SolarisSolaris
Score Classic
What it's about
Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the living ocean that covers it, and he finds a painful memory brought to life: the physical likeness of a long-dead lover. The other scientists are haunted by their own memories made flesh.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a cult classic about the limits of communicating with an alien intelligence.
You'll love it if you liked
Roadside Picnic
The Left Hand of Darkness
The DispossessedGood to know
Look for the Bill Johnston translation; Lem himself called the older English edition a poor translation.
By the numbers
- Readers36 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #216 of the 333 science fiction books we rank
- #690 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2192 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Adventurous
If you like this, read next
Ender's Game
The Lord of the Rings
Dune
Hyperion
Foundation
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Solaris worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,192 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Solaris about?
Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the living ocean that covers it, and he finds a painful memory brought to life: the physical likeness of a long-dead lover. The other scientists are haunted by their own memories made flesh.
How long does it take to read Solaris?
About 6 hours (222 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Solaris?
If you liked it, try Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin or The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin.