September 21, 2001 (12:00 AM) ( link )

I'm now about halfway through Stainslaw Lem's Solaris. It starts off in a really creepy fashion, and only gets better. The mystery surrounding the planet—which is one big alien, as far as I can tell—is fascinating. And Lem's writing—despite being translated into English from the French translation of the original Polish!—is more than adequate. This looks like a keeper: a more thoughtful novel than Player of Games, and a more interesting novel than Roadside Picnic. Note: I'm going to a debate tournament at Williams for the next two days, so I won't be posting my review of Solaris until Saturday night, at the earliest.