: Society is now a "psychem" civilization where every problem—from hunger to education—is solved via drugs.
: Amid the mayhem, Tichy is mortally wounded during a sewer-based escape. Because medical technology cannot save him yet, he is cryogenically frozen. Part II: The Psychem Future Kongres futurologiczny
: Books are no longer read but "eaten" as informational pills, and language has evolved into bizarre new forms like "threever" or "pingle". : Society is now a "psychem" civilization where
: Riots and terrorist attacks break out outside the hotel. Costa Rica. The conference
The story begins with Ijon Tichy attending the Eighth World Futurological Congress in smog-choked, overpopulated Nicosia, Costa Rica. The conference, held at a Hilton hotel, is intended to solve global crises like overpopulation and resource depletion but quickly dissolves into surreal chaos: