Translated by Bill Johnston
Illustrated by Matt Murphy
Afterword by Jerzy Jarzębski

“Human beings set out to encounter other worlds, other civilizations, without having fully gotten to know their own hidden recesses, their blind alleys, well shafts, dark barricaded doors.”

I am proud to announce that Conversation Tree Press will be publishing a letterpress-printed, illustrated, limited edition of Stanisław Lem’s classic science fiction novel Solaris later this year.

This will be the first print edition utilizing Bill Johnston’s direct Polish-to-English translation of the novel. Not only does the translation restore the author’s intended character names, meanings, and stylistic nuances, it accurately conveys his semi-philosophical and poetic language.

For over thirteen years, this translation has only been available as an e-book and audiobook, despite the best efforts of the Lem estate to bring it to print. We’re proud to be partnering with Bill Johnston, the Lem estate, and Faber & Faber to make this a reality, bringing this important piece of literature to a wider audience in a landmark edition.

Stanisław Lem’s Solaris

Solaris is a profound exploration of human cognition and the limits of communication. Set on a distant planet covered by a sentient ocean, the novel follows psychologist Dr. Kris Kelvin as he confronts a mysterious manifestation from his past.

This seminal work combines philosophical inquiry with science fiction, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is haunting. Lem’s masterful storytelling delves into themes of isolation, memory, and the quest for knowledge, making Solaris a timeless classic.

Breathtaking Illustrations by Matt Murphy

Matt Murphy is an award-winning, British illustrator based in Dorset, UK. Renowned for his conceptual approach, delicate textures and confident colour palettes, his work is full of mystery and meaning. Matt’s ability to communicate conceptual ideas with intelligent simplicity made him the perfect fit to capture the enigmatic and complex nature of Solaris and its visitors.

Matt’s breathtaking vision of Solaris comes to life in a stunning collection of sixteen full-colour illustrations and fourteen full page black and white chapter opening illustrations to be printed letterpress by Nomad Letterpress.

Colour Illustration Preview

One of the sixteen full colour illustrations:

Letterpress-printed Chapter Opening Preview

One of the fourteen full page, letterpress-printed chapter opening illustrations:

These chapter openings are inspired by the work of Hungarian painter, photographer, and professor in the Bauhaus school, László Moholy-Nagy. They incorporate elements from each chapter in Moholy-Nagy’s distinct style, blending diagrams and mathematical models as they would have appeared in the notebooks of Dr. Gibarian, one of the main characters in the novel.

Afterword by Jerzy Jarzębski

Jerzy Jarzębski (1948-2023) was a renowned scholar of 20th and 21st-century Polish literature, combining academic research with literary criticism. Jarzębski's work focused on prominent Polish writers, notably Stanisław Lem, to whom he devoted several books and articles. His insightful analyses of Lem’s works, including their philosophical and technical dimensions, have been instrumental in shaping the understanding and appreciation of Lem’s contributions to science fiction and literature at large.

The Conversation Tree Press edition of Solaris will include an article by Jarzębski, translated for the first time into English, as an afterword.

Title Typography

Fontarte’s Komunikat FA is an experimental and geometrical typeface based on simple elements like circles, their parts, and straight lines, communicating the spirit of the future, dynamism, and modernity.

Designed in 2004 by Fontarte studio, its origins trace back to a 1932 sketch by Polish vanguard artist and typographer Władysław Strzemiński, who believed modern letter forms should be standardized and based on lines and arches. He asserted that readability is a matter of habit and that new letter forms would become readable with practice.

Komunikat FA perfectly embodies the themes of the novel Solaris, mirroring Stanisław Lem’s exploration of the unknown, the future, and human perception. Somewhat challenging to decipher at first, the title lettering’s abstract and reductionist nature reflects Solaricists’ ongoing scientific examination and philosophical inquiries into the planet’s enigmatic alien intelligence.

Edition Details

The Conversation Tree Press limited edition of Stanisław Lem's Solaris will open for pre-orders in October/November 2024 as the title immediately following Foundation. The edition will be issued in three states: Collector’s, Deluxe and Lettered, and will feature:

• Letterpress printing on luxurious paper, upgraded on the Deluxe and Lettered states.
• Durable, Smyth-sewn bindings with a ribbon marker and head and tail bands.
• Premium binding materials, upgraded on the Deluxe and Lettered states.
• Handmade slipcases/enclosures included at no additional cost.
• Hand-binding at the Deluxe and Lettered states.

 As always, prototypes and all artwork will be presented when pre-orders open.