SOLARIS The Definitive Edition

Alessandro Juliani brings new excitement and mystery to this excellent translation of Stanislaw Lem’s sci-fi classic, written in 1961. Things at the scientific research station on the planet Solaris seem strangely “off” to newly arrived psychologist Kris Kelvin. Soon enough, he learns that the planet’s ocean is an extraterrestrial life force that can cause hallucinations, deepening paranoia, and even death among the scientists. 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, but inconsistent sound levels draw attention to themselves, breaking the spell of this masterful work. S.J.H. 2012 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]