The discussion of precedents for Fiasco could easily turn into a full-scale analysis of Lem's entire literary career. The novel is full of elements, allusions and even direct references to the themes from a great number of his major fictions. In this sense Fiasco is the final chapter in the author's lifelong work, openly bringing its multiple themes and techniques to a conclusion. Lem's frequent return to his major themes invites an approach which can be called "anthologizing." By rearranging his works according to different criteria one can gain valuable insights into his development as a writer and the evolution of his thought.

The most obvious precedent is the cycle of stories about pilot (later Commander) Pirx who returns in Fiasco in the person of Mark Tempe, a protagonist who, in the body resurrected from the dead Pirx or Parvis, may be...