Солярис. Эдем

by Stanisław Lem, Станислав Лем

Russian Book. AST. 480. 2022. Hardcover.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

480 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Stanisław Lem (staˈɲiswaf lɛm) was a Polish science fiction, philosophical and satirical writer of Jewish descent. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. He is perhaps best known as the author of Solaris, which has twice been made into a feature film. In 1976, Theodore Sturgeon claimed that Lem was the most widely read science-fiction writer in the world.

His works explore philosophical themes; speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence, the impossibility of mutual communication and understanding, despair about human limitations and humankind's place in the universe. They are sometimes presented as fiction, but others are in the form of essays or philosophical books. Translations of his works are difficult and multiple translated versions of his works exist.

Lem became truly productive after 1956, when the de-Stalinization period led to the "Polish October", when Poland experienced an increase in freedom of speech. Between 1956 and 1968, Lem authored 17 books. His works were widely translated abroad (although mostly in the Eastern Bloc countries). In 1957 he published his first non-fiction, philosophical book, Dialogi (Dialogues), one of his two most famous philosophical texts along with Summa Technologiae (1964). The Summa is notable for being a unique analysis of prospective social, cybernetic, and biological advances. In this work, Lem discusses philosophical implications of technologies that were completely in the realm of science fiction then, but are gaining importance today—like, for instance, virtual reality and nanotechnology. Over the next few decades, he published many books, both science fiction and philosophical/futurological, although from the 1980s onwards he tended to concentrate on philosophical texts and essays.

He gained international fame for The Cyberiad, a series of humorous short stories from a mechanical universe ruled by robots, first published in English in 1974. His best-known novels include Solaris (1961), His Master's Voice (Głos pana, 1968), and the late Fiasco (Fiasko, 1987), expressing most strongly his major theme of the futility of mankind's attempts to comprehend the truly alien. Solaris was made into a film in 1972 by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky and won a Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972; in 2002, Steven Soderbergh directed a Hollywood remake starring George Clooney.

He was the cousin of poet Marian Hemar.

