The unknowable nature of the truly alien is juxtaposed with the relationship between ourselves, memory, human identity, and the people we think we should know best.

Is Solaris intelligent in a way we can understand, or even what we would define as alive? In fact, Solaris goes as far as to question the premise so often assumed: that aliens would initiate any contact or interest in humankind. The planet in question appears to be able to reach into people’s minds and replicate their darkest memories, but is this intentional? If so, those intentions are unfathomable. The alien nature of the planet is completely different from most aliens of other sci fi, which are essentially humans with motivations we can relate to, albeit with a different external appearance. What follows is an incredible examination of the idea of the truly unknowable. Put it this way, if you like Black Mirror, you will enjoy this book. Before long, Kelvin discovers why for himself when he is visited by his dead wife – or is it simply a living, breathing replica constructed from his own memories? Nobody greets him, one of the crew is missing, and those that remain are disturbed, distracted and unwilling to articulate why.

His role is to review the progress made and decide the fate of the study, however on arrival it quickly becomes clear all is not well. Some time in the undefined future, psychologist Kelvin is sent to a remote space research station orbiting a mysterious planet called Solaris.

Solaris s lem