Published: 26 Aug 2024
Solaris
- Release date: 1961 (1970 for first English translation)
- Genre: Science-Fiction
- Themes/Moods: Slow-paced, Mysterious, Reflective, Dark
- Rating: 2/5
- Originally written: 3rd July 2024
Quick storygraph summary:
- Q: Plot- or character-driven? - A: Character driven
- Q: Strong character development? - A: No
- Q: Loveable characters? - A: It’s complicated
- Q: Diverse cast of characters? - A: No
- Q: Flaws of characters a main focus? - A: No
Some really interesting ideas, thoughts and takes on humanity through the lens of scientists trying to make contact with Solaris, an alien planet and ocean that appears wholly disinterested in mankind - until an experiment of bombarding the planet with X-rays goes awry, with Solaris responding by sending “visitors”, unique simulacra that take after a singular person important in each scientists’ memory. Our protagonist, Kris Kelvin, for instance quickly gets a visitor in the form of Rheya, his late wife who took her own life years before - the other visitors are only alluded to in passing.
This is a fantastic set-up, but there’s a lot of… fluff for a lack of a better word. Long flowing and very science-y descriptions (as much as one can describe a fictional alien sentient planet) around Solaris, how it behaves and the long expansive history of researching it - fascinating sure but felt extremely out-of-kilter in what really appears to be a rather human-oriented story. There’s also a lot of waiting around, stalling and days, chapters, conversations where little is done - and for all the thinking and rumination said scientists on Solaris do their actions are often frustrating, and don’t seem to understand the very book they were written for.
