter a machine which can get snappy; a machine that gets emotional and can drown others who interact with it with strong emotions, almost hypnotically; a machine which is violent and revengeful towards its creator. Some machines are ming-boggling in their dimensions, such as an eight-story monstrous machine in one of the stories.

The other characters in the stories are no less interesting. There is two rival quirky kings who, between themselves, rule half a planet each and want to capture the other half and want the help of the two constructors in their goals.

Then there is a king who loves to play childish games like hide n seek, "spin the electron" and many others and wants the two constructors to devise the ultimate disguise for him.

There is also a sadistic king who is a great enthusiast of hunting, with an insatiable hunger for the most dangerous games. Having conquered every sort of natural galactic fauna and even the most intelligently created machines as game, he orders Trurl and Klapaucius to create the most deadly beasts to hunt. This turns out to be one of the sternest tests of the skills of the two constructors. It takes great cunning from them to beat the king at his game, and escape unharmed and richer from his planet.

One thing is for sure: one should not try to cheat the duo as many a king find to their peril.

Blended in the stories there are interesting views on the meaning of life, creation, progress of civilizations, and even a delightful narration about the power of bureaucracy.

Only one story, the last one, does not feature Trurl and Klapaucius, but reveals how humans are viewed by the robots who are omnipresent in the futuristic world of Stanislaw Lem. And an earlier story reveals a surprising secret about the two constructors themselves (saying anything more would be a spoiler).

Book Extracts: "How To Be Interesting", by Jessica Hagy

Title: How To Be Interesting

Author: Jessica Hagy

Great ideas, interestingly presented, with each point illustrated with catchy doodles, even if some of them don't seem to make sense, but so what, they at least entice.

Some interesting points, ideas from the book.

Step 1: Go Exploring

• Shower in the dark.
• Sample flavors.
• Steal moments between stoplights to compose poems.
• Carve out hours for the dreams you've been putting off.

Step 2: Share What You Discover

• Don't just associate with folks who do what you do. Seek out those with different passions. You'll be able to experience exponentially more.
• The world needs whatever it is that you have.
• Your mind is full of treasures that no one else has seen. An idea shared is not diminished: it's multiplied.
• don't be shy. Wave hello instead of looking away.
• Be a link, not an Endpoint. Make introductions. Set up strangers.
• Compliment liberally. Kind words are quite precious and cost nothing. It's surprising that they're so rare. Laud what you enjoy. Praise the people who excel in novel ways. Do it publicly and often. Everybody needs more encouragement.

Step 3: Do Something. Anything

• Let people in on what you're doing. They will champion and support you more than you ever imagined, and mock you less than you fear.
• Sign up. What we do shapes who we are. Be someone who's been there, done that, and wants to do new things tomorrow.
• Give yourself permission to enjoy yourself.
• Whatever your're doing, enjoy it.

Step 4: Embrace Your Weirdness

• Everyone has quirks and insights  unique to themselves. Don't hide these things--they are what make you interesting.
• Be yourself in public. To have a difference is to have an identity.
• Sneers: do not change for them. Just smile at them, and move along.
• Follow your weird impulses and do all sorts of things.
• Every day, make another move toward what makes you happy.

Step 5: Have A Cause

• If you don't give a damn about anything, no one will give a damn about you.
• Ask yourself: is this the best that's possible? Then ask: well, what is? And spend your time working on that.
• Actions matter. Even small ones.
• Bring together as many people as you can to help you. Share your energy. Share your ideas. Share your cause.

Step 6: Minimize The Swagger

• If your arrogance is more obvious than your expertise, you are someone other people avoid.
• Interesting people are interested in things other than themselves. They're educationally omnivorous. And so they end a lot of sentences with honest question marks.
• Remain a student. Sign up to learn things. Philosophy, archery, accounting, painting, diving, fire eating--anything you can admit you don't understand. You never know when you'll need a random skill.
• Practice vicarious pride. Have you ever been overwhelmingly proud of someone other than yourself? If you have, you know how buoyant and uplifting it feels. If you haven't, you need to get close enough to someone to try.
• Mistakes happen. Often. Sometimes they're your fault and sometimes they're your misfortune. Freely admit to both kinds.
• Be a sidekick. To everyone you meet. Be the helper, the adviser, the assistant the hero cannot do without.

Step 7: Give It a Shot

• Try it out. Play around with a new idea. Do something strange. If you never leave your comfort zone, you won't grow.
• Afraid to fail? Afraid to fail and that other people might find out about it? So what if you fail? Really: So what if you fail? Would that really be so bad?
• Stockpile anecdotes. Read randomly. Overhear on purpose. Watch movies and clouds and people. The more you absorb, the more you can exude.
• Just because it's not in your job description doesn't mean you can't do it. Only you can really decide what league you really belong in.
• Have no shame. Sing badly and loudly. Skip down the street. Go to that open mic night. Uncensor your personality. More people will smile than laugh, and if they laugh, that's their sad problem.

Step 8: Hop Off the Bandwagon

• Don't confuse a tradition with a mandate. So that's how it's always been done? That's "just the way it is"? We just have to deal with it? No, not anymore.
• Change measurements. Square footage? Horsepower? Millions in the bank? People in your fan club? Days you wake up happy? Look at what you're measuring and consider alternative units.
• Every cultural phenomenon starts with an idea. When you have one, do what you can to take it from the corner of your mind to the public. The whole world just might embrace it.
• Take over unclaimed spaces. When the powers that be overlook something, you can take that something over and become a power that is.

Step 9: Grow A Pair

• Society has been known to burn witches. Slavery was legal once, too. What else is going on that needs to be put right? And what are you going to do about it?
• Whine productively. If things are unsatisfactory: 1) document them, 2) change them. Few people ever bother with that second bit.

Step 10: Ignore the Scolds

• Jettison toxic cargo. If you've got bad memories attached to places, things, and even people: Let them go. You will feel lighter almost immediately.
• Avoid people who make you feel crappy. Don't return their calls or take their antagonistic bait. The only way to win their game is to quit playing along. Besides, no one is fascinated by your constant irritation.
• Don't be mean to yourself. The heinous little voice inside your head that puts you down and wears you out? Shut it up with actions that prove it wrong. Caution: This may take years.
• Forgive. Most people, even the nasty ones, are doing the best they can. They may not deserve your love and admiration, but your scorn burns the both of you.
• If you're not dead, you can still change things.

In Summary

Adventurous, generous, active, strange, caring, humble, daring, original, brave, self-assured = interesting.