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Solaris

The Definitive Edition

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Solaris

Written by: Stanislaw Lem, Bill Johnston - translator
Narrated by: Alessandro Juliani
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About this listen

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.
Classics Science Fiction Fiction Space Station
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What the critics say

"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)

What listeners say about Solaris

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Made me pause and relisten to certain segments

Wow, what a story. Full of psychological questions and mystery. Part The Shining, part love story. It's a quick listen which was perfect length

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed the movies more!

The narrator was superb, soothing voice which I know from Battlestar. story was just ok for me

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Genuine Science Fiction

I have read (or listened to) stories that were more entertaining than this one, but I must say that this is unique. Significantly unique. It is difficult to review, in fact. This is certainly one of the great books of the genre.

This novel examines the concept of 'alien' and proposes our (almost) complete inability to understand an extra--terrestrial intelligence. No little green men here. No rubber forehead aliens either.

Without revealing too much, the protagonist is part of a scientific super project to study an alien phenomena on a distant world; a living 'ocean'. Contact with this intelligence pushes the minds of the tiny scientific team to the limits of their endurance.

Astounding that this book seems reasonably modern, with a few notable exceptions, despite its publication date (1961).

The narration was very fine, but his attempt at the female voice (Hari) was not great and a little distracting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Definitely worth reading

This is an excellent work of science fiction, truly one of the classics. It's depiction of alien life as something truly alien is a breath of fresh air. This book is very philosophical and really encourages the reader to reflect on the work. There are occasionally passages which are very technical but these are nevertheless an important part of the work. Overall, it is an excellent work but you have to be in the right mood to listen to it and know what you're getting into. It may be odd and quirky at times but it is worth reading. The narrator does an excellent job as well. The pace of narration is good, as are the different voices of the characters, both male and female. Overall it's 5/5 but I gave the story a 4/5 because it's not really a story driven book in my opinion but more philosophical.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A repeat listen

If you like this style of writing then this will be a great listen. It was enjoyed by my young son as well. It is one of the few that I have listened to more than once. #Audible1

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Very intriguing

I want to know what the ocean is, what about contact? I enjoyed it, but was left wanting more wonder.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

an audio page-turner

This is an amazing story, so much the better for being brought to life by an excellent narrator!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good story about people in a crisis

Even though the crisis was caused by external events it still feels like it had internal roots. I wonder how the storyline would develop if it's characters were able to accept themselves and others completely.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Weird and wonderful

A strange love story set in an immense ocean of barely decipherable events and non events. Really worth the listen. The characters are beautifully realized by the talent of Alessandro Juliani.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

overrated

unfinished thought soup. great idea on alien life but not my cup of tea. interesting atmosphere but too bland of a story.

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