His works explore philosophical themes speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of mutual communication and understanding, despair about human limitations and humankind's place in the universe. In 1976, Theodore Sturgeon claimed that Lem was the most widely read science-fiction writer in the world. He is perhaps best known as the author of Solaris, which has twice been made into a feature film. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. Stanisław Lem (staˈɲiswaf lɛm) was a Polish science fiction, philosophical and satirical writer of Jewish descent. Convinced that wasted time is dangerous, Tichy sounds the alarm: Let us save the Universe. Species are dying out, sunspots increasing due to clouds of rubbish. Ijon feels that rather than extirpating the furiols, children should be taught not to kick things. When the furiol is kicked it infects children with spores that cause an incurable illness: card-playing, drunkenness, and debauchery. For example, the furiol, a plant which has adapted to an environment created by intolerable children who kick things. Tourists demand extermination and extirpation of animals and plants which bother them. There are many serious mutations among insects due to the absence of public conveniences. People exceed the speed limit, mostly women, because travelling faster slows time and they age less. Alcoholism is a special problem, although difficult to detect because people blame their drunken staggering on weightlessness. The planetoid Ceres is defaced with huge family portrais which photographers have glazed to its rocky mountainsides.

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is covered with graffiti. The problem is cosmic tourism, which Tichy believes is all right in moderation, but which has gotten out of hand. Everywhere, he found pollution, drunkenness, ugliness. (An Open Letter from Ijon Tichy, Space Traveller) After a long stay on Earth, Ijon Tichy set out to visit his favorite places from previous expeditions. Let Us Save the Universe (An Open Letter from Ijon Tichy) – Stanisław Lem (1971), translated by Joel Stern & co.

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