Stanisław Lem books in order
Polish science fiction author, philosopher and futurologist, studied medical doctor
- Lived
- 1921–2006
- Country
- Poland
- Books
- 41
Stanisław Lem published 28 novels, 1 novella, 9 short story collections, 2 non-fiction books and 1 play, beginning with Hospital of the Transfiguration (1955). The best-known is Solaris (1961).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Stanisław Lem
Start here
Solaris
Stanisław Lem's most-read book.
Shortest way in
The Futurological Congress
One of the most-read, at about 149 pages.
Standalone novels in order
The Man from Mars (1946)
The Astronauts (1951)
Czas Nieutracony (1955)
Hospital of the Transfiguration (1955)
The Magellanic Cloud (1955)
Dialogs (1957)
Eden (1958)
The Investigation (1959)
Memoirs Found in a Bathtub (1961)
Return from the Stars (1961)
Solaris (1961)
Summa Technologiae (1964)
The Invincible (1964)
His Master's Voice (1968)
The Philosophy of Chance (1968)
Science Fiction and Futurology (1970)
Memoirs of a Space Traveler (1976)
The Chain of Chance (1976)
The Mask (1976)
Golem XIV (1981)
The Cosmic Carnival of Stanisław Lem (1981)
Observation on the Spot (1982)
Microworlds (1984)
Microworlds: Writings on Science Fiction and Fantasy (1984)
Provocation (1984)
Fiasco (1986)
Peace on Earth (1987)
Wysoki Zamek (1990)
Novellas in order
The Futurological Congress (1971)
Short story collections in order
Fables for Robots (1964)
The Cyberiad (1965)
Tales of Pirx the Pilot (1968)
A Perfect Vacuum (1971)
Imaginary Magnitude (1973)
More Tales of Pirx the Pilot (1979)
Memoirs of a Space Traveller (1982)
One Human Minute (1986)
Mortal Engines (1992)
Non-fiction in order
Highcastle (1966)
Dialogues (1980)
Plays in order
Faithful Robot (1963)
Film and TV adaptations
- First Spaceship on Venus (1960)Film · from The Astronauts
- Ikarie XB-1 (1963)Film · from The Magellanic Cloud
- Solaris (1968)TV · from Solaris
- Solaris (1972)Film · from Solaris
- Solaris (2002)Film · from Solaris
- The Congress (2013)Film · from The Futurological Congress
About Stanisław Lem
Stanisław Herman Lem was a Polish writer. He was the author of many novels, short stories, and essays on various subjects, including philosophy, futurology, and literary criticism. Many of his science fiction stories are of satirical and humorous character. Lem's books have been translated into more than 50 languages and have sold more than 45 million copies. Worldwide, he is best known as the author of the 1961 novel Solaris. In 1976, Theodore Sturgeon wrote that Lem was the most widely read science fiction writer in the world.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Stanisław Lem FAQ
- How many books has Stanisław Lem written?
- Stanisław Lem published 28 novels, 1 novella, 9 short story collections, 2 non-fiction books and 1 play that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Stanisław Lem's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Solaris.
- What is Stanisław Lem's last book?
- Mortal Engines (1992).
- What is Stanisław Lem's most famous book?
- Solaris (1961) is Stanisław Lem's most widely read book.
- Which Stanisław Lem books have been adapted?
- 4 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Astronauts (as First Spaceship on Venus, film, 1960), The Magellanic Cloud (as Ikarie XB-1, film, 1963), Solaris (TV, 1968) and The Futurological Congress (as The Congress, film, 2013).
Authors like Stanisław Lem
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.