Disappointed to see there is no mention of Lem's Solaris, whose devoted large paragraphs to this very question. For a very enlightening, very poetic short stor

Disappointed to see there is no mention of Lem's Solaris, whose devoted large paragraphs to this very question. For a very enlightening, very poetic short story from a little known author, I would encourage sci-fi fans to search for "La porcelaine de l'univers" from Bruno Vizerie.