The Futurological Congress is among the greatest works of Science Fiction ever written, and it is considered by many (myself included) to be S. Lem's finest work.
Set in the not too distant future, Congress is narrated by Ijon Tichy, who recounts the events of his visit to the Futurological Congress. The irony is that the titular event never really occurs thanks to a popular uprising in the host country. Poor Tichy dies only to be resurrected in a future where society is regulated by an endless array of psychotropic drugs.
In today's world of Ritalin, Ambien, Cialis, Prozac, and so on, Lem's drug fueled vision of the future seems eerily prophetic. The translation (from the original Polish) does an excellent job with the laundry list of psuedo-drugs Lem invents for the citizens of the future, and preserves his trademark cynicism and eye for human foibles. Written under the heavy-hand of Soviet rule, Congress is full of digs at government, bureaucracy and the man's timid resistance to manipulation.
An amazing and bizarre story, full of wit and remarkable insight, Congress resonates to this day and rightfully earns its place at the pinnacle of intelligent Sci-Fi.
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About the author
A fun, easy sci-fi dystopian that grapples with some serious issues
Ok, so I don't want to give too much away here. This short book, almost a novella really, takes you on quite a ride, and I really enjoyed not knowing where it was going, so I'm not going to say too much about the plot. But basically it starts in one dystopian future, where the main character is at a convention about solving the worlds many serious problems, and then it takes you to another, where all of those problems have been solved by technology - and pharmacology in particular.This is referred to as a psycho-chemical society or "chemocracy," and the science has advanced so much that cheap and readily available drugs can be used to bring about any desired mental state. Specific dreams can be ordered and received in pill form, books are no longer read but consumed, and drugs can even be taken to make one more moral, compassionate, or understanding."A caveman would also resist a streetcar."And that's all I want to say about the plot. But what follows are some really cool twists and Matrix style "what is reality," "where is technology taking" us philosophy, as well as some psychology, sarcastic humor, dystopian conflict, and just a little bit of politics."Averroes, Kant, Socrates, Newton, Voltaire, could any of the have believed it possible that in the twentieth century the scourge of cities, the poisoner of lungs, the mass murderer and idol of millions would be a metal receptacle on wheels, and that people would actually prefer being crushed to death inside it during frantic weekend exoduses instead of staying, safe and sound, at home?"I enjoyed this. It was a fun, easy read that dealt with some serious topics and made me think. I'm always amazed too when I read a book that's been around for a while (this was first published in 1971), and I realize how many newer ideas that I thought were so original have been contemplated by great thinkers before. Definitely going to check out more from this author.
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2008
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
- Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2008
