The Invincible

by Stanislaw Lem
The Invincible cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
Technical:
  • ID: 1930
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9780262538473
  • Publisher: MIT Press
  • Published: 2020-02-18
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £16.99

Stanisław Lem's The Invincible follows the crew of a space cruiser as they embark on a perilous journey to uncover the fate of their missing sister ship. Landing on the mysterious planet Regis III, they discover a form of life that has evolved from autonomous, self-replicating machines, possibly the remnants of a long-forgotten 'robot war.' The crew, led by navigator Rohan, must grapple with profound questions about the boundaries of human knowledge and the ethical dilemmas that arise when encountering the unknown. The novel blends scientific speculation with philosophical inquiry, challenging readers to consider what actions humanity should take when faced with the inexplicable. In the grand tradition of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, Lem crafts a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is adventurous. The Invincible is a classic of science fiction that explores the limits of analytical reasoning and the mysteries that lie beyond our current understanding. The story is not just an adventure but a deep dive into the nature of intelligence, evolution, and the future of humanity in the cosmos.

Reviews
The Sixth Axis · Aran Suddi · 2023-11-02
remarkable 3.50

The reviewer praises the stunning visuals and storytelling of the video game adaptation of The Invincible, highlighting its faithfulness to the original novel. They find the adaptation to be a remarkable achievement in both visuals and narrative.

Aran Suddi at The Sixth Axis is highly impressed with the video game adaptation of The Invincible, noting its stunning visuals and storytelling. They believe the adaptation does justice to the original novel, capturing its essence and enhancing it with modern storytelling techniques. The reviewer finds the visuals to be particularly striking, and the narrative to be well-crafted, making it a remarkable achievement in the realm of video game adaptations.

Quick quotes

    A stunningly realised video game rendition of the classic 1960s sci-fi novel The Invincible.

    From the visuals to the storytelling, it's a remarkable achievement.

    The adaptation does justice to the original novel, capturing its essence and enhancing it with modern storytelling techniques.

Stuffed Puffin · 2023-01-27
revolutionary 4.50

The Invincible is praised for its revolutionary predictions and bold vision, setting a new standard for science fiction. The novel's exploration of humanity's relationship with the unknown is both thought-provoking and timeless.

The reviewer at Stuffed Puffin highlights how The Invincible stands out as a groundbreaking work that has influenced both science fiction and science. They appreciate the novel's ability to make predictions that have since become commonplace, showcasing Lem's foresight. The exploration of humanity's instincts and xenophobia is particularly noted as a defining feature of the book, making it a timeless piece that resonates with contemporary readers.

Quick quotes

    The Invincible is a truly revolutionary work.

    It makes bold predictions that have become the norm in later science fiction (and partially in science).

    Lem's exploration of humanity's instincts and xenophobia is both thought-provoking and timeless.

Speculiction · 2015-07-17
insightful 4.00

The novel is commended for its use of classic science fiction tropes to delve into themes of xenophobia and humanity's relationship with the unknown. The reviewer finds the exploration of these themes both insightful and relevant.

The reviewer at Speculiction appreciates how The Invincible employs classic science fiction tropes to explore deeper themes such as xenophobia and humanity's instincts. They find the novel's approach to these topics to be both insightful and relevant, making it a compelling read. The reviewer also notes that the book's exploration of humanity's relationship with the unknown is particularly noteworthy, adding depth to the story.

Quick quotes

    The Invincible is a science fiction novel that uses some of the classic tropes of the genre to dig at xenophobia and humanity's instincts in its relationship ...

    The novel's approach to these topics is both insightful and relevant.

    The book's exploration of humanity's relationship with the unknown is particularly noteworthy.

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