About the book
An astronaut returns to Earth after a ten-year mission and finds a society that he barely recognizes.
Stanisław Lem's Return from the Stars recounts the experiences of Hal Bregg, an astronaut who returns from an exploratory mission that lasted ten years—although because of time dilation, 127 years have passed on Earth. Bregg finds a society that he hardly recognizes, in which danger has been eradicated. Children are “betrizated” to remove all aggression and violence—a process that also removes all impulse to take risks and explore. The people of Earth view Bregg and his crew as “resuscitated Neanderthals,” and pressure them to undergo betrization. Bregg has serious difficulty in navigating the new social mores.
While Lem's depiction of a risk-free society is bleak, he does not portray Bregg and his fellow astronauts as heroes. Indeed, faced with no opposition to his aggression, Bregg behaves abominably. He is faced with a choice: leave Earth again and hope to return to a different society in several hundred years, or stay on Earth and learn to be content. With Return from the Stars, Lem shows the shifting boundaries between utopia and dystopia.
Editions of Return from the Stars
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262538480
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262357692
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262357708
Read an Excerpt
An astronaut returns to Earth after a ten-year mission and finds a society that he barely recognizes.
Stanisław Lem's Return from the Stars recounts the experiences of Hal Bregg, an astronaut who returns from an exploratory mission that lasted ten years—although because of time dilation, 127 years have passed on Earth. Bregg finds a society that he hardly recognizes, in which danger has been eradicated. Children are “betrizated” to remove all aggression and violence—a process that also removes all impulse to take risks and explore. The people of Earth view Bregg and his crew as “resuscitated Neanderthals,” and pressure them to undergo betrization. Bregg has serious difficulty in navigating the new social mores.
While Lem's depiction of a risk-free society is bleak, he does not portray Bregg and his fellow astronauts as heroes. Indeed, faced with no opposition to his aggression, Bregg behaves abominably. He is faced with a choice: leave Earth again and hope to return to a different society in several hundred years, or stay on Earth and learn to be content. With Return from the Stars, Lem shows the shifting boundaries between utopia and dystopia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Return from the Stars about?
An astronaut returns to Earth after a ten-year mission and finds a society that he barely recognizes.
Stanisław Lem's Return from the Stars recounts the experiences of Hal Bregg, an astronaut who returns from an exploratory mission that lasted ten years—although because of time dilation, 127 years have passed on Earth. Bregg finds a society that he hardly recognizes, in which danger has been eradicated. Children are “betrizated” to remove all aggression and violence—a process that also removes all impulse to take risks and explore. The people of Earth view Bregg and his crew as “resuscitated Neanderthals,” and pressure them to undergo betrization. Bregg has serious difficulty in navigating the new social mores.
While Lem's depiction of a risk-free society is bleak, he does not portray Bregg and his fellow astronauts as heroes. Indeed, faced with no opposition to his aggression, Bregg behaves abominably. He is faced with a choice: leave Earth again and hope to return to a different society in several hundred years, or stay on Earth and learn to be content. With Return from the Stars, Lem shows the shifting boundaries between utopia and dystopia.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Return from the Stars?
Fiction > Science fiction > Science fiction: space exploration
Where can I read a sample of Return from the Stars?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262538480
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Return from the Stars?
Stanislaw Lem
Who is the Publisher of the book Return from the Stars?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Return from the Stars is available as paperback(ISBN 9780262538480) and ebook(ISBN 9780262357692) and ebook(ISBN 9780262357708)
Where can I buy Return from the Stars online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Return from the Stars from below
Where can I buy Return from the Stars?