The Locus Index to Science Fiction

Books, Listed by Author

LEM, STANISLAW (stories) (continued)

• * _The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-623550-1, Aug ’85 [Jul ’85], $4.95, 295pp, pb) Reprint (Seabury/Continuum 1974) collection, the English version of Cyberiada (Warzawa 1967, 1972).
• * *Eden (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-127580-7, Sep ’89, $19.95, 262pp, hc) Sf novel about the crew of a ship that crashes on an alien world, translated from the Polish by Marc E. Heine. The setting is fascinating, the questions raised by the situation are dealt with seriously and thoughtfully. Highly recommended (SW). First English translation and First American edition (Warsaw: Iskry 1959).
• * _Eden (Andre Deutsch 0-233-98517-4, Feb ’90, £11.95, 262pp, hc, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1989) sf novel. Translated from the Polish (Warsaw: Iskry 1959) by Marc E. Heine.
• * _Eden (BOMC/QPBC no ISBN, Mar ’90, $8.95, 262pp, tp, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1989) sf novel. This edition is the same as the HBJ except it lacks an ISBN and has the jacket printed as the soft cover.
• * _Eden (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-627806-5, Oct ’91, $10.95, 262pp, tp, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1989) sf novel about the crew of a ship that crash lands on an alien world. Translated from the Polish (Iskry 1959) by Marc E. Heine.
• * *Fiasco (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-130640-0, May ’87, $17.95, 322pp, hc) Sf novel of attempted alien contact, translated from the Polish by Michael Kandel.
• * _Fiasco (Andre Deutsch 0-233-98141-1, Aug ’87, £11.95, 372pp, hc) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1987) sf novel. Translated from the Polish by Michael Kandel. [First U.K. edition]
• * _Fiasco (HBJ Harvest 0-15-630630-1, Mar ’88 [Feb ’88], $6.95, 322pp, tp) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1987) sf novel, translated by Michael Kandel from Fiasko (Poland 1986).
• * _Fiasco (Orbit 0-7088-4226-7, Mar ’89 [Feb ’89], £4.99, 322pp, tp, cover by Mynott) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1987) sf novel. Translated by Michael Kandel.
• * _The Futurological Congress (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-634040-2, Oct ’85, $3.95, 149pp, pb) Reprint (Continuum 1974) sf novel, translated by Michael Kandel. Originally published as Ze Wspomnien Ijona Tichego: Kongres Futurologiczny (Krakow 1971).
• * _The Futurological Congress (Mandarin 0-7493-0529-0, Jan ’91 [Dec ’90], £4.99, 149pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Continuum 1974) sf novel, translated by Michael Kandel from the Polish Ze Wspomnien Ijona Tichego: Kongres Futurologiczny (Krakow 1971).
• * *Highcastle (Harcourt Brace 0-15-140218-3, Sep ’95 [Aug ’95], $22.00, 146pp, hc) Non-fiction autobiography. A memoir of Lem’s youth, translated from the Polish (Wydawnictwo Lierackie, Krakow 1975 as Wysoki zamek) by Michael Kandel.
• * _Highcastle (Harcourt Brace/Harvest 0-15-600472-0, Jan ’97 [Dec ’96], $11.00, 146pp, tp) Reprint (Harcourt Brace 1995) non-fiction autobiography. A memoir of Lem’s youth, translated from the Polish (Wydawnictwo Lierackie, Krakow 1975 as Wysoki zamek) by Michael Kandel.
• * _His Master’s Voice (Harvest 0-15-640300-5, Mar ’84 [Feb ’84], $2.95, 199pp, pb) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1983) sf novel.
• * _His Master’s Voice (Mandarin 0-7493-0490-1, Aug ’90 [Jul ’90], £4.99, 199pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1983) sf novel, translated from the Polish Glospana (1968).
• * +Hospital of the Transfiguration (HBJ Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-142186-2, Oct ’88 [Sep ’88], $17.95, 207pp, hc) Associational; non-sf/fantasy. Novel set in Nazi-occupied Poland. Translated by William Brand. Original title: Szpital Przemienienia (1982).
• * _Hospital of the Transfiguration (Andre Deutsch 0-233-98385-6, Feb ’89, £11.95, 207pp, hc, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1988) associational; Lem’s first novel. [First U.K. edition]
