Keywords
science fiction
Sinophone world
anthropocentrism
How to Cite
Abstract
The most popular science fiction novel written by the Polish author Stanisław Lem, Solaris, was published in 1961. Although it was translated into English as early as 1970, the book was unknown to the Sinophone readers until 2003, when the first translation from English into Chinese was published, most probably following the popularity of the resounding Hollywood film adaptation from 2002. Still, Suolalisi Xing (which can be translated as ‘Solaris Star’) did not attract broader audiences in China or Taiwan, at least not until the third version of the novel, translated directly from Polish into Chinese, saw the light of day in 2010. The appearance of this translation coincided with the beginning of a New Golden Era of Chinese and Taiwanese science fiction, which undoubtedly had a significant influence on the positive re-reception of Solaris. In the paper, the author focuses on the philosophical aspect of Lem’s work and investigates which themes and concepts present in Solaris caught the imagination of Chinese-speaking readers. The author wants to show how this reception, while coming from a different historical, cultural, and linguistic background, can enrich our understanding of the novel and introduce a new way of looking at the important existential questions stated by the writer.
References
Imagination Abyss (2010), Suolali Xing (Solaris), [retrieved on: 21.07.2020], https://tinyurl.com/j5nf8dz3.
Bokelai (2020, August 18), Oumei kehuan / qihuan xiaoshuo [Euro-American science fiction/fantasy novels], https://tinyurl.com/kz2t4a6c.
Braidotti Rosi (2012), Nomadic Theory. The Portable Rosi Braidotti,Columbia University Press, Columbia.
Chen Dan (2016), Wutuobang Xiangxiang De Jiegou: Suolalisi Xing Yuyan Ji Qita [Deconstructing Utopian Imagination: The Allegory of Solaris and Others], „Wenyi Lilun Yanjiu” [„Literature and Art Theory Studies”], vol. 1, pp. 112-119.
Coolchet (Kucha) (2006), Suolalisi / Feixiang Taikong (Suolali xing, Solaris) kehuan xiaoshuo ji dianying tan [Solaris/Solaris (Solaris) – talk about science fiction novel and film], https://tinyurl.com/pfx69nmk, retrieved on 21.07.2020.
Danjialin (2010), „Suolali Xing” (Solaris, 1961) by Stanislaw Lem, https://tinyurl.com/fma8nrt3.
Elish (2012), Suolali Xing [Solaris], [retrieved on: 21.07.2020], https://tinyurl.com/ue5nbmxu.
Flood Alison (2011), First ever direct English translation of Solaris published, „The Guardian”, 15 June, [retrieved on 08.08.2020], https://tinyurl.com/5bz3335b.
Goahis (2019), Qishi kexue yanjiu de bu chu ge jielun, danshi zhexue shang huoxu jiu hen zhan de zhu jiao le, comment on the video: Shijie Kehuan Juzhu 'Suolalisi' Shang Ji: Dui Yuzhou Shengming de Ling Yi Zhong Jiedu [World science fiction masterpieces „Solaris” first part:Another way to interpret life in the universe], [retrieved on: 23.07.2020], https://youtu.be/NIwZt8G76ZU.
Helford Elyce Rae (1992), „We Are Only Seeking Man”: Gender, Psychoanalysis, and Stanislaw Lem’s „Solaris”, „Science Fiction Studies”, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 167-177.
Huanhai Hangxing (2019), Shijie Kehuan Juzhu 'Suolalisi' Shang Ji: Dui Yuzhou Shengming de Ling Yi Zhong Jiedu [World science fiction masterpieces „Solaris” first part:Another way to interpret life in the universe], [video], [retrieved on: 23.07.2020], https://youtu.be/NIwZt8G76ZU.
Jacky (2012), Suolali Xing [Solaris], [retrieved on: 21.07.2020], https://tinyurl.com/2r9xedr8.
KunKun (2012), But Some of Us Are Looking at the Stars, [retrieved on: 20.07.2020], https://tinyurl.com/2uju2ykj.
Laimu Shitannisilao (2010), Suolali Xing [Solaris], trans. by Zhao Gang, MiusiChubanYouxianGongsi [Muses Publishing House], Taipei.
Lem Stanislaw (1984), Microworlds, ed. by Franz Rottensteiner, Harcourt Brace & Company, London.
Lem Stanisław (2002), Stacja Solaris, „Tygodnik Powszechny”, no. 49, p. 23.
