A review by vessel
Solaris by Stanisław Lem

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Here's the thing about Solaris: Lem is describing the biology, behaviors, and visuals of the ocean that wouldn't be out of place on the cover of a space themed dark ambient album, I'm having fun. He's describing the arcane, involved, and controversial academic scene surrounding it, I'm still having fun. We pivot to interpersonal drama and having to listen to the same irritating academic dudes ramble on or argue impotently or say racial slurs, I'm not having fun anymore.

If you're a pervert like me who's really into speculative biology and fun sci fi worldbuilding, there are a number of parts in this book that are a joy to imagine and roll over in your brain. There are concepts posited that are fascinating to consider, and once again, its striking imagery alone makes it clear for me why it is considered a classic.

Personally, I found the protagonist incredibly grating and annoying, along with pretty much every single other character (excluding the ocean), and there was just something about the pacing that I could not stand. I was having fun about half the time reading this, and the other half felt like pulling teeth. It gets a bonus for the brief moments of effective suspense and horror, along with the occasionally quite charming, deeply dated elements that in the year 2023 very much read as "retrofuturism".
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