The Cyberiad, by Stanislaw Lem

Translated by Michael Kandel
Illustrations by Daniel Mruz

Trurl and Klapaucius are constructor robots who try to out-invent each other. They travel to the far corners of the cosmos to take on freelance problem-solving jobs, with dire consequences for their employers. Asking their machine that can do anything to do nothing almost destroys the universe. Lem creates other cybernetic triumphs -- laser-eyed beasts, dragons of improbability, electronic bards, and involuted story-telling machines that never finish a tale -- brilliantly funny examples of his talent for intellectual slapstick, bizarre invention, and keen insight.

The Cyberiad, by Stanislaw Lem.
ISBN 0-15-623550-1
English translation copyright (C) 1974 by the Continuum Publishing Company.
Some material from this book has been reproduced in the form of a hypermedia book report, in the context of satire on current events. Stanislaw Lem's book The Cyberiad inspired Will Wright to write SimCity, the best selling city simulation game from Maxis Software, and it will inspire you too! So read it, and you'll want to read more of his work!