Ijon Tichy

Ze wspomnień Ijona Tichego, pt. 4

Literal: From remembrances of Ijon Tichy, pt. 4 No English release

by Stanisław Lem

Release: 1961
Format: Short Story
Genres: Science Fiction, Comedy
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: Polish

Ijon is unphased when Physicist Molteris lugs his time machine into Ijon’s sitting room, promising Ijon will be repaid for the colossal amount of electricity that will be consumed by the first trip.

— Michael Main

Zamierzałem, ale . . . widzi pan. . . ja . . . mój gospodarz wyłączył mi elektrycznoćś . . . w niedzielę.

I planned to, but, you see, I—my landlord turned off the electricity on Sunday.

English

DEBUT

[ex=bare]Ze wspomnień Ijona Tichego, pt. 4 | From remembrances of Ijon Tichy, pt. 4[/ex], in Księga robotów (Iskry, 1961).

VARIANTS

2 Polish variants

PRIOR WORKS

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Circa AD 2200 to 2299: Ijon’s typical time in the 23rd century.

Time Travel Methods

Luggable Time Machine: The platform unpacks from a box.
Time Platform: Although, the machine is a small box, at one point, with the lid off and inner partitions removed, Molteris “got into the machine with both his feet.”

Themes

Aging Side Effects
Ex Nihilo Obects and People: It’s not clear how the maroon book ever appeared in the first place, so it could be an ex nihilo object, although that is a minor aspect of the story.

Fictional Tags

Mad Scientists: Moleris

Groupings

The Star Diaries (story series)

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From Ijon’s apartment, shortly after the arrival of Molteris ⋙ to possibly to the same apartment the previous day at an unknown time. Note: It’s unclear whether the book is in an ex nihilo loop, but in any case, it does seem to travel through time.
From Ijon’s apartment, near the end of the story ⋙ to at least thirty years forward. Note: Molteris.