Solaris by Stanisław Lem. Short summary

5 seconds

Psychologist Chris Calvin arrives at a station on the planet Solaris whose researchers have begun to go insane. The reason for this is the appearance of phantoms created by Oceanus Solaris.

1 minute

Psychologist Chris Calvin arrives at the research station on the planet Solaris. Earlier, one of the three local scientists committed suicide. The second scientist, Snout, was severely depressed, and the third, Sartorius, had shut himself away in a lab where he wouldn’t let anyone in.

Calvin soon learns that the reason for the unusual behavior was the appearance of strange creatures on the station. The phantoms were created by Oceanus Solaris. The creatures had information about people previously known to the heroes. They caused traumatic memories, materialized unpleasant or embarrassing fantasies.

Calvin sees his beloved Hari. Ten years ago, after a falling out with Chris, she committed suicide. The psychologist realizes that he may soon lose his mind. Conducting research, he concludes that all that is happening is real. Calvin unsuccessfully tries to get rid of the phantom girl. Having reconciled, he begins to move on with his life and communicates with her as an ordinary woman.