My take on this has always been that what breaks patterns is literature, to the extent that there is a definition. Solaris definitely fits that description. It does not resolve the questions it poses, it does not provide a happy ending.

It is more action filled than the other Lem books I have read, and I can see why it would be more appealing to a science fiction reader looking for more conventional fare than what His Master's Voice provides, but it is still playing with the conventions of the genre.

I have never bought into the idea that just because there are space ships, something becomes genre literature.

I suspect this novel is pretty much what you make of it. It would be interesting to find out if those belonging to other sciences than mine have the same feeling: I keep reading it as a commentary on literature and literary theory. I do that a lot with Lem. It is almost impossible not to. But would a physicist find parts of his or her subject treated in it? I'd like to know.

As far as memorable scenes go. I was worried I would have nightmares after the inhuman voice shouting in the shuttle. And the big black woman with the dead man. But I am not sure I have got it sufficiently far from me yet to really say what struck me.

I will say that it seems to have affected me less than his other books. But I am saying that the day after finishing it. It might not be true in a week.