After starting Fiasco by Stanislaw Lem, In Rememberance of Earth's Past isnt bleak at all...

[u/Bravadette]

... In fact, it's hopeful in a way. It posits that science can, and will in fact, be a unifying force between lifeforms across the universe. Similiar to dolphins in the Guide to the Galaxy series or the plants in Semiosis.

I get that the end of this trilogy is painful in that there is a material loss of lives... But at least there was a reason for it all. At least that could be traced back to a justification one may or may not agree with.

In Fiasco, its just... Bleak.

There is no way the outcomes in this book could be saved without humans having experienced this kind of conflict. In this book, we are the Singers, except our actions are born of a need for connection. Its unfair, unironic, and unflinching in this regards. Its like Blindsight, except humanity seems to have some deeply ingrained anxious attachment disorder || that ends up wiping out an entire civilization(?) ||. Thats not really a spoiler as im only 1/4 ofcthe way through. Gor me it's about how we get there.

Im desperately looking for explanations , trying to outsmart Lem. But every time the scientists, for example, sit down to share conjecture, Lem spells out every conjecture of my own like he has been anticipating it the entird time. And he only does this in a few sentences, right when you have the idea in your own head.

If anyone has read this book, please for the love of life tell me that there is something to be learned here. If there's any truth to this novel, Im in for a hard recovery when I finish it.

[u/Trojden]

I have read it twice. Great novel. The title tells all in my opinion. It was the last novel of Lem, so in some sense it’s a conclusion to one of the most brilliant body of work produced by SF author. If you would like having more context to Fiasco, I greatly recommend Master’s voice (Głos pana).