Lem Stanisław (2012), Solaris, Cyfrant, Kraków.
Lem Stanislaw (2014), Solaris,trans. by Bill Johnston, Pro Auctore Wojciech Zemek, Kraków.
Liu Ruey-Hua (2010), Wo De Suolali Xing [My „Solaris”], published as an opinion attached to: Laimu Shitannisilao (2010), Suolali xing [Solaris], trans. by Zhao Gang, p. 330.
Miller Fred D. Jr., Smith Nicholas D. (1989), Thought Probes. Philosophy through Science Fiction Literature, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Myers Robert E., ed. (1983), The Intersection of Science Fiction and Philosophy, London Greenwood Press, London.
Shane (2015), Feelings after reading Solaris, [retrieved on: 20.07.2020], https://tinyurl.com/6dxxjer.
Shijie Kehuan Juzhu 'Suolalisi' Shang Ji: Dui Yuzhou Shengming de Ling Yi Zhong Jiedu [World science fiction masterpieces Solaris first part: Another way to interpret life in the universe] (2019), [video], [retrieved on: 21.07.2020], https://youtu.be/SU_9dKtzamo.
Stableford Brian (1991), The World SF Conference in Chengdu, „Foundation”, no. 53, p. 46-53.
Sterling Bruce (2019), Science fiction literature and performance, [retrieved on: 18.08.2020], https://www.britannica.com/art/science-fiction.
Wang Ruirui (2019), Kehuan Wenxue, Waixing Tazhe Yu Hourenlei Lunli - Ping Laimu 'Suolali xing' [Science fiction, the Alien Other and the Ethics of Posthumanism: A Reading of Lem’s Solaris „Solaris”], „Zhongguo Wenxue Vanjiu” [„Chinse Literature Studies” ], vol. 4, p. 174-180.
Wei Hei (2018), San ge Yiben Culüe Duibi [A rough comparison between three translations],[retrieved on: 22.07.2020], https://tinyurl.com/5b222yww.
Wenquancun Ameizi (2019), Wo renwei kexue yue yanjiu yue yu xuanxue xiangjin, comment on the video: Shijie Kehuan Juzhu 'Suolalisi' Shang Ji: Dui Yuzhou Shengming de Ling Yi Zhong Jiedu [World science fiction masterpieces „Solaris” first part:Another way to interpret life in the universe], [retrieved on: 25.07.2020], https://youtu.be/SU_9dKtzamo.
Wong Kin Yuen (1983), Ren Yu Eaitaikong De Ge Lei Jiechu [Various Contacts of Human with Outer Space], „Zhongguo Shibao” [„China Times”], vol 12, p. 11-15.
Wong Kin Yuen (2001), Urbanity, Cyberpunk and the Posthuman: Taiwan Science Fiction from the 60s to 90s, „Tamkang Review”, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 71–102.
Yang Yu-Chi (2014), Wo De Suolali Xing [My Solaris], [retrieved on: 24.07.2020], https://tinyurl.com/228wrccy.
Yue Zai Yuan (2019), Ren de yuanshen bu mie de, comment on the video: Shijie Kehuan Juzhu 'Suolalisi' Shang Ji: Dui Yuzhou Shengming de Ling Yi Zhong Jiedu [World science fiction masterpieces „Solaris” first part:Another way to interpret life in the universe], [retrieved on: 22.07.2020], https://youtu.be/NIwZt8G76ZU.
License
Authors
Authors of texts accepted for publication in „Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne. Seria Literacka” are required to complete, sign and return to the editor's office the Agreement for granting a royalty-free license to works with a commitment to grant a CC sub-license.
Under the agreement, the authors of texts published in „Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne. Seria Literacka” grant the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań a non-exclusive, royalty-free license and authorize the use of Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0)Creative Commons sub-license.
The authors retain the right to continue the free disposal of the work.
Users
Interested Internet users are entitled to use works published in „Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne. Seria Literacka” since 2016, for non-commercial purposes only, under the following conditions:
- attribution - obligation to provide, together with the distributed work, information about the authorship, title, source (link to the original work, DOI) and the license itself.
- no derivatives - the work must be preserved in its original form, without the author's consent it is not possible to distribute the modified work, such as translations, publications, etc.
Copyrights are reserved for all texts published before 2016.
Miscellaneous
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań retains the right to magazines as a whole (layout, graphic form, title, cover design, logo etc.).