Solaris

The Definitive Edition

By: Stanislaw Lem, Bill Johnston - translator

Narrated by: Alessandro Juliani

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

At last, one of the world’s greatest works of science fiction is available - just as author Stanislaw Lem intended it.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Solaris, Audible, in cooperation with the Lem Estate, has commissioned a brand-new translation - complete for the first time, and the first ever directly from the original Polish to English. Beautifully narrated by Alessandro Juliani (Battlestar Galactica), Lem’s provocative novel comes alive for a new generation.

In Solaris, Kris Kelvin arrives on an orbiting research station to study the remarkable ocean that covers the planet’s surface. But his fellow scientists appear to be losing their grip on reality, plagued by physical manifestations of their repressed memories. When Kelvin’s long-dead wife suddenly reappears, he is forced to confront the pain of his past - while living a future that never was. Can Kelvin unlock the mystery of Solaris? Does he even want to?

©1961 Stanislaw Lem. Translation © 2011 by Barbara and Tomasz Lem (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Few are [Lem's] peers in poetic expression, in word play, and in imaginative and sophisticated sympathy." (Kurt Vonnegut)

"[Lem was] a giant of mid-20th-century science fiction, in a league with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick." ( The New York Times)
"Juliani transmits Kelvin’s awe at Solaris’s red and blue dawns and makes his confusion palpable when he awakens one morning to find his long-dead wife seated across the room. Juliani’s performance is top-notch." ( AudioFile)

A vastly underrated work

This easily one of the best stories I have ever read. I could not but help put myself in the lead character's place more than any book I recall. Truly the most unique take on extraterrestrial life.

The narrator was fantastic. 5 stars all across the board.

Solaris and it’s Mysteries

I believe this starts off strong, there is a uneasiness in the first few chapters because the characters never reveal their full hand. As it goes on there are sections that explain the world and the studies done on it which take some time and it is admittedly easy to drift off. I understand there is a place for world building but it is a bit dense for me. It ends strong as well, and the ending conversations make me wish I loved the novel as a whole a little more. This is a solid work of literature but I find myself gravitating more toward something like Roadside Picnic.

Great reader

I wish someone would make a third movie of this story using modern effects. I'd love to see a faithful version of the ocean and the phenomena described. Excellent narrator. I will listen again.

Yes, it is one of the all-time greats in Sci Fi

I just never realized that anyone else thought so.

I have read the original, bad translation two or three times, have seen the original movie about five times, and the "has little to do with the book or original movie" remake more times than I'd like to admit (one).

It is outstanding that a new read and translation has been done. Listened to an hour so far; love both the translation and the narrator.

Thank you, Audible, for bringing this one to us.

Over-Hyped

This book didn't live up to it's hype. The first few hours were promising. But then the story line was truncated by long, boring technical descriptions that added nothing to the book and seriously rained on the plot parade. By the time a few of the threads were picked up again, I'd lost interest.

The ending was unsatisfactory too. It didn't resolve anything, and much of what could and should have been wrapped up was left hanging.

The narration was excellent, but couldn't save the book.

Overall, very disappointing.

: . + Utterly Exotic Space : +:

This is a book of elegant ideas and haunting backgrounds. Solaris puts the science back into science fiction for sure. I've been striking out with many other sci-fy titles, and this one restored my interest! The author manages to use scientific words and somehow turn them into stunning intellectual calligraphy. The language drives this book...the sheer organicness of the planet, the ethereal stream of scientific thought, the poetic loneliness of distant space, the wonder of an unsolvable mystery......it's really all here. I didn't give it 5 stars only because the story runs with an odd plot, HOWEVER, it was so artfully done. I was truly entranced. It should really be 4 1/2 stars. And the narrator, Alessandro, did a phenomental job.... probably one of audible's best performances.

Excellent performance. Story is meandering.

Very good performance by narrators. Could feel the bright heat and light of the fierce blue sun and also the orange glow of the deep red sun.
Each actor is narrated well, especially the scene with Liquid Oxygen.
The book itself seems meandering too much. It takes random walks into past and leaves us stranded there for long time.

Don't listen while alone in the dark!

Thanks to Audible for commissioning this translation by Bill Johnston. With crisp clear language, it reads like a contemporary novel. The first half is downright frightening with ghosts aboard a 3 man space station. The Narrator, Alessandro Juliani, has a way with voices. Very expressive and spooky.

The alien lifeform is completely unique. I didn't see it coming. I loved this book. I don't know how I missed this sci-fi classic before, but I'm glad to have waited for this new and powerful edition.

Mindbender

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The narrator did a good job of differentiating the characters. There was a lot of technical discourse that would have been hard to follow reading that came alive being read to you.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rheya was the character I found fascinating. As she came to terms with who or what she was and inevitably takes the same course of action her original human self pursued. If I had one complaint it would be the book did not probe the nature of Rheya even more.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when Dr. Kris Kelvin reaches this remote space station with no way to get home quickly and finds himself trapped with the apparent madman Gibarian as his only company.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Kris tricked the first Rheya into the rocket. It was both sad and horrific at the same time. The trusting innocence of Rheya juxtaposed with the cold calculating actions of Kris really made the scene work.

Any additional comments?

Reminded me a little of "2001 a space odyssey". Human beings encountering the incomprehensible but Solaris does it in a more personal way.

Interesting but hard to get through

In this book, I zoned in and out all of the time. Lost my focus and had to listen to parts again and again, especially in the ocean description parts. I always had a feeling I had missed something. So, in the end, it's more like a Romeo and Juliette story than a thrilling sci-fi? I liked the concept though.

The narrator did a great job.