The Magellanic Cloud
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The Magellanic Cloud (Polish title: Obłok Magellana) is a science fiction novel by Stanislav Lem (1955).
[edit] Plot summary
The novel is set in XXXIIth century, in a Communistic Utopian future. Mankind have colonized all of the Solar System, and now have to attempt the first interstellar travel.
Aboard a vessel called Gaia, 227 men and women leave the Earth for Alpha Centauri system.
After almost eight years of travel, they find signs of organic life on a planet orbiting around Proxima Centauri, possibly coming from another planet within the Centauri system.
One of the planets orbiting Alpha Centauri turns to be inhabited by an advanced civilization...
The novel pictures a humanoid race called Atlants, which turns out to be a barely disguised description of the USA and its NATO allies during the Cold War.
[edit] Censorship and criticisms
When the novel was first published, some parts of it were censored by Communist authorities. Lem famously denounced the censored version, calling it too optimistic about Communism. At the time, this was a bold sign that demonstrated confidence Lem's singular status as a Polish author of international renown would protect him from state repressions. A full version was published after the fall of Warsaw Pact in the 90s.
The anti-American allusions of the novel raised quite a few criticisms in the West as well, so The Magellanic Cloud was unwelcome in Western Europe.
