Thirded. I recommend “The Chain of Chance” to LW readers—not SF, but a detective novel with a fascinating take on probability, rationality and reasoning.
Aside: “The Chain of Chance” is an awful title… the original title was “Hay Fever” (“Katar” in Polish). “The Chain of Chance” is a spoiler for an idea that creeps up like a mouse and hits like Mike Tyson.
Aside #2: I was a big fan of Lem from my teens, read his books, and met him in person. Lem lived near my uncle’s house in Krakow. I visited my uncle in 1992 and we had tea and biscuits with Lem at his house. He was very charming, but gave me an impression of being resigned to never being able to talk to anyone on level terms. My uncle is a professor of physics, and I’m considered pretty bright (by my mom at least...), however we both felt in awe at Lem’s intellect and the depth of his thinking, even in social conversation. I think he was a philosopher mainly, using science fiction as a medium for his ideas… a bit like EY and HPMOR!
Lem strongly seconded. I just listed him in my own comment because no one had mentioned him yet, and alas, three minutes later you bring him up.
Thirded. I recommend “The Chain of Chance” to LW readers—not SF, but a detective novel with a fascinating take on probability, rationality and reasoning.
Aside: “The Chain of Chance” is an awful title… the original title was “Hay Fever” (“Katar” in Polish). “The Chain of Chance” is a spoiler for an idea that creeps up like a mouse and hits like Mike Tyson.
Aside #2: I was a big fan of Lem from my teens, read his books, and met him in person. Lem lived near my uncle’s house in Krakow. I visited my uncle in 1992 and we had tea and biscuits with Lem at his house. He was very charming, but gave me an impression of being resigned to never being able to talk to anyone on level terms. My uncle is a professor of physics, and I’m considered pretty bright (by my mom at least...), however we both felt in awe at Lem’s intellect and the depth of his thinking, even in social conversation. I think he was a philosopher mainly, using science fiction as a medium for his ideas… a bit like EY and HPMOR!