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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Solaris in Books

Dec 1, 2017  
Solaris
Solaris
Stanislaw Lem | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
High-brow science fiction
Solaris is a perplexing, impossible world - endeavouring, somehow, to exist and endure in the presence of binary stars with a toxic and corrosive atmosphere constantly enveloping its ink black ocean of intrigue. Hovering above the waves is Solaris station which is an armoured and secluded human outpost, a crumbling and half-forgotten castle in the air.

Scientist Kris Kelvin comes upon an unusual scene in which one of the researchers at the facility has apparently killed himself, another appears to have lost his mind and Snaut, who has a shred of humanity left, is still deeply suspicious. Soon after we discover that apparitions seem to be tormenting them, though they appear to be manifestations or projections of their own deepest, darkest feelings, created by the mystery that is the living ocean of this world. Testing their minds to the limits, we see if they can truly overcome their repressed memories.

It is a haunting novel, and almost parallels the mental health issue of post traumatic stress disorder, and that it can be present in anyone in varying degrees. A visionary science fiction novel.
  
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ClareR (6123 KP) rated Light Years in Books

Nov 13, 2018  
Light Years
Light Years
Kass Morgan | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A new YA Science Fiction series
This is a new YA Science Fiction series, following 4 students at the Quatra Fleet Academy - an academy that has only just allowed students from planets other than the main Tridian planet. This book centres around themes of friendship, prejudice and subterfuge.
Students are split in to teams, where they man their own practice craft, and there is someone from pretty much each of the planets in their system: Cormack is from Deva, and has taken his dead brothers place, unbeknownst to the academy; Vesper is the daughter of a Tridian Commander and teacher at the academy. She is finding it difficult to live up to her mothers expectations; Arran is from Chetire, and is very intelligent, something that caused him untold trouble at home; and Orelia, who says she's from Loos, but hides a greater secret.
This is a great start to a new series, lots of diversity, excitement, and a fast read. It sets up the next book really well, with a very interesting ending - what a cliffhanger!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for my copy of this book to read and honestly review.
  
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Roger Corman recommended Avatar (2009) in Movies (curated)

 
Avatar (2009)
Avatar (2009)
2009 | Action, Comedy, Mystery

"You know, I would pick Jim Cameron’s picture, Avatar, as a fifth. It’s the only new picture, I think, that can be up there in that group. Jim Cameron, one of our graduates — who started making low-budget science fiction pictures for us — went and jumped ahead and here’s Avatar, the most expensive science fiction picture ever made. Jim’s a technical genius, and the fact that he single-handedly brought back 3D — which had been up there, in and out a few times; in the ’50s and then forgotten — and he used it beautifully and sensitively. So many times when a director’s working with 3D you have the shot of the arrow coming out of the screen, shooting straight at the audience, and effects like that; he deliberately stayed away from that type of effect and just showed you the 3D world. And the use of computer graphics, green screen, motion capture and so forth for the blue-skinned people on the planet — I just thought it all came together as a brilliant film, both technically, in the way he used 3D, and in the beauty of the picture itself."

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