Solaris

Rating:
Summary: The greatest work by a great author
Review: While Lem's Tichy stories and fictional book reviews and introductions are often amazing, and the Pirx stories and the Cyberiad are more fun, this is almost certainly his best. Solaris is the prime example of Lem's oft-visited theme - the difficulty of understanding something alien to us, illuminating the difficulty of understanding ourselves. Kelvin's grappling with his feelings for Rheya, and the "reality" of his situation, and his ultimate acceptance of them (as opposed to the other scientists' refusal), is contrasted with the effort to understand the ocean's "communication." As with most of Lem's novels, several explanations for a situation are put forward, with no definitive conclusion. This device works best in this out of all his novels. In spite of Lem's style, and the double translation, there are a couple of beautiful passages in the book, as well as some satire of scientific explanation. Worth reading many times.

Rating:
Summary: an impressive work of paranoia
Review: i'm just getting into lem's works, but he seems to be at his best when exploring the limits of science.

this bleak, heartbreaking work has haunted, somewhat unhinged scientists coming to terms with their pasts, having been given most unusual "gifts" from the planet they are trying to study.

much of the book chronicles man's attempt to understand and contact the living, presumably sentient ocean. this often in the form of digressions into (often quite funny) attempts to describe, classify and interpret the various wonderful, creepy things which could be an attempt to communicate. or something else.

Rating:
Summary: inquietante y provocativo
Review: Solaris es un clásico en la narrativa de ciencia ficción.Un libro que plantea las grandes interrogantes que acompañan al ser humano.Leyéndolo se tambalea nuestra visión antropocéntrica del universo.Admirablemente hace explícita la posibilidad de vida inteligente ,pero no a imagen y semejanza de nosotros, como tanta literatura de baja calidad se empeña en difundir.Hay sutileza y elegancia en los conceptos,sin embargo en algunas páginas se cruza el desierto de descripciones soporíferas y a veces reiteraciones innecesarias. Economía de palabras y fluidez en la obra le faltaron para hacerla insuperable.No obstante y en beneficio de la benevolencia reconozco que,Lem abrió caminos y alamedas con esta creación. Tiene su magistral contraparte en el cine a cargo de Tarkovsky.Ya es inmortal en el solarístico recuerdo de la Historia. Héctor Parra (Chile)

Rating:
Summary: Memorable!
Review: Unlike so many sci fi books whose plots and characters blend together, this one will be standout and be remembered by you for years to come! I read it first in early 1970's and still remember it better than books read 20 years later. My only regret is that I read this wonderful book and will never experience reading it for the first time!

Rating:
Summary: Flawed flashes of genius
Review: Though somewhat less enjoyable than the mind-reeling feats of mental and verbal gymnastics of Lem's Pirx, Tichy, and Trurl tales; the underlying concept and sense of paranoia are a marvel. After reading this, check out Michael Chrichton's "Sphere". A few changes, but seems to be a pickpocket of Solaris.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: This book is a relativly quick read, although some chapters seem to go on with out end or a point. Still, I could not put this book down. I can not compare Lem's writing style to anyone else. Many people compared the film version of this book to 2001, however, I find the the plot much more intriuging. The elements of this novel stayed with me for a long time.

Rating:
Summary: When the Ocean is alive...
Review: Solaris is really one of the most interesting book of all. I've read it 10 years ago and still, I cannot forget how Stanislas Lem played with our deepest human feelings of love and despair, showing us that living a lie could be a goal in itself. This Ocean on a distant planet is alive, and needs information from us. He is alone, and does not understand very well what's surrounding him when humans first step into orbit. But he is smart and clever! Unlike the situation we know on earth, his cells did not create myriads of creatures but one: The Ocean itself!

This is a real Great book. Don't wait to order it.

Rating:
Summary: The movie is better
Review: I think Andrei Tarkovski's film version is probably one of the best movies I've ever seen, and also one of the rare cases where the movie beats the book. The reason is clear: Solaris offers a basis for incredible visions, but Lem with his somewhat dry and scientific style doesn't make the best use of them. He earns praise, though, for his ideas - without them Tarkovski couldn't have achieved anything. I was really impressed by the way Lem weaves together Kelvin's personal sorrows and the main theme of human vs. alien lifeform. That's classic sci-fi in its purest form. But the dryness of the text is also a classic sci-fi problem, which too often goes hand in hand even with the greatest litetary vision.

Rating:
Summary: Highly philosophical; Short; Moody to Depressing
Review: This book will make you think, even if you think regularly. Many dislike this book because it is "drab", "descriptive", "depressing", "philosophical", "open-ended". Yes, the language and description are rather tedious, occasionally. Yes, the subject matter is serious and pessimistic. However, this is a great book, a classic, imperfect yet substantial. Its mood and subject matter remind me of Sartre, who admittedly is not for everyone yet did receive a Nobel prize. It is not your typical scifi thriller, but rather uses scifi techniques to efficiently and tangibly explore modern philosophical themes. And rest assured that after Lem's made his point, he'll end his book. Which may give you 2-3 days you might have spent reading another book to contemplate this one. Contrast this book to, say, those of C.S. Lewis. Same length, similar themes, opposite influences/mindset.

Rating:
Summary: Ciencia Ficcion Psicologica
Review: Es un libro muy bueno. Una historia de gran caracter psicologico e intimista. Lem es un gran maestro del genero y esta, de las que lei, es su mejor obra. Una historia que te deja pensando, en el amor a tus seres queridos que has perdido y en el recuerdo de los momentos compartidos y te recuerda aprovechar esos momentos porque quiza pasen... y tarden en volver.

Martin