Abstract
Abstract Starting from Roland Barthes's assertion that “the text is a tissue of quotations drawn from the innumerable centers of culture,” the article considers the possibility of the influence of Stanisław Lem upon Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, focusing on a comparison of Solaris (1961) and A Wild Sheep Chase [Hitsuji o meguru bōken, 1982]. Through a close reading of crucial scenes in both books, the essay points out similarities that may indicate that Murakami was familiar with Lem's work and might have been consciously or unconsciously inspired by it. The article develops the idea of intertextuality in Murakami by identifying additional plot elements and themes from other of his works that could have been inspired by Lem, who is probably the most widely read Polish author in Japan.
Published Version
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