ISBN: 0544080106 9780544080102

Category: Fiction / Science Fiction / Space Exploration

Page count: 336

<b>“A stunningly inventive fantasy about cosmic travel” from the Kafka Prize–winning author of <i>Solaris</i> (<i>The </i><i>New York Times</i>).</b><br><br> The <i>Hermes</i> explorer ship represents the epitome of Earth’s excellence: a peaceful mission sent forth to make first contact with an alien civilization, and to use the expansive space technology developed by humanity to seek new worlds, friendships, and alliances. But what its crew discovers on the planet Quinta is nothing like they had hoped. Locked in a seemingly endless cold war among themselves, the Quintans are uncommunicative and violent, refusing any discourse—except for the firing of deadly weapons.<br>  <br> The crew of the <i>Hermes</i> is determined to accomplish what they had set out to do. But the cost of learning the secrets hidden on the silent surface of Quinta may be grave.<br>  <br> Stark, startling, and insightful, <i>Fiasco</i> has been praised by <i>Publishers Weekly</i> as “one of Lem’s best novels.” It is classic, thought-provoking hard science fiction, as prescient today as when it was first written.