But the creation here lacks the intelligent, Job-like characteristics of Frankenstein's creature railing against the creator who has created him only to let him suffer. The attack on the creator-species is, finally, a result of causal forces rather than a conscious or reasoned rebellion. Beyond Lem's unsurprisingly better understanding of evolution, key differences are his focus on non-organic evolution and the fact that Lem avoids the simple tragic plot of having the creators themselves destroyed by the consequences of their creation. For anyone doubting that The Invincible is directly influenced by At The Mountains Of Madness , the two stories share a number of elements of both plot and incident not found in Forbidden Planet . Both stories involve a sequence of sub-expeditions, and tension is built up partly by the limited radio communication between the groups.
Storms interrupt their activities and communication.
Scientists establish the minimum age of remains found in caves by the thickness of overlaying calcareous deposits. The ancient cities are half-buried in snow and sand respectively. But all of this this not to diminish Lem's own achievement.