Icarus at the Edge of Time
Encyclopedia
Icarus at the Edge of Time is a 2008 novel by physicist Brian Greene
, illustrated by Chip Kidd
with images from the Hubble Space Telescope
. It was adapted into a 40-minute orchestral piece by Philip Glass
with a film by AL and AL in 2010.
retelling of Icarus
' tale. It is about a young man who runs away from his traveling, deep-space home to explore a black hole.
review said, "Attractive on the shelf as both contemporary and science-focused, it is exactly what the author is trying to accomplish with his re-told fable, as well as a fine treatment of already beautiful imagery; not a lot of pushing and pulling is needed." A Trashotron review said, "fiction space opera as well as a new kind of children's book. It really does hold up with an appeal for anyone who is interested in science, storytelling or fathers and sons. That might add up to a sizable audience. They'll be well-rewarded, and it's good that the book can withstand multiple readings. It will get read and re-read; it is, after all, a myth." Booklist
in their review called the novel "clever, charming, and mind-expanding, the perfect vehicle for conveying the astonishingly supple nature of space, time, and the human mind."
Brian Greene
Brian Greene is an American theoretical physicist and string theorist. He has been a professor at Columbia University since 1996. Greene has worked on mirror symmetry, relating two different Calabi-Yau manifolds...
, illustrated by Chip Kidd
Chip Kidd
Chip Kidd is an American author, editor, and graphic designer, best known for his book covers.- Early life :Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Kidd grew up in the Reading suburb of Shillington, strongly influenced by American popular culture...
with images from the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
. It was adapted into a 40-minute orchestral piece by Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
with a film by AL and AL in 2010.
Plot introduction
The book is a science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
retelling of Icarus
Icarus
-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...
' tale. It is about a young man who runs away from his traveling, deep-space home to explore a black hole.
Reception
Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
review said, "Attractive on the shelf as both contemporary and science-focused, it is exactly what the author is trying to accomplish with his re-told fable, as well as a fine treatment of already beautiful imagery; not a lot of pushing and pulling is needed." A Trashotron review said, "fiction space opera as well as a new kind of children's book. It really does hold up with an appeal for anyone who is interested in science, storytelling or fathers and sons. That might add up to a sizable audience. They'll be well-rewarded, and it's good that the book can withstand multiple readings. It will get read and re-read; it is, after all, a myth." Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
in their review called the novel "clever, charming, and mind-expanding, the perfect vehicle for conveying the astonishingly supple nature of space, time, and the human mind."