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Adina (way behind)'s Reviews > Solaris
Solaris
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It is very hard for me to rate this since I was mesmerized by the first half of the book and fell a bit out of love in the second part.
I was fascinated by the idea of an "alien" ocean. Most of the times when people think of aliens, they see beings more or less similar to humans, at least possessing some characteristic that humans can relate to. One of the ideas of Solaris is that we hardly accept that something cannot be understood or explained by the existing human laws.
The problem with the book, and the reason for my 4 stars, was the insertion of some dry, sience-text chapters about the different theories about the foreign planet and the ocean. Although a bit too sciency, I enjoyed reading some of them in the first part. However, in the second part, there was a lengthy lecture about different formations created by the mysterious ocean on Solaris (mimoids, symmetriads and asymmetriads etc) which was really boring. It gave me the impression I was reading a science compendium. It did not seem to add much to the plot or allowed any progress in solving the mystery.
The ending was a bit unsatisfactory but maybe it was meant to be this way.
I was fascinated by the idea of an "alien" ocean. Most of the times when people think of aliens, they see beings more or less similar to humans, at least possessing some characteristic that humans can relate to. One of the ideas of Solaris is that we hardly accept that something cannot be understood or explained by the existing human laws.
The problem with the book, and the reason for my 4 stars, was the insertion of some dry, sience-text chapters about the different theories about the foreign planet and the ocean. Although a bit too sciency, I enjoyed reading some of them in the first part. However, in the second part, there was a lengthy lecture about different formations created by the mysterious ocean on Solaris (mimoids, symmetriads and asymmetriads etc) which was really boring. It gave me the impression I was reading a science compendium. It did not seem to add much to the plot or allowed any progress in solving the mystery.
The ending was a bit unsatisfactory but maybe it was meant to be this way.
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Razvan
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Feb 17, 2016 10:02AM
nice! have you read Hyperion?
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Not yet. I bought it a few months ago (kindle deal) and I am planning to read it soon. What did you think of it?
Mind-blowing. Must read. Probably the best SCI-fi novel i have ever read...although now i'm reading a new one that might top it :D. 100% read it.
What are you reading?
You know how it is with kindle..you read 3 books at once, but for sci-fi i'm reading lord of light which is really a one of kind book so far...
I liked the bit of romance with the wife double, but yeah, the solaristic stuff about symmetriads tend to prevail. Did you like the movies?
Alegra wrote: "I liked the bit of romance with the wife double, but yeah, the solaristic stuff about symmetriads tend to prevail. Did you like the movies?" I haven't seen any. I wanted to but I forgot to look for them.
The Tarkovsky adaption is my favorite film ever.
Noel wrote: "The Tarkovsky adaption is my favorite film ever."Oh no! Please tell me you didn't say this! 🙀
Haha, what do you mean, Nastya?
Hey now, I agree with Noel. Tarkovsky rock&rolls it lol!
I have a few moderately long and quite funny (people tend to laugh) rants in my oeuvre about Tarkovsky's "filmmaking", especially in Solaris and Stalker. It includes a lot of gesticulation and naughty words, all delivered in Russian. 😋But I must admit, I enjoy The Mirror. I'm so ashamed... 🙈
Lol :D His films were almost punishing to get through but they were so, so rewarding for me. I still think Tarkovsky was one of the greatest filmmakers to ever grace this messed up world :P
lmao, what about the candle scene in Nostalghia… talk about suspense and action-packed movies!
My sweet Noel, I'll still love you, even though you're dead wrong! 😝Come on, you love the masterpiece that is Buffy, you understand quality!
:)) I really enjoyed your movie banter. Which one is better again?
Steven Soderbergh’s ;)
Pretty solid review, Adlina. I totally agree about the science insertions and the ending. Other than those, it is a good read.
Have you seen Tarkovsky's rendition of this, Adina? I loved the film but have not read the book, so I wondered how it compares.
Love the review, Alina. Sorry to hear it wasn’t a consistent story after such a solid start.
"Sufficiently advanced civilizations are indistinguishable from nature." -Arthur C. Clarke
Paul wrote: "Pretty solid review, Adlina. I totally agree about the science insertions and the ending. Other than those, it is a good read." Yes, It could have been a 5* otherwise.
Vicky wrote: "Have you seen Tarkovsky's rendition of this, Adina? I loved the film but have not read the book, so I wondered how it compares." not yet, I know I have too.
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader wrote: "Love the review, Alina. Sorry to hear it wasn’t a consistent story after such a solid start." I am sorry too.
Damon wrote: ""Sufficiently advanced civilizations are indistinguishable from nature." -Arthur C. Clarke" Well chosen quote from a great writer.
I really loved the book. I can see what you mean about some science approaches, but I still found fascinating the ocean alien that you mention in the review. Also the relationship between and this unknown Intelligence... It's so complex!!!
Fer wrote: "I really loved the book. I can see what you mean about some science approaches, but I still found fascinating the ocean alien that you mention in the review. Also the relationship between and this ..." It was yes, an interesting sf and well written.
I had the exact same experience with this book.
Andrea wrote: "I had the exact same experience with this book." with worse results :))
You've captured my thoughts well on this magnificent but frustrating novel. The sense of mystery and wonder built up in the first three-quarters of the novel deflated when it came to the descriptions of the Solarian structures. What could have been awe-inspiring came off as bland and boring. The ending was just anticlimactic. It could have been a great as opposed to a very good novel. Thanks for your review.
I had a bad translation, I believe when I read this. I watched the film and thought it was brilliant and knew I had to read this book. Nice review!
I totally get what you mean with the “insertion of some dry, science-text chapters about the different theories”, i notice this in a lot of sf books, even for sf mixed with other genres e.g. authors like lovecraft, do this all the time, but as tedious as they can be to read, i do love it, because it really shows us how much thought and love and research was put into writing this, though it could’ve been done in a less “infodumping” way, to be fair.
Tim wrote: "You've captured my thoughts well on this magnificent but frustrating novel. The sense of mystery and wonder built up in the first three-quarters of the novel deflated when it came to the descriptio..." Unfortunately, that's how I felt too.
Franky wrote: "I had a bad translation, I believe when I read this. I watched the film and thought it was brilliant and knew I had to read this book. Nice review!" i want to see the movie. I hope you will like the book better in a different translation.
Hawa wrote: "I totally get what you mean with the “insertion of some dry, science-text chapters about the different theories”, i notice this in a lot of sf books, even for sf mixed with other genres e.g. author..." Yes, the do this a lot. I could not stand it with Lovecraft, I'm afraid. Blah, blah, blah.