• * _Hospital of the Transfiguration (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-642176-3, Apr ’91, $9.95, 207pp, tp, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1988) associational novel set in Nazi-occupied Poland. Originally published as Szpital Przemienienia in 1982 and translated from the Polish by William Brand.
• * *Imaginary Magnitude (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-144118-9, Oct ’84 [Sep ’84], $15.95, 122pp, hc) Prefaces to non-existent books written in the future. Translated by Marc E. Heine. (Contents)
• * _Imaginary Magnitude (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-644180-2, Oct ’85, $3.95, 248pp, pb) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1984) sf satire — introductions to various 21st-century books, plus a preface on prefaces. Translation by Marc E. Heine of Wielkosc Urojona (Warsaw 1973) plus two other pieces which first appeared in Golem XIV (Kracow 1981).
• * _Imaginary Magnitude (Mandarin 0-7493-0528-2, Jan ’91 [Dec ’90], £4.99, 122pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1984) collection of prefaces to non-existent books written in the future. Translated by Marc E. Heine from the Polish Wielkosc Urojona (Warsaw 1973) plus two other pieces that first appeared in Golem XIV (Kracow 1981).
• * _The Investigation (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-645158-1, Jul ’86 [Jun ’86], $4.95, 216pp, pb) Reprint (Seabury 1974) “metaphysical” mystery novel. Translated by Adele Milch from Sledztwo (Cracow 1959, 1969).
• * _The Investigation (Andre Deutsch 0-233-98772-X, Apr ’92, £12.99, 216pp, hc, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Seabury 1974) detective novel. Translated from the Polish, Sledztwo (Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1969), by Adele Milch. [First U.K. edition]
• * _Memoirs Found in a Bathtub (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-658585-5, Jul ’86 [Jun ’86], $4.95, 188pp, pb) Reprint (Continuum 1973) sf novel of an intricate “espionage society” in 3149. Translated by Michael Kandel and Christine Rose, from Pamietnik Znaleziony w Wannie (Cracow 1971).
• * _Memoirs of a Space Traveller (Mandarin 0-7493-0527-4, Jan ’91, £4.99, 153pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1982) sf collection. Translated by Joel Stern and Maria Swiecicka-Ziemianek from the Polish Dzienniki Gwiazdowe (Czytelnik, Warsaw, 1971).
• * _Microworlds (Mandarin 0-7493-0557-6, Mar ’91 [Feb ’91], £5.99, 285pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1985) collection of ten critical essays. (Contents)
• * _Microworlds Criticism (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-659443-9, Nov ’86, $5.95, 285pp, pb) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1985) non-fiction criticism. Edited by Franz Rottensteiner, 10 essays with bibliography.
• * *Microworlds: Writings on Science Fiction (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-159480-5, Feb ’85 [Jan ’85], $14.95, 285pp, hc) Non-fiction, collection of ten critical essays. Edited by Franz Rottensteiner. Very patronizing and superior, but thought-provoking. (DLN)
• * _More Tales of Pirx the Pilot (Mandarin 0-7493-0470-7, Nov ’90 [Oct ’90], £4.99, 220pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) [Pirx] Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1982) sf collection. Translated by Louis Iribarne, Madgalena Majcherczyk and Michael Kandel from the Polish Opowiesci o Pilocie Pirxie.
• * _Mortal Engines (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-662161-4, Jun ’92 [May ’92], $8.95, 239pp, tp, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Seabury 1977) collection of 14 sf stories revolving around artificial intelligence. Translated from the Polish and with an introduction by Michael Kandel, new to this edition.
• * _Mortal Engines (Andre Deutsch 0-233-98819-X, Jun ’93, £12.99, 239pp, hc, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) Reprint (Seabury 1977) sf novel.
