Icarus at the Edge of Time Review

 

Icarus at the Edge of Time by Brian Greene

 

(from the back of the book)

Icarus at the Edge of Time is a futuristic reimagining of the classic Greek myth.  This time, rather than wax wings and a journey near the Sun, a boy ventures through deep space and challenges the awesome power of black holes.  The fable dramatizes the startling implications of what is perhaps Einstein's greatest insight 

 

Yes, this is a board book.  But that doesn’t mean it isn’t for adults.  In fact the story would be lost on a child of the age you think of when you think of board books.  It is an imaginative retelling of the myth of Icarus, updated to a science fiction story but holding true to the ideas of the original.  In this short story Greene manages to create a foreboding feeling as the son disregards his father’s warning and flies off to explore a black hole and his father’s helplessness because there is nothing he can do.  It also explains the science behind the link between time and gravity to some extent.  Not an in depth look to be sure but a good first look at the concept.  It also has beautiful photos from the Hubble telescope.  Some of them are obscured by the representation of the black hole but don’t worry there are thumbnails of them all in the back so you can see them all in their entirety.  Since I have an interest in Greek myth and science I found the combination a wonderful idea and I’m glad I stumbled onto this one.