Stanisław Lem’s Solaris is less a tale of interstellar exploration than a cosmic therapy session gone awry. A planet covered by a sentient ocean toys with the psyches of visiting scientists, dredging up their deepest regrets in all-too tangible form. Instead of offering enlightenment, Solaris holds up an alien mirror that no one wants to peer into for long. Lem slyly suggests that humanity’s greatest unknown may not be outer space, but the dark abyss within ourselves
Painting: Today I painted a view of the planet Solaris
Some of the books and authors discussed in this episode include:
- Solaris by Stanisław Lem
- The Midnight Project by Christy Clemenhage
A Novel Review Book Podcast 