• * *One Human Minute (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-169550-4, Feb ’86, $13.95, 102pp, hc) Collection of three satiric/sf “apocryphal essays translated by Catherine S. Leach from the Polish. No information or copyright is given on the original Polish edition. (Contents)
• * _One Human Minute (Andre Deutsch 0-233-97980-8, Jul ’86 [Aug ’86], £7.95, 112pp, hc) Reprint (HBJ 1986) collection of three “apocryphal essays.”
• * _One Human Minute (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-668795-X, Nov ’86, $4.95, 102pp, pb) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1986) collection of three humorous reveiws of not-yet-written books.
• * _One Human Minute (Mandarin 0-7493-0587-8, Mar ’91 [Feb ’91], £4.99, 102pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1986) collection of three ’apochryphal essays’, translated by Catherine S. Leach from the Polish.
• * *Peace on Earth (Harcourt Brace 0-15-171554-8, Sep ’94 [Aug ’94], $19.95, 234pp, hc) Satirical SF novel featuring Ijon Tichy, the man who went to the moon to save Earth, and came back with a split brain. Translated from the Polish by Elinor Ford with Michael Kandel. Originally published as Pokoj Na Ziemi (Krakow 1987).
• * _Peace on Earth (Andre Deutsch 0-233-98935-8, May ’95, £14.99, 234pp, hc) Reprint (Harcourt Brace 1994) satirical SF novel featuring Ijon Tichy, the man who went to the moon to save Earth, and came back with a split brain. Translated from the Polish by Elinor Ford with Michael Kandel. Originally published as Pokoj Na Ziemi (Krakow 1987). [First U.K. edition]
• * _Peace on Earth (Harcourt Brace/Harvest 0-15-600242-6, Jan ’96 [Dec ’95], $11.00, 234pp, tp, cover by Brad Weinman) Reprint (Harcourt Brace 1994) satirical SF novel featuring Ijon Tichy, the man who went to the moon to save Earth, and came back with a split brain. Translated from the Polish by Elinor Ford with Michael Kandel. Originally published as Pokoj Na Ziemi (Krakow 1987).
• * _A Perfect Vacuum (Mandarin 0-7493-0538-X, Mar ’91 [Feb ’91], £4.99, 229pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1979) collection of reviews of non-existent books. Translated by Michael Kandel from the Polish Doskonala Próznia (1971).
• * _Return from the Stars (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-676593-4, Jun ’89, $7.95, 247pp, tp) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1980) sf novel, translated from the Polish (Powrot z gwiazd, Czytelnik 1961) by Barbara Marszal and Frank Simpson.
• * _Return from the Stars (Mandarin 0-7493-0488-X, Aug ’90 [Jul ’90], £4.99, 247pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1980) sf novel, translated by Barbara Marszal and Frank Simpson, from the Polish Powrót Z Gwiazd (1961).
• * _Solaris (HBJ Harvest 0-15-683750-1, May ’87, $4.95, 204pp, pb) Reprint (Walker 1970) sf novel, translated from the Polish by Joanna Kilmartin and Steve Cox.
• * _Solaris (Faber and Faber 0-571-16215-0, Jun ’91, £4.99, 204pp, tp, cover by Janusz Olszewski) Reprint (Walker 1970) sf novel.
• * _The Star Diaries (HBJ/Harvest 0-15-684905-4, Aug ’85 [Jul ’85], $4.95, 275pp, pb) Reprint (Seabury/Continuum 1976) sf novel, English version of Dzienniki Gwiazdowe (Warzawa 1971).
• * _The Star Diaries (Mandarin 0-7493-0472-3, Nov ’90 [Oct ’90], £4.99, 275pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) Reprint (Seabury/Continuum 1976) sf collection, translated from the Polish Dzienniki Gwiazdowe (Warzawa 1971).
• * _Tales of Pirx the Pilot (Mandarin 0-7493-0491-X, Aug ’90 [Jul ’90], £4.99, 206pp, tp, cover by Luis Rey) [Pirx] Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1980) sf collection, translated by Louis Iribarne from the Polish Opowiesci o Pilocie Pirxie.
• * _Tales of Pirx the Pilot (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 0-15-688150-0, Nov ’90 [Apr ’91], $ 7.95, 206pp, tp, cover by John Alfred Dorn, III) [Pirx] Reprint (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1980) collection of five stories. Originally published in Poland as Opowiesci o Pilocie Pirxie and translated from the Polish by Louis Iribarne.

