English Translation
Both the original Polish version of the novel (first published in 1961) and its original English translation are titled Solaris. Jean-Michel Jasiensko published his Polish-to-French translation in 1966 and that version was the basis of Joanna Kilmartin and Steve Cox's English translation of 1970 (published by Walker & Co., and republished many times since). Lem himself, who read English fluently, repeatedly voiced his disappointment about the Kilmartin/Cox version and it has generally been considered second-rate. Lem frequently expressed the wish for an improved English translation to be done and made available. He had, however, sold his rights to the book to his Polish publishers. Always remaining in print, the rights to it never reverted to the author.
Reprints:
- ISBN 0-8027-5526-7 (1970)
- ISBN 0-15-683750-1 (1987)
- ISBN 0-15-602760-7 (2002)
- ISBN 0-571-21972-1 (2003)
On 7 June 2011, Audible.com released the first direct Polish-to-English translation as an audiobook download narrated by Alessandro Juliani. The original Polish text was translated into English by Bill Johnston, with the approval of Lem's estate. An ebook edition (eISBN 978-1-937624-66-8 ) of the Johnston translation followed.
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