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Solaris (1961)

by Stanisław Lem

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
6,5931581,449 (3.87)1 / 275
"When psychologist Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he finds himself confronting a painful memory embodied in the physical likeness of a past lover. Kelvin learns that hs is not alone in this, and that other crews examining the planet are plagued with their own repressed and newly real memories. Could it be, as Solaris scientists speculate, that the ocean may be a massive neural center creating these memories, for a reason no one can identify? Long considered a classic, Solaris asks the question: Can we understand the universe around us without first understanding what lies within?"--Back cover.… (more)
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▾Conversations (About links)
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 Science Fiction Fans: New English translation of Lem's Solaris105 unread / 105mikewilliams64, February 2013

» See also 275 mentions

▾Member reviews
English (128)  Spanish (7)  Italian (5)  Dutch (3)  German (3)  French (2)  Portuguese (1)  Danish (1)  Portuguese (Brazil) (1)  Catalan (1)  Slovak (1)  Hungarian (1)  Russian (1)  All languages (155)
date ▼ | votes
Showing 1-5 of 128 (next | show all)
Well, how can you not like a book that Joanne Froggatt is one of the narrators for? It's science fiction, so not my usual fair, but it was short, and it was imaginative. ( )
  TraSea | Apr 29, 2024 |
So much interesting stuff in this one! I've seen both movies before, so going in I knew the basics of what goes down, but I think the book is the best. It has the room to really explore the, motivations for lack of a better word, of this mysterious ocean / being that is behind the plot. It's a fascinating and original take on alien encounters and it stretches the mind to consider what makes us who we are and what other possibilities for life might be out there. ( )
  rknickme | Mar 31, 2024 |
Very mixed feelings about this book. In close up the prose is excellent, both lyrical and evocative descriptions of one of the most alien aliens I have ever encountered.
On the other hand, the narrative arc never really engaged me and there were places where I was all at sea (pun intended). May well benefit from a re-read at some point. ( )
  CraigGoodwin | Jan 20, 2024 |
elaboration of mourning ( )
  postsign | Dec 28, 2023 |
Got it much better than the movie, although I can appreciate now what the movie was trying to do (somewhat successfully even). Respect Clooney for a damned good attempt, even a good movie given a little context. The unintended tormenters bit was fascinating, the descriptions of geological phenomena less so. ( )
  emmby | Oct 4, 2023 |
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Showing 1-5 of 128 (next | show all)
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▾Published reviews
Hoewel "Solaris" schitterend is verfilmd, is het boek zelf niet overdreven goed. De hoofdpersoon is een psycholoog met weinig verstand van psychologie, die probeert fysische problemen op te lossen, waar hij - en met hem de schrijver - nog minder verstand van heeft. Het gegeven is veelbelovend. De planeet is bedekt met een oceaan die leeft en zichzelf en zijn zonnestelsel kan manipuleren. De onderzoekers en de oceaan proberen met elkaar in kontakt te komen. De onhandige oceaan zaait daardoor dood en verderf. De mogelijkheden om de armoedige "science" te compenseren met spannende "fiction" worden om zeep geholpen door lange pseudo-wetenschappelijke verklaringen over de fysiologie van de planeet, wat de indruk wekt dat een kort verhaal is uitgerekt tot een boek.
added by karnoefel | editNBD / Biblion
 
▾Other authors

» Add other authors (75 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Lem, StanisławAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Bolzoni, E.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Cox, SteveTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Johnston, BillTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Juliani, AlessandroNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kannosto, MattiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kilmartin, JoannaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Malm, JohanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Olszewski, JanuszCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Suvin, DarkoAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Swahn, Sven ChristerTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Zimmermann-Göllheim… IrmtraudTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
▾Series and work relationships
▾Awards and Honors
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▾Common Knowledge
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Canonical title
Original title
Solaris
Alternative titles
Original publication date
1961
People/Characters
Chris Kelvin
Sartorius
Harey
Snout
Gibarian
Important places
Solaris
Space
Prometheus (Space Ship)
The Station, Solaris
Important events
Related movies
Solyaris (1972 | IMDb)
Aus den Sterntagebüchern des Ijon Tichy (1999 | IMDb)
Solaris (2002 | IMDb)
Aus den Sterntagebüchern des Ijon Tichy II (2000 | IMDb)
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
At 19.00 hours, ship's time, I made my way to the launching bay.  The men around the shaft stood aside to let me pass, and I climbed down into the capsule.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
McCaffrey, Anne
Original language
Polish
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC
▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (3)

▾Book descriptions
"When psychologist Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he finds himself confronting a painful memory embodied in the physical likeness of a past lover. Kelvin learns that hs is not alone in this, and that other crews examining the planet are plagued with their own repressed and newly real memories. Could it be, as Solaris scientists speculate, that the ocean may be a massive neural center creating these memories, for a reason no one can identify? Long considered a classic, Solaris asks the question: Can we understand the universe around us without first understanding what lies within?"--Back cover.
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WorldCat

Genres

Melvil Decimal System (DDC)

891.8537Literature › Literature of other languages › Literature of east Indo-European and Celtic languages › West and South Slavic languages (Bulgarian, Slovene, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Serbo-Croatian, and Macedonian) › Polish › Polish fiction › 1919–1989

LC Classification

PG7158.L39Language and Literature › Slavic languages and literatures. Baltic languages. Albanian language › Slavic. Baltic. Albanian › Slavic › Polish

Rating

Average: (3.87)
0.5 4
1 18
1.5 8
2 100
2.5 29
3 324
3.5 125
4 599
4.5 78
5 447

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