Reviews

[Tilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raamatu lugemise käigus juhtus naljakas lugu, ajasin segi Tarkovski filmid, Stalkeri ja Solarise. Liitsin peas kokku Lemi Solarise ja Strugatskite ainetel filmitud Stalkeri. Paralleelselt Lemiga lugesin Uku Masingu ja Kalju Kirde (eesti päritolu Saksamaa füüsik ja kirjandusloolane) ulmekirjanduse teemalist kirjavahetust (Kord kui me unistus uitis, Ilmamaa 2014) ja seal nad siis nendivad, et Lemile Tarkovski interpretatsioon tema raamatust ei meeldinud. Ma olen Stalkerit mitu korda näinud, mulje oli kuidagi ähmane aga nüüd peale Lemi Solarise lugemist hakkas justkui koitma. Et kui Tarkovski Tsoon on Lemi Ookean ja kohe tekkisid veel mingisugused detailid ja paralleelid … Rääkisin sellest sõbraga, kes on lugenud nii Strugatseid kui Lemi ning näinud mõlemat filmi. Sõber noogutas mõistvalt kaasa, ei saagi aru mis põhjusel, võimalik, et viisakusest, umbes, et las laps pusserdab, peaasi, et laps rahul on … Igatahes, otsustasin, et peaks filmi uuesti üle vaatama, kuni siis lõpuks ikkagi mingi kahtlus tekkis ja googel armulikult teatas, et Tarkovskil on kaks filmi. Ma ei ole Tarkovski Solarist näinud, küll aga olen lugenud Strugatskite “Väljasõit rohelisse” (meeles eriti ei ole, filmiga seoseid ei teki).Et siis, nüüd tahaks kõike (uuesti) ja korraga 🙂
Raamatust. Raamat koosneb kahest lühiromaanist, milleks on Solaris ja Eeden.
Esimeses on inimesed avastanud Maa tüüpi planeedi nimega Solaris ning uurinud seda palju aastaid. Solarise ainus ja inimestele ikka veel täiesti arusaamatu põliselanik on planeeti kattev arukas Ookean.
“Tegelikult polnud veel mitte kõik sellega päri, et see on “olend”, rääkimata sellest, kas võib ookeani nimetada arukaks. Panin raske köite plaksuga riiulile ja võtsin järgmise. See koosnes kahest osast. Esimene oli pühendatud loendamatute katsete, mille eesmärgiks oli kontakti loomine ookeaniga, eksperimendiprotokollide kokkuvõtetele. See püüd saavutada kontakt ookeaniga andis minu üliõpilasaastail, mäletan seda liigagi hästi, ainet lõpututele anekdootidele, pilgetele ja vaimukustele; keskaegne skolastika tundus selge, särava tõelisusena nende džunglite kõrval, mida see probleem tekitas. Teine osa, mis hõlmas peaaegu tuhat kolmsada lehekülge, sisaldas aine bibliograafilist nimestikku. Sest raamatud, mid käsitlesid seda probleemi, poleks kindlasti mahtunud tuppa, kus ma istusin.” (lk 19)
Teadlane Kelvin on umbes lapsest peale Ookeani oma peas kandnud, sellest unesid näinud ja lugenud selle kohta kõike, mida võis ja mida ei võinud. Lugu algab sellest, et Kelvin stardib ühemehe ekspeditsioonina Solarisele ning avastab kohale jõudes sedamaid, et vaatamata kõigile oma teadmistele ei ole ta kaugeltki valmis kohtuma Solarise plasmaookeaniga. Ookean osutub omamoodi psühhoterapeudiks sundides Kelvinit sedamaid sukelduma tema enese, Kelvini, alateadvusesse. Pannes ta olukorda, kus ta peab seisma silmitsi oma kõige salajasemate soovide ja hirmudega, kohtuma uuesti Harey´ga, armastatud naisega, kes temaga lahkumineku tõttu enesetapu sooritas. Raamatus on Kelvini ja Harey suhtele, Harey inimlikustamisele, palju aega pühendatud. Lem näitab kaunilt, kuidas inimene armub sisuliselt iseenda kujutelma. Ka päriselus, inimene kohtab teist ja ehib ta enda poolt väljamõeldud omadustega, tõmbab oma kujutluse kellegi karkassi peale. Ja häda neile suhetele, kus kujutlused reaalsusest erinevad rohkem kui pisut.
Teine lühiromaan algab sellest, et kuuest teadlasest koosnev ekspeditsioon teeb hädamaandumise võõrale, täiesti tundmatule planeedile nimega Eeden. Nimetud (ja ka isiksuseomadustest, iseloomudest ilma jäetud, va üksikud konkreetsed seisukohad üksikutes konkreetsetes küsimustes) Doktor, Füüsik, Keemik, Insener, Kübertehnik ja Koordinaator hakkavad planeeti uurima, püüavad mõista selle toimimist, ühiskonnakorraldust, elu ja olu ning luua kontakti sealsete arukate kohalikega..
Mõlemad romaani süžee ei ole omaette teab mida väärt, tegu on pigem kontseptuaalsete, filosoofiliste teostega. Eriti Solaris, mis on kihilisem ja meeldis mulle Eedeist rohkem. Eeden meeldis ka, aga alles alates hetkest, kui toimus kontakt kohalikega. Loo algus minu jaoks venis, putitati muudkui kosmoselaeva ja seda viisil, et isegi mina sain aru, et tehnoloogia seisukohalt (aga ainult selles osas) on lugu lootusetult vananenud.
Solaris tundub tehniliselt tugevamana. Hea kujutlusvõime korral on võimalik kaasa kolada mööda tühje, kajavaid, kosmosejaama koridore, kohtuda millegi täiesti arusaamatuga, mõista, mis toimub Kelvini peas ja tunda, kuidas ihukarvad ligihiilivast õudusest liigutavad …Eedenis on ka hirmuäratavaid kohti, kuid minus võrreldavat emotsiooni ei tekitanud.
Suures plaanis arutleb Lem mõlemas lood ühest ja samast: inimese/ inimkonna kontakti võimalikkuse üle mõne teise, meist täiesti erineva, aruka olendi või substantsiga. Solaris tekitab mõtlemisainet mitmel teemal. Nt et inimesel on loomulik kujutleda, et arukas olend on indiviid ja seda, et meie oleme need, kes uurivad. Aga kui ei ole, kui arukas olend on substants, mis individuaalsust ei evi? Kui kogu tema olemus, nii füüsiline kui mentaalne, on hoopis teine? Kui meie füüsika ja loogika ei tööta, mis siis? Mul läheb mõistus katki juba üksi sellele mõeldes, rääkimata olukorrast, kui mõistmisest midagi sõltub. Eeden on selles mõttes lihtsam, et seal ongi põliselanikud indiviidid ja ühine keel leitakse. Seal on peamine küsimus mu meelest selles, et hullult tahaks selle vanainimese nüüd üle tänava aidata, vahet ei ole, kas tal sinna teisele poole asja ka on. Ehk et kas peab sekkuma, kui tundub, et peaks kuid tegelikult ei mõista (nt võõrliigi või võõra tsivilisatsiooni elukorraldust, selle kujunemist, ajaloolisi vm põhjusi jpm). Et oma reeglitega võõrasse kloostrisse …
Solarises on veel see ka, et tekib küsimus, kes keda seal üldse uuris. Kui vaadata Ookeani seisukohalt, siis … siis saabusid mingid mini-satikad lendava kilukarbiga. Kas nad on arukad? Kas nad on ohtlikud? Kui sa oled planeedi ainus elusolend, siis tegelikult tahaks ju külalistega maha istuda ja teed juua, uurida, kuidas seal on, kerast paremal ja vasakul, kaugel, üüratus pimeduses. Aga kuidas? Võibolla Ookean proovis, võibolla olid fantoomid tema viis külalistele kingitus teha? Või siis ikka ei olnud, võibolla hoopis inimesed sundisid teda selleks kuidagi, sundisid (alateadlikult) ilmutama oma (alateadlike) soove. St … ilmselt peab seda raamatut lugema rohkem, kui korra. Selles on palju ja rohkem veel. Mulle väga meeldis.

