Reviews

Intellectual novel about the difficulties in understanding alien contact with another living organism on a planet far far away. Truly fascinating depictions and scholarly like reports about previous efforts at comprehending just what the ocean like mass on Solaris is capable of, how sentient is it, etc... The novel, unlike the Tarkovsky film, hits the ground running. Blink and Kelvin is on Solaris Station and thrust into the middle of all the current action. The novel shifts between the intensely personal of Kelvin's relationship with his dead wife now given life again by Solaris and the more scientific attempts at understanding how Solaris works. The descriptions from Giese and the library can be a little stiff but the descriptions of the various metamorphoses that Solaris capable of is truly interesting when contrasted by the intimate forms the guests take. Pretty short novel and at the end of the story there are still many if not most of the science questions about Solaris left unanswered but in that final scene between Kelvin and Solaris I find a little hope that a deeper understanding between two aliens can take place in the future. I can see why Tarkovsky was drawn to Lem's novel given the psychological depths (pardon the pun) the characters represent for studying.

pinkeyeofsauron's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

felixn's review against another edition

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4.0

15/20

jeffscott's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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