Fiasco

The planet Quinta is pocked by ugly mounds and covered by a spiderweb-like network. It is a kingdom of phantoms and of a beauty afflicted by madness. In stark contrast, the crew of the spaceship Hermes represents a knowledge-seeking Earth. As they approach Quinta, a dark poetry takes over and leads them into a nightmare of misunderstanding. Translated by Michael Kandel. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

Stanisław Herman Lem (12 September 1921 – 27 March 2006) was a Polish author known for his contributions to science fiction, philosophy, and literary criticism. Born in Lwów, Poland (now Lviv, Ukraine), Lem initially pursued medical studies, which, though unfinished due to fears of military conscription and discomfort with medical practice, laid the groundwork for his scientifically rigorous and p …