I know Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris is regarded as a classic, and the version I read (the U.S. first edition) evidently suffers from being “double-translated” (Polish to French to English), but this is still a bit of a dated slog. The characters combine the flat-effect of stereotyped scientists with the foolish incompetence of a horror-movie protagonist. Strangely enough, the only time the book really came alive to me was when all action ceased in favor of a an entire chapter of infodump on the various forms the living ocean created on the surface; it’s a shame Lem decided to spend the majority of the novel on the truly tedious psychological struggles of the deeply uninteresting characters examining the living ocean rather than the ocean itself.
Tags: Books, Science Fiction, Solaris, Stanislaw Lem
Earth had studied the ocean for over a hundred years. Kelvin felt that it was useless to try and probe the surface further for it would only yield the same, inconsistent results as any scientist before him. I believe the psychological aspects of dealing with something truly alien (i.e. Depression, anxiety, hopelessness) were conveyed well. The book also points out the nature of man and his wanted dominance over new cultures and worlds, which was interesting. I guess I just flat out enjoyed it.