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A classic work of science fiction by renowned Polish novelist and satirist Stanislaw Lem
When Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he finds a painful, hitherto unconscious memory embodied in the living physical likeness of a long-dead lover. Others examining the planet, Kelvin learns, are plagued with their own repressed and newly corporeal memories. The Solaris ocean may be a massive brain that creates these incarnate memories, though its purpose in doing so is unknown, forcing the scientists to shift the focus of their quest and wonder if they can truly understand the universe without first understanding what lies within their hearts.
Anonymous
Posted July 25, 2012
Dawn sits on er bed
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kerry_Nietz
Posted April 15, 2012
Having seen the Hollywood film version of “Solaris,” and a portion of the highly-revered Russian version, I was interested enough with the premise to grab the eBook version when I saw it advertised. How would this whole sentient-ocean idea play out in words?
In general, I think it reads quite well. Neither of the movies were high-action, so I expected a slower pace from the book, and for the most part, I got that. It never felt dull to me, though. There was always enough new information or intrigue to keep me reading. The book is really a mystery, after all. What is the ocean of Solaris all about? And can we, as mere humans, communicate with it?
There are many portions of Solaris where the protagonist, Kelvin, spends time reading books about the planet. Typically, this is not a good move for a novel—it grinds the action to a halt, and gives the story the feel of reading an encyclopedia. Whether this works or not depends solely on how much the reader cares about the subject matter. Personally, I enjoyed these portions. As a writer I was fascinated by how intricately Mr. Lem had constructed the world of his living ocean, and the descriptions were nearly poetic at times. Other readers might find those sections a bore, however.
Solaris also raises a lot of questions about identity and the nature of man. Our thirst for discovery of things beyond ourselves, when we hardly know what we ourselves are. Our inclination to control and classify, when we can’t control ourselves. These are good questions to ask.
The book has few answers, though. Even the ending seems to lack any real resolution.
Where the book most lost me, though, was when it attempted to get theological. The notion of us “creating God in our own image” was put forth. That notion is used often in science fiction. Repetition doesn’t make it true, though. It is a trite statement—one well beneath the level of the questions being asked.
Solaris is intriguing fiction. I recommend it. But don’t come looking here for answers.
Anonymous
Posted April 13, 2012
certainly one of the best books of one of the best science fictions
authors
Anonymous
Posted March 13, 2012
An intellectually stimulating and fascinating book. The original Russian film put me to sleep, but after watching the Clooney version, I was intrigued and glad I looked deeper.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.elliedeee
Posted January 3, 2012
The moral questions raised by this story made it alone worth reading. It definitely makes the reader think about the exploratory and imperialistic goals of the human race while also touching psychological and emotional nerves that every individual can relate to. The scientific tone of the novel also speaks to its credibility in raising these questions. This is the first time I've read Lem's literature and it makes me want to consider further experiencing his work.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 17, 2004
The universe, as we know it, is far more complex, beautiful and horrific than we can ever imagine. Makes you want to reach out and touch a star and find out.
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Posted September 21, 2003
In the original Pygmallion story, the king seeks to transform a statue of a beautiful girl into a human being. Lem went further: what would happen if the idealised/idolised woman from your past memories came to life? Does it really equal happiness? Unfortunately, we do not know if King Pygmallion found his happiness in his stone-turned-to-sweetheart, but Lem seems to be pessimistic in this question: dreamers need dreaming and not dreams come true. Of course, the book deals with a lot of other interesting issues of the human soul. He knows that the unconscious is the sea and the conscious part is only a small boat travelling or tossing on its waves. The only minus is that the book was translated from French and not from the original Polish.
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Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 12, 2003
I read the book and absolutely loved it. It's definitely a captivating reading - the kind that sticks to your mind and won't let go. It's an execellent book if you understand it for what it is meant to be: anything far from a love story.
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Posted October 27, 2001
What a book! It is psychological tour de force. Relationship that develops between the main characters is unlike any other I came across in my readings. Scary in some parts, touching in others, always challenging the reader, Lem is a master storyteller. A must read. There is a movie in the making...
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Posted March 29, 2001
This book is real good. It makes you think. Its some good reading.
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Posted July 4, 2000
Much more involved and in depth than his short stories, Lem's Solaris has become one of SF's classics for good cause. The psychology is fascinating and the character interaction isn't ruined by insane sci-fi shenanigans often found in American science fiction. The only problem I saw was that Lem would go off on rather dull descriptions of the planet's surface reactions and the history of its exploration. While that's sometimes necessary for the meaning, it gets a bit much at times. But you'll finish this book looking at consciousness a little differently.
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Posted February 3, 2012
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Overview
A classic work of science fiction by renowned Polish novelist and satirist Stanislaw Lem
When Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he finds a painful, hitherto unconscious memory embodied in the living physical likeness of a long-dead lover. Others examining the planet, Kelvin learns, are plagued with their own repressed and newly corporeal memories. The Solaris ocean may be a massive brain that creates these incarnate memories, ...