The Chain of Chance
( Polish - Katar - 1975 )
novel by Stanislaw Lem
translated by Louis Iribarne
Published: Harcourt Brace - hardback - 1978 ( US )
ISBN: 0151165890 / 9780151165896
Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd. - hardback - 1978 ( UK )
ISBN: 0436244187 / 9780436244186
Jove - paperback - 1979
ISBN: 0515051381 / 9780515051384
Harvest - paperback - 1984
ISBN: 0156165007 / 9780156165006
Mandarin - paperback - 1990
ISBN: 0749304898 / 9780749304898
Northwestern University Press - trade paperback - 2000
ISBN: 0810117304 / 9780810117303
omnibus edition ( Solaris - The Chain of Chance - A Perfect Vacuum )
King Penguin - trade paperback - 1981
ISBN: 0140055398 / 9780140055399
synopsis
A former astronaut is hired by a detective agency to help in an investigation of a case of mysterious deaths. Several victims became mad and committed suicide during their vacation in Naples, apparently without reason. Due to certain similarities in the circumstances of the deaths the case is assumed to be a serial murder by poisoning, although it is never certain what (if any) real connection exists between the victims.
During the investigation, it becomes apparent that certain innocent chemicals can be combined into a strong depressor, a kind of chemical weapon. The hero experiences its effects, however his training helps him to survive and solve the case. He discovers the industrial sources of the chemicals, and demonstrates how random chance chemical reactions led to the string of deaths.
awards
.....
( Polish - Katar - 1975 )
novel by Stanislaw Lem
translated by Louis Iribarne
Published: Harcourt Brace - hardback - 1978 ( US )
ISBN: 0151165890 / 9780151165896
Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd. - hardback - 1978 ( UK )
ISBN: 0436244187 / 9780436244186
Jove - paperback - 1979
ISBN: 0515051381 / 9780515051384
Harvest - paperback - 1984
ISBN: 0156165007 / 9780156165006
Mandarin - paperback - 1990
ISBN: 0749304898 / 9780749304898
Northwestern University Press - trade paperback - 2000
ISBN: 0810117304 / 9780810117303
omnibus edition ( Solaris - The Chain of Chance - A Perfect Vacuum )
King Penguin - trade paperback - 1981
ISBN: 0140055398 / 9780140055399
synopsis
A former astronaut is hired by a detective agency to help in an investigation of a case of mysterious deaths. Several victims became mad and committed suicide during their vacation in Naples, apparently without reason. Due to certain similarities in the circumstances of the deaths the case is assumed to be a serial murder by poisoning, although it is never certain what (if any) real connection exists between the victims.
During the investigation, it becomes apparent that certain innocent chemicals can be combined into a strong depressor, a kind of chemical weapon. The hero experiences its effects, however his training helps him to survive and solve the case. He discovers the industrial sources of the chemicals, and demonstrates how random chance chemical reactions led to the string of deaths.
awards
.....