The riddle (Lem)

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Das Rätsel (orig .: Zagadka , 1981) is a science fiction short story by Stanisław Lem that was first published in German in the anthology Tor zu den Sternen (1981). In the form of a dialogue, two religious robots debate the origin of their species.

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Father Chlorian ( plasma etching ) complains indignantly to Father Zinkan ( galvanizing ) about the speculations of a Marmagedonian Lapidor. He believes that life is also possible on a non-metallic basis. The Weichler and Sülzer produced by him in the laboratory can allegedly reproduce outside of assembly lines and without the involvement of generation engineers. One of these aspic brains recently checkmated the director of the Colloidal Institute in chess. An ancient religion is stumbling: Wasn't the universe programmed on seven days?