_____, [ref.]

• * _Stanislaw Lem See entry under J. Madison Davis.
• * _Stanislaw Lem See entry under Richard E. Ziegfeld.
• * _A Stanislaw Lem Reader See entry under Peter Swirski.

L’ENGLE, MADELEINE; [i.e., Madelaine L’Engle Camp Franklin] (1918-2007) (stories) (assoc.)

• * *An Acceptable Time (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 0-374-30027-5, Nov ’89, $13.95, 343pp, hc, cover by Charles Mikolaycak) [Meg Murry] Young-adult time-travel fantasy/new age novel, sequel to A Wrinkle in Time.
• * _An Acceptable Time (Dell Laurel-Leaf 0-440-20814-9, Dec ’90 [Nov ’90], $3.95, 343pp, pb) [Meg Murry] Reprint (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1989) young-adult time-travel fantasy, sequel to A Wrinkle in Time.
• * _A House Like a Lotus (Dell/Laurel Leaf 0-440-93685-3, 1985 [Nov ’85], $3.50, 308pp, pb) [Arm of the Starfish] Reprint (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1984) associational novel. Not sf or fantasy, but a companion book to The Arm of the Starfish and Dragons in the Waters.
• * *Many Waters (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 0-374-34796-4, Sep ’86 [Aug ’86], $12.95, 310pp, hc) [Meg Murry] Fantasy novel, part of the Wrinkle in Time sequence. The Murry twins are transported to the world of Noah and the Ark.
• * _Many Waters (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 0-374-34797-2, Nov ’86, $50.00, 310pp, hc) [Meg Murry] Signed, reprint (Farar/Strause/Giroux 1986) edition (250 copies) of a juvenile novel featuring characters from the Murry family of the “Time Trilogy”.
• * _Many Waters (Dell/Laurel Leaf 0-440-95252-2, Sep ’87, $3.25, 310pp, pb) [Meg Murry] Reprint (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1986) fantasy novel, part of the “Wrinkle in Time” sequence.
• * _Many Waters (Dell Yearling 0-440-40548-3, Dec ’91 [Nov ’91], $3.99, 310pp, tp, cover by Jody Lee) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1986) young-adult sf novel; third printing.
• * _Many Waters (Dell/Laurel-Leaf 0-440-22770-4, Jun ’98 [May ’98], $5.50, 310pp, pb, cover by Cliff Nielsen) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1986) young-adult SF novel. This commemorative edition has the new series introduction by L’Engle. This indicates first printing, but acknowledges “one previous edition”.
• * _Many Waters (Dell Yearling 0-440-40548-3, Jun ’98 [Sep ’98], $5.50, 310pp, tp, cover by Peter Sis) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1986) young-adult SF novel, fourth in the series beginning with A Wrinkle in Time. This commemorative edition has the new series introduction by L’Engle. 16th printing.
• * _The Sphinx at Dawn (Harper & Row San Francisco 0-06-250502-5, Dec ’89 [Jan ’90], $5.95, 46pp, tp, cover by Vivian Berger) [Sphinx] Reprint (Seabury Press 1982) collection of two linked stories set in ancient Egypt, with wood engravings by Vivian Berger. (Contents)
• * _A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Gold Books 0-340-51749-2, Jun ’91, £2.99, 256pp, pb, cover by Rowena Morrill) [Meg Murry] Reprint (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1978) young-adult sf novel.
• * _A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Dell Yearling 0-440-40158-5, Dec ’91 [Nov ’91], $3.99, 278pp, tp, cover by Jody Lee) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1978) young-adult fantasy novel; 14th printing.
• * _A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Dell/Laurel-Leaf 0-440-90158-8, Jun ’98 [May ’98], $5.50, 256pp, pb, cover by Cliff Nielsen) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1978) young-adult SF novel. This commemorative edition has the new series introduction by L’Engle. 44th printing.
• * _A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Dell Yearling 0-440-40158-5, Jun ’98 [Sep ’98], $5.50, 278pp, tp, cover by Peter Sis) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1978) young-adult SF novel, third in the series begun in A Wrinkle in Time. This is a commemorative edition with the new series introduction by L’Engle. 32nd printing.
• * _A Wind in the Door (Marshall-Pickering 0-7208-0733-6, Jun ’88, £2.95, 211pp, pb) [Meg Murry] Reprint (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1973) young-adult sf novel. Volume 2 in the “Meg Murry” series.
• * _A Wind in the Door (Dell Yearling 0-440-48761-7, Dec ’91 [Nov ’91], $3.99, 211pp, tp, cover by Jody Lee) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1973) young-adult sf novel; 30th printing.
• * _A Wind in the Door (Dell/Laurel-Leaf 0-440-98761-X, Jun ’98 [May ’98], $5.50, 203pp, pb, cover by Cliff Nielsen) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1973) young-adult SF novel. This commemorative edition has the new series introduction by L’Engle. 44th printing.
• * _A Wind in the Door (Dell Yearling 0-440-48761-7, Jun ’98 [Sep ’98], $5.50, 211pp, tp, cover by Peter Sis) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1973) young-adult SF novel, second in the series begun in A Wrinkle in Time. This commemorative edition has the new series introduction by L’Engle. 43rd printing.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Puffin, Jul ’86 [Aug ’86], £1.75, pb) [Meg Murry] Reprint (Farrar, Straus 1962) sf novel.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 0-374-38614-5, Nov ’87 [Mar ’88], $50.00, 203pp, hc) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus 1962) fantasy novel. This is a limited edition of 500 copies, signed by the author for the book’s 25th anniversary. Dated 1987; not seen until 1988.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Dell Yearling 0-440-49805-8, Dec ’91 [Nov ’91], $3.99, 211pp, tp, cover by Jody Lee) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus 1962) young-adult sf novel; 47th printing.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Puffin 0-14-037231-8, Oct ’95, £4.99, 217pp, tp, cover by Keith Scaife) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar Straus 1962) classic young-adult SF novel. Adds an Afterword by Elaine Moss, and interior illustrations by Keith Scaife. A Puffin Modern Classic edition.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Dell Yearling Newbery 0-440-22039-4, Jun ’96 [Jul ’96], $2.49, 211pp, pb, cover by Jody Lee) [Meg Murry] Reprint (Ariel 1962) young-adult SF novel. This is a special promotional edition, marked “Special low price” on the cover, and containing an excerpt from Dell’s latest Newbery Honor book.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Dell Yearling Newbery 0-440-22715-1, Jun ’97, $2.69, 211pp, pb, cover by Jody Lee) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1962) young-adult SF novel. This is a special promotional edition, marked “Special low price” on the cover.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 0-374-38613-7, 1998 [Oct ’98], $17.00, 203pp, hc, cover by Leo Dillon & Diane Dillon) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1962) young-adult SF novel. 58th printing.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Dell/Laurel-Leaf 0-440-99805-0, Jun ’98 [May ’98], $5.50, 198pp, pb, cover by Cliff Nielsen) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1962) young-adult SF novel. This commemorative edition has the new series introduction by L’Engle. 78th printing.
• * _A Wrinkle in Time (Dell Yearling 0-440-49805-8, Jun ’98 [Aug ’98], $5.50, 211pp, tp, cover by Peter Sis) [Meg Murry] Reissue (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1962) young-adult SF novel. This is a commemorative edition. 64th printing.

