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ollyie's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sebniv's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hillairy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sunimret's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
neartaking's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
chnh's review
4.0
this was a really interesting read. it explores the idea of how people respond to the unknown and how emotions can entrap us.
the story follows Kelvin who arrives on a planet called Solaris. when he arrives, it’s chaotic. the crew on the station, two other guys, are being visited by these ‘visitors.’
the visitors are fabricated from each persons strong feelings of either despair, pleasure, or grief.
it’s haunting and chilling and Kelvin is outright stupid.
the story was fascinating in the sense that it shows how strong emotions like despair, pleasure, or grief can ultimately dictate what you do and who you become. it also shows how these feelings can entrap you.
the story also emphasizes that earthlings want so deeply to find other civilizations, groups of people, or alien contact, but they don’t even understand themselves.
got a bit dry at times with the deep science and philosophy, but overall a very captivating read.
…
“but, evidently, the dead do not change; they remain eternally young.”
“we have no need of other worlds. we need mirrors. we don't know what to do with other worlds. a single world, our own, suffices us; but we can't accept it for what it is. we are searching for an ideal image of our own world: we go in quest of a planet, of a civilization superior to our own but developed on the basis of a prototype of our primeval past.”
“don’t you see? no, you don’t want to.”
“man had gone out to explore other worlds and other civilizations, without having explored his own labyrinth of dark passages and secret chambers, and without finding what lies behind doorways that he himself has sealed.”
“interstellar colleagues ought to help each other!”
the story follows Kelvin who arrives on a planet called Solaris. when he arrives, it’s chaotic. the crew on the station, two other guys, are being visited by these ‘visitors.’
the visitors are fabricated from each persons strong feelings of either despair, pleasure, or grief.
it’s haunting and chilling and Kelvin is outright stupid.
the story was fascinating in the sense that it shows how strong emotions like despair, pleasure, or grief can ultimately dictate what you do and who you become. it also shows how these feelings can entrap you.
the story also emphasizes that earthlings want so deeply to find other civilizations, groups of people, or alien contact, but they don’t even understand themselves.
got a bit dry at times with the deep science and philosophy, but overall a very captivating read.
…
“but, evidently, the dead do not change; they remain eternally young.”
“we have no need of other worlds. we need mirrors. we don't know what to do with other worlds. a single world, our own, suffices us; but we can't accept it for what it is. we are searching for an ideal image of our own world: we go in quest of a planet, of a civilization superior to our own but developed on the basis of a prototype of our primeval past.”
“don’t you see? no, you don’t want to.”
“man had gone out to explore other worlds and other civilizations, without having explored his own labyrinth of dark passages and secret chambers, and without finding what lies behind doorways that he himself has sealed.”
“interstellar colleagues ought to help each other!”
lelcopter's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
suse_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Solaris war ein Fiebertraum. Von Anfang bis Ende war hat mich der Aufbau fasziniert und die unendlich vielen Details die Lem sich hat einfallen lassen. Auch ist Solaris ein wahnsinnig toller Blick darauf wie Lem 1961 die Zukunft der Raumfahrt erwartete. Ein faszinierendes aber auch unzufriedenstellendes Buch zwischen Scifi, Noir, und ausgedachten wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Death
Minor: Body horror and Racism
andreea27's review against another edition
4.0
"We think of ourselves as the Knights of the Holy Contact. This is another lie. We are only seeking Man. We have no need of other worlds. We need mirrors. We don't know what to do with other worlds."