Accompanied by first-time sample translations from Lem’s first three novels: Man From Mars, The Astronauts, and The Magellan Nebula, this chapter systematically surveys the contents, themes, and problematics of these virtually unknown books in an effort to bring them closer to English-speaking readers. Contextualizing their science fiction storylines and characters in terms of Stanislaw Lem’s entire oeuvre, it critically evaluates these pioneering novels in literary-stylistic as well as popular-scientific terms.