_____, [ref.]

• * _Presenting Madeleine L’Engle See entry under Donald R. Hettinga.

LENTZ, HARRIS M., III

• * *Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Supplement 2: Through 1993 (McFarland & Co. 0-89950-927-4, May ’94, $75.00, 854pp, hc) Non-fiction, media reference. Supplement to the 1983 book listing all actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, etc., from genre film and TV shows to 1993, including those missing from the earlier volumes. Available from McFarland & Co., Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640. Please add $2.00 for postage.
• * *Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits Supplement: Through 1987 (McFarland 0-89950-364-0, Mar ’89 [Feb ’89], $65.00, 923pp, hc) Non-fiction. Film and television reference, supplement to Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits (1983), listing all actors, actresses, directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers, art directors, make-up people, special effects people, costumers, and others from all films and tv shows to 1987, including those missing from the earlier volume.

LEON, MARK (stories) (assoc.)

• * *The Gaia War (AvoNova 0-380-77873-4, Nov ’95 [Oct ’95], $4.99, 314pp, pb, cover by Eric Peterson) [Mind-Surfer] Science fantasy novel, sequel to Mind Surfer. Lew Slack fights ecological destruction and a man-made goddess, Gaia.
• * *Mind-Surfer (AvoNova 0-380-77582-4, Jan ’95 [Dec ’94], $4.99, 262pp, pb, cover by Dorian Vallejo) [Mind-Surfer] New Age SF novel. Crystals and computers combine to draw programmer Lew Slack into a metaphysical landscape.