[Marko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kuidas suhelda võõraga?

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem and adapted for BBC Radio

A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/

Solaris is such an attractive Science Fiction story that it already has two adaptations.
Without considering the one that I listened to earlier.

The most acclaimed version for the big screen was directed by one of the best cinema artists:

- Andrei Tarkovsky

The director of the chef d' oeuvre Andrei Rublev that I could understand better and Nostalghia and Stalker, both of which are somewhat out of my reach...
So far.

The more recent adaptation has been less successful, despite having George Clooney in the lead role.
It is nevertheless a proof of how fascinating this account is.

Intriguing, enticing perhaps, but not very accessible.
Because I did not decipher so much, maybe most of the messages, I landed on the love story.

Kris, the narrator and probably the main character loves Rheya.
For some time, it is not clear who or what she is.

Until she is using liquid oxygen to prove exactly what the nature of the woman, machine or Artificial Intelligence is.
And indeed, she does not "die".

And that is proof that we are not talking about a woman.
That notwithstanding, I was enticed by the idea of having such an interlocutor, companion, friend or partner.

One that would know so much!
Without showing off and being arrogant.

Artificial intelligence sounds very alluring in every way, except perhaps in the danger that it may pose.
Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking among others have expressed concerns.

But I still find the concept of a "perfect woman", with exceptional, perfect body and a mind capable to challenge and yet not annoy, to satisfy without boring, to inspire and not deceive so compelling!

Here' s perfection, Alhamdulillah!
Only there is no soul.

Well, human beings can be so upsetting.

"It's been a hard day's night
And I've been working like a dog"

One can do that and still find it is not enough.
There is this issue here, with so much to be thankful for and yet so much reproach...

