Solaris

by Stanislaw Lem (1961)

6/10

I wanted to like this, and I appreciate it more than Lem’s attempts at comedy (Pirx, Ijon Tichy), but it still didn’t do much for me.

It was quite esoteric and metaphysical, but even more than that was an existential examination of scientific exploration (and first contact) itself. Almost a quarter of the book is devoted to a detailed recounting of Lem’s invented academic history of a scientific mystery. It’s impressive to invent a fictional, future century-long scientific debate, but it doesn’t make for great reading.

Perhaps with a less opaque protagonist this book would have felt more compelling to me. As it was, we just sort of go along with Kris Kelvin’s deteriorating mental status without truly understanding it. You just accept it as something that is happening but still remain detached from it.

For more interesting fictional accounts of first contact I would highly recommend Lem’s other works on the topic: Eden, Fiasco and The Invincible. This one I can’t really recommend except to Lem completists and fans of either film adaptation. I am intrigued to rewatch both the Tarkovsky and Soderbergh versions, as I suspect I may appreciate them more after reading the source material. Interesting to note that both films left me with a similar detached apathy as the book… so maybe that’s just the nature of the story.