title: The Sun: Revised Edition (Out in Space)
author:  Martha E. H. Rustad 
description: ""Although the reading is appropriate for young children, the vocabulary and content are kept scientifically accurate. The illustrations explain concepts that are often hard for children to understand."
zlib_text: sf_humor sf_social sf Stanislaw Lem The Futurological Congress Lem, Ijon Tichy
  en Mochael Kandel Fiction Book Designer 31.10.2010 FBD-DLWT6EB5-V50X-1NQV-
  FFDK-8EI7U2ATJKGF 1.0
  
  THE FUTUROLOGICAL CONGRESS
  
  Stanislaw Lem
  
  **(from the memoirs of Ijon Tichy)**
  
  translated from the Polish by Michael Kandel
  
  The Eighth World Futurological Congress was held in Costa Rica. To tell the
  truth, I never would have gone to Nounas if it hadn't been for Professor
  Tarantoga, who gave me clearly to understand that this was expected of me. He
  also said-pointedly-that space travel nowadays was an escape from the problems
  of Earth. That is, one took off for the stars in the hope that the worst would
  happen and be done with in one's absence. And indeed I couldn't deny that more
  than once I had peered anxiously out the porthole-especially when returning
  from a long voyage-to see whether or not our planet resembled a burnt potato.
  So I didn't argue the point with Tarantoga, but only remarked that, really, I
  