Thanks for such an interesting discussion! The Cyberiad is one of my favorites, a great way to get started, and very re-readable.

Michael Kandel was Lem's translator for many books including The Cyberiad -- including some brilliant poetry and plays on words!

He's such an excellent translator, it would be interesting to read other stuff he's translated! Any recommendations?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kandel

Kandel is perhaps best known for his translations of the works of Stanisław Lem from Polish to English. Recently he has also been translating works of other Polish science fiction authors, such as Jacek Dukaj, Marek Huberath and Andrzej Sapkowski. The quality of his translations is considered to be excellent; his skill is especially notable in the case of Lem's writing, which makes heavy use of wordplay and other difficult-to-translate devices.

http://www.art.net/Studios/Hackers/Hopkins/Don/lem/HorribleP...

    Oft, in that wickless chalet all begorn,
    Where whilom soughed the mossy sappertort
    And you were wont to bong --

http://www.art.net/Studios/Hackers/Hopkins/Don/lem/Wonderful...

A love poem, lyrical, pastoral, and expressed in the language of pure mathematics. Tensor algebra mainly, with a little topology and higher calculus, if need be. But with feeling, you understand, and in the cybernetic spirit.

http://www.art.net/Studios/Hackers/Hopkins/Don/lem/Femfatala...

http://www.art.net/Studios/Hackers/Hopkins/Don/lem/Lem.html