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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I was torn on the 4 vs 5 star. This is a must-read for anyone who says they are interested in science fiction. Took me a long time to get to it, but I'm glad I did.
There are some long discussions about the science of solaristics - those who study the planet Solaris. Some of this was a bit tedious, yet it was important for the background of some of the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist.
NOT QUITE A SPOILER, BUT STOP READING NOW TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.
I love the adventure in some scifi stories. This is not such an adventure. They are in some really far off realm of our little planetary system and living in conditions that indicate lots of time must have passed for humans to have produced the materials for getting there and putting up a station to monitor the planet. We must have come a long way (technically, not distance) to achieve this. And yet, what can we do here? Basically, nothing. This is all so out of our capabilities to comprehend or deal with.
Because things aren't quite clear cut, there isn't a sharp resolution at the end. But that is the point and that is what makes Solaris sneak under your skin and into your mind. I'd say it's one of the most unique scifi book I've ever read. "Ringworld" and the Rama series present similar mysteries that keep you thinking and wondering. It's the thinking and wondering long after the last page is turned that is what makes a story a classic.
I ended with 4 stars simply because somehow I felt some parts could have been a bit tighter or shorter. Maybe I was looking for high-pace thrills after all?
There are some long discussions about the science of solaristics - those who study the planet Solaris. Some of this was a bit tedious, yet it was important for the background of some of the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist.
NOT QUITE A SPOILER, BUT STOP READING NOW TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.
I love the adventure in some scifi stories. This is not such an adventure. They are in some really far off realm of our little planetary system and living in conditions that indicate lots of time must have passed for humans to have produced the materials for getting there and putting up a station to monitor the planet. We must have come a long way (technically, not distance) to achieve this. And yet, what can we do here? Basically, nothing. This is all so out of our capabilities to comprehend or deal with.
Because things aren't quite clear cut, there isn't a sharp resolution at the end. But that is the point and that is what makes Solaris sneak under your skin and into your mind. I'd say it's one of the most unique scifi book I've ever read. "Ringworld" and the Rama series present similar mysteries that keep you thinking and wondering. It's the thinking and wondering long after the last page is turned that is what makes a story a classic.
I ended with 4 stars simply because somehow I felt some parts could have been a bit tighter or shorter. Maybe I was looking for high-pace thrills after all?
An interesting concept - a possibly sentient ocean encompassing an entire planet possibly trying to communicate with humans orbiting in a space station through physical incarnations of their innermost thoughts - the execution seems rather dated (it was written in 1960) and occasionally lapses into snore-inducing philosophical nit-picking of its fictitious scientific community and premise.
It's not hard to see why the Soviet master Tarkovsky chose this story as the basis of one of his best films. There are some big, complex ideas in this book - stuff worth pondering well after you finish the last page. However, I could barely believe how truly terrible Lem's writing is. In that sense, this slim novel has become a sci-fi classic against all odds. Worth a read but this unfortunately ends up being one of those rare books that finds more powerful interpretation in the film adaptations (even the not-so-great Soderbergh version).
Que siente un elefante por una hormiga? Como pueden comunicarse y entenderse? Cuando el elefante es un planeta y la hormiga un humano se tiene el primer contacto con inteligencia extraterrestre.
Interesante, desesperante y delirante. La impotencia que te hace sentir ante la situación me ha hecho no conectar con el libro. Creo que esta muy bien pero no he sabido apreciarlo lo cual me deja un regusto amargo, quizás no era mi momento de leerlo.
Interesante, desesperante y delirante. La impotencia que te hace sentir ante la situación me ha hecho no conectar con el libro. Creo que esta muy bien pero no he sabido apreciarlo lo cual me deja un regusto amargo, quizás no era mi momento de leerlo.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
TERRIBLE COVER!! Good book tho. Some chapters lost me in the history of the Solarists, but I loved the beginning and the stuff with Rheya. Very intrigued and excited to watch the movie!! Michael you gotta read this!!!!
TERRIBLE COVER!! Good book tho. Some chapters lost me in the history of the Solarists, but I loved the beginning and the stuff with Rheya. Very intrigued and excited to watch the movie!! Michael you gotta read this!!!!
I can see why it makes for a bad movie.
His preoccupation with implausible facial expressions and the consistently hysterical ways his characters acted were the only things I didn't like about this book. The ocean was pretty cool, it makes me wonder how much Asimov was referencing this in Nemesis.
His preoccupation with implausible facial expressions and the consistently hysterical ways his characters acted were the only things I didn't like about this book. The ocean was pretty cool, it makes me wonder how much Asimov was referencing this in Nemesis.
pausing your story every few chapters for longwinded summaries or quotes of fictional scientific theories and histories does not make for a particularly engaging or immersive narrative.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No