- Contempt
- Defensiveness
- Stonewalling
- Criticism

Or the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as identified by John Gottman, the ultimate expert on relationships.

Furthermore, the woman/machine in Solaris learns more and adapts perfectly to Chris.
Who loves her or it.

That has reminded me of another excellent film.

- Her

With Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, Scarlett Johansson providing the voice of the Operating System and the excellent Amy Adams in a supporting role.
The software learns all there is to know and more about the people it interacts with.
And they fall in love with it.

- Or...Her?

Solaris is a great story.

It is a pity I don't yet have access to the implants that will soon hit the market and that will improve the 2% of the brain that we now utilize.

[Liisi Laineste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solaris ennem kui Eeden, aga mõlemal oli poeesiat ja inimese kimbatust parajal määral. Samas mimoidide ja väledike kirjeldused kippusid tempot alla võtma; sama maastike ja mehhanismide lõigud Eedenis. Tõlge oli leidlik, aga lihtsalt ei käivitanud alati kujutlusvõimet. Läbivaks on inimeste komme mõõta, tajuda ja analüüsida kõike läbi iseenda.

[Mihkel Mikkelsaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaks natuke eri-ilmelist lugu, mis mõneti on sarnased. Võibolla need intelligentsed olendid, kes väljaspool Maakera on äkki olemas, on hoopis teistsugused kui me oskame mõelda. Kas me saame neid haarata oma mõttemaailma juures. vältides nähtuste kirjeldamist oma taustsüsteemist.

[Lan Thanh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel deserves more readers imho. Very interesting story of contact with alien civilization given that the technology of the story isn’t very advanced by modern standards.

[Isen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book contains Solaris and Eden by Stanislaw Lem.

Solaris, of course, is one of the most famous works of sci-fi. The eponymous planet is inhabited by a sentient ocean which, after decades of study, remains completely incomprehensible to humanity. The main character arrives at an orbital research station, to find it in a dilapidated state, and the inhabitants on the verge of insanity. He finds out why when he is visited by his long dead wife.

A great start. Spooky and weird, although hampered by the awkward prose. But then, nothing happens. The main character does nothing, either related to his job or to the plot, and just sort of waits for the events to sort themselves out. It's meant to be a "psychological" novel, I imagine, but unfortunately our hero is not a very interesting case study due to being an apathetic sponge. When he arrives he finds out that all the robots have been stashed away into storage, and that is touted as a potential plot point, so he makes up his mind to investigate what that's about. Then doesn't. He finds a recording from a dead man addressed to him, which is bound to shed some light on the whole affair. Doesn't listen to it. He realises he likes his ghost wife more than the real thing, and vows to spend his life with her. Then, does nothing to bring those plans to fruition.

The other characters aren't much better. Everyone seems to be visited by the object of their yearning, which I suppose would be a bit unsettling, but their reaction -- hide the visitor from everyone until they figure out a way to kill it -- seems a bit odd. If the visitor hinted at some dark, terrible secret in their lives, perhaps that would be a valid response, but there is very little in the book to indicate that.

Ultimately, I believe it is the idea of Solaris, rather than the book itself, that has staying power. A giant, sentient ocean. Neither friendly nor malevolent nor even uncaring. Simply beyond our comprehension, as we are of its. I feel it could have made for a better story than it did.

Eden tells the tale of a group of astronauts stranded on a planet called Eden. They are stock characters, referred to by their trade -- Doctor, Coordinator, Physicist, etc -- rather than their name. Except the Engineer, who is also called Heinrich. It is not clear whether the fact that he alone has a name is plot significant or not. The prose is even clunkier, and I had to reread many a passage several times to figure out what was going on, and the characters (especially the Doctor) are asinine. However, the weirdness of the setting to a great extent makes up for it.

Unfortunately, as the events get ever weirder and the remaining pages ever thinner, it inevitably dawns on the reader that the author has no idea where he is going with this, and there won't be a satisfactory denouement. And indeed, in the end it all turns out to be 1984. Unfortunately, putting a mediocre novel in space does not make it any more interesting.