Customer Reviews

Icarus at the Edge of Time

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

In this visually impressive, artfully designed book, the old Myth of Icarus is cleverly updated into the far future, while at the same time seamlessly weaving in some of the science behind black holes. What an inventive way to get kids (and their parents!) turned onto science. No pressure--no classroom--no tests. Using a minimum of words to convey the story, Dr. Greene's writing inspires the reader to imagine a journey to a black hole and to really experience the emotional tug of Einstein and relativity. I decided to buy this book after I read about it in the Wall Street Journal--they called it a 'terrific book.' I couldn't agree more.

Having read the reviews so far on Amazon, I noticed that some readers were surprised to receive a book meant for a younger audience. I found this puzzling since Amazon clearly describes the book as a 34 page board book, listing it in several categories including 'juvenile fiction.' The buyer is also able to click on two of the book's pages, so it is hard to know where the confusion is coming from. Perhaps in their surprise to see a children's book come from such a learned author, some Amazon buyers have described this as a 'pre-school' book. This is inaccurate, although a pre-schooler would certainly love to look at the gorgeous photographs. I would recommend this book to elementary school age kids, adolescents, and adults. This is because 'Icarus at the Edge of Time' truly is a 'book for all ages,' with its stunning visual imagery, poignant story line, and accessible information about the science of black holes.

I would imagine it a daunting challenge to meld a compelling storyline, interesting characters you care about, and, of all things, physics--and to do so in a few thousand words would seem more daunting still. But that is what Brian Greene has accomplished in Icarus at the Edge of Time.

In the space of a few dozen pages, with gorgeous full color imagery, we are brought into the world of a futuristic Icarus, living aboard a spaceship racing for the stars. When a black hole intervenes, Icarus can't resist his urge to explore it, and Greene cleverly uses this analog of the original (Icarus's journey near the sun) to combine the ancient myth with up-to-date astrophysics. The result is quietly wonderful.

The original myth has stayed with us as long as it has because children will always have a rebellious streak and will always, at some point, challenge their parent's wisdom. In Greene's hands, the myth takes on a more nuanced character as Icarus doesn't die but instead suffers a different, more startling outcome.

I read the story to my 5 year old and he loved it. I'm not sure how much he understood about black holes and the science of the ending, but the story carried him (the telltale sign--he asked me to read it again tonight) and he's been asking all sorts of questions about space travel and gravity. (I don't think he knew the word gravity before this book.) This morning my husband read it (his more of a science buff and knows Greene from his other books), and thought the book a moving way to illustrate complex science. For me, I don't know much science, but feel that if I'd been introduced to the subject by a book like this, I would have wanted to learn more. I do now. And I didn't expect that.

Bravo.

I read about this book in SEED magazine as it was one of two books featured in an article that asked how to best get kids interested in science. The article praised this book so I picked it up at B&N. I have now just purchased a second copy for my niece. It's a short but exquisite contribution to children's literature.

Without giving anything away, the book rewrites the Icarus myth as a means for young readers to see one of Einstein's important discoveries play itself out in short story form.

Thankfully, the book is a mere thirty pages and does not include a science lecture. This allows it to be read by kids, or to kids as a bedtime story in the tradition of the classics, from Max to Horton, with the intriguing difference that the storyline is steered by scientific principles. The conversations it has already sparked in my house, about time and stars and space travel, are just great.

Some Amazon reviewers seem to be looking for another kind of book. You won't learn physics from this book and your child won't either. But in some kids, the book will surely plant the seeds of interest in science.

So, this is not at all what I expected it to be, but that is not especially a bad thing. When I heard Greene was publishing a novel, I did not expect a board book, but that is what I got. However, I am pleasantly surprised. Greene has blended some of Hubble's most astonishing pictures with the mythological Icarus story, and in so doing explains some black hole theory along the way.

This beautiful board book is suitable for all - from young children to the older children-at-heart like me and my husband.

Based on the amazon description, I didn't realize that this is a children's board book. If you are looking for a science fiction novel this book is probably not what you are expecting, although I'm sure an 8 year old would absolutely love it.

I wouldn't call this a book for ALL ages, but it certainly has resonance for at least readers of a middle school level and up.

As a story, it is a tight, fine re-imagining of the legend of Icarus, with the waxy wings being replaced by a spacecraft that flies too close to a black hole despite warnings from a father figure. The book itself is made on board book pages that sport nice photos of stars and nebulas and such, if a little redundant (no people, no ships...just space in all its natural glory). Don't let the board book pages fool you: the language is probably a little higher than all-ages comprehension truly suggests.

I found the concept for the story to be very moving. The ideas are great and I see the seeds for a really epic novel (with 3 main story segments). I understand the concept of the art design, but unfortunately for me I think the large black circle just ruins some really great images from the Hubble telescope (the Sombrero Galaxy is reduced to two small white fluffy smears on either side of a black circle). It is a great stepping off point for discussions on gravity and relativity, but I think the physical execution of the book doesn't really work. I would give the story concept 4 stars and the physical book (size, images, price) 2 stars.

This is an excellent rework of the ancient story of Icarus and Daedalus. There is very little science in this; but after introducing them to the old tale, mixing in some Einstein and special relativity, then reading about the new Icarus, my 7th grade science class was amazed.

Greene does a great job and the illustrations are beautiful. Suitable for small children too.

Highly recommended.

I bought this book for a young man of 12 who is not a great reader, but is a genius when it comes to math and science. The big ideas in this book and the main character in this book, a young man himself, appeal to my young friend. He greatly enjoyed this book. He does not, generally, read for fun. Once he picked this book up, he couldn't put it down and he enjoyed it greatly! The length and formatting of the text made it a package he could digest, even though he does not read a lot. I highly recommend this book for these reasons and also the fact that it is just a beautifully written and illustrated book that is bound in a very appealing manner. It also is a great way to re-package and introduce young minds to a classic Greek myth: The Tale of Icarus. This book also had my young friend reading further about Icarus and other Western mythology online, on his own!

This is an unusual book.

It's a boardbook filled with rich Hubble imagery, that re-tells the Icarus myth with a 21st Century twist.

The story is inventive, pulls you in, and when you leave you've experienced some of Einstein's discoveries. The graphic design is crisp, simple, and strong.

The book is suitable for young kids, who will enjoy the story. It is also suitable for older kids/adults who will be able to go further and think through the startling science.

Rare is opportunity for young kids to painlessly immerse themselves in an exciting adventure story that opens them up to profound scientific discoveries.

Highly recommended.