Science Fiction Writer Stanislaw Lem Dies At 84

Popular science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem died Monday in his native Poland at age 84, according to CNN.

Lem died in Krakow from what his secretary, Wojciech Zemek, would only cite as Lem's advanced age.

Lem was one of the most popular science fiction authors of recent decades. His works have been translated from Polish into more than 40 other languages and have sold more than 27 million copies.

Often noted for his sharp comedic writing style, his works examined serious moral aspects of technological progress, centering on the possibilities and limits of technology and its influence on man. One of Lem's primary themes was the impossibility of communication between humans and profoundly alien civilizations

His best-known work, "Solaris," was adapted into films by Andrei Tarkovsky in 1972 and by Steven Soderbergh in 2002.

Lem's other works include "The Invincible," "The Cyberiad," "His Master's Voice," "The Star Diaries," "The Futurological Congress" and "Tales of Prix the Pilot," to name just a few.

More information on the author, including an interesting FAQ, can be found on Lem's website, which is run by his son Tomasz. --Shannon Nolley

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