Icarus at the Edge of Time by Brian Greene

Icarus at the Edge of Time Reviews

• 
  R.

  For those who like their holes black and their legends updated.
• 
  Aldrin

  "Well, it looks like Einstein knew what he was talking about, after all," begins an article published just over a week ago on the popular tech blog
  Engadget. The subject of the article is the recently concluded Gravity Probe B mission, which was carried out by NASA for six years to test the general theory of relativity described by Albert Einstein. The blog post, although considerably simplified, is still redolent of astrophysical jargon. But it is unequivocal in reporting that the results of the experiment, aside from confirming that "Einstein was smart," back up the propositions of the famous scientist with the famous unkempt hair. There is, the GP-B experiment concludes, a possibility of gravitational space time dilation.
  
  It's one of the ambitious concerns of rocket science, and here finally is a significant avowal of its plausibility. But if it sounds abstruse, it's because it is. Fortunately there are such scientists as Michio Kaku and Brian Greene, academics known as "popularizers," who make efforts to enable the general public to comprehend through literature the more perplexing, and often more intriguing, aspects of theoretical physics. In fact, the latter professor, the author of the enticingly titled cosmology books The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, has written a book that memorably illustrates gravitational space time dilation itself.
  
  Vastly different from Greene's previous nonfiction bestsellers, the book is a recycling of the myth of Icarus. It's called Icarus at the Edge of Time, and it's a board book ostensibly with a charming children's story inside. The story can be charming at points, what with its awe-inspiring backdrop of stars, nebulae, and other celestial objects appearing in high-resolution photographs captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and adapted for the book by renowned designer Chip Kidd, but it's a children's story only in its format, length, and face value appeal.
  
  The story revolves around Icarus, a fourteen-year old boy aboard the Proxima, a starship on a course to arrive at a distant planet believed to be home to intelligent life. Spanning numerous lightyears, the journey requires many generations of families to complete, and the weight of the realization that born as he was on the Proxima he is also to die there is not lost on Icarus. So, when the interstellar vehicle is projected to come near an uncharted black hole, he sees it as an opportunity "to be someone—to be more than just a link in a chain stretching from an Earth he'd never walked to an alien planet he'd never see. No one in history had ever explored a black hole."
  
  Icarus is well aware of the immense power of a black hole—that it possesses a gravitational pull so great that even light can't escape it—but ignorant of the breathless warnings of his father (presumably named Daedalus) and confident in his ability to control his special micro-warp-drive engine (which he himself precociously designed), he nevertheless proceeds towards the sinister supermass and prepares to steer his craft away from it before he crosses the event horizon or "the point of no return." "The Proxima has been hurtling through space for nearly a hundred years," he reasons, "And now, finally, we come upon something spectacular and unexpected and we're not even going to try to explore it?"
  
  In the Greek myth, Icarus, exhilarated with high altitude, forgets his father's warning about flying too close to the sun, the wax that's holding the feathers on his ersatz wings melts, and, finally, Icarus plummets to his death. In Greene's futuristic retelling, Icarus meets an unexpected but not altogether different sort of undoing. The spacefaring Icarus is poised to turn away from the black hole just in the nick of time, but overcome by hubris he forgets to include in his navigation calculations an important variable inherent in the manifold he occupies: time itself.
  
  His tragic fate is a sharp consideration of one of the many trajectories of Einstein's prescience. He suffers a different kind of death, but ultimately he looks forward to an entirely new lease in life. Like the best science fiction, Icarus at the Edge of Time is a cautionary tale (the last paragraph of the book says so of Icarus's daring expedition), but exactly what about is not immediately apparent, given an ending far removed from that of the story's inspiration.
  
  Perhaps it's simply about insubordination or, on a more ponderous level, about the high cost of knowledge or, still more ponderous, the value of time. Maybe it's all of these at once. Maybe, more than a merging of classical myth and scientific theory, Icarus at the Edge of Time is a pithy remark on the tentativeness of one's thoughts and the permanence of one's actions, on being lost in space and time, on living in the here and now.
  
  —
  Originally posted on
  Fully Booked .Me.
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Abigail

  A board-book for all ages, Briane Greene's Icarus at the Edge of Time is a futuristic reinvention of the Greek myth of Icarus, the boy who disregarded his father's advice, and flew too near the sun. Like his ancient counterpart, our Icarus is the son of innovative men, who finds himself trapped in a prison of his father's making. In his case, that prison is the Proxima, a starship dispatched from Earth on a multi-generational voyage to contact another sentient species. A brilliant young man, Icarus resents the idea that he will live and die aboard the Proxima, and - in a rash act of defiance - decides to explore a passing black hole...
  
  As someone with an abiding interest in mythology, and the ways in which it is continuously reinvented, as well as a great fondness for space-opera of the Star Trek variety, I was quite intrigued when a friend recommended this book to me. Gorgeously illustrated with photographs of various cosmic phenomena taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, this chunky picture-book explores Einstein's prediction that time will slow down as one approaches a black hole, while also offering a meditative picture of human impatience, and our impulse to explore. I was actually rather surprised to find myself so moved by Greene's narrative, and wish that I was acquainted with some young astronomer, to whom I could give this title.
• 
  Lisa Vegan

  This book has the look and feel and heft of a very large board book. At first it felt and appeared rather strange to me, but it worked for these photos and story.
  
  There is some real scientific information in this book, about black holes and actual impressive photos taken via NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope.
  
  The story about this Icarus is that he gets, not too close to the sun, but too close to a black hole. I thought it started off kind of campy, but it won me over and I ended up enjoying it. It was a reasonably good speculative fiction short story with lots of factual astronomical information. It was sad but also really uplifting; it has an optimistic outlook.
• 
  Kelly H. (Maybedog)

  An interesting and creative take on the myth of Icarus and Daedalus, this science fiction story has a secret science lesson imbedded in its pages. Children will be impressed by the time-sink of a black hole and the beautiful pictures of nebulas and galaxies at the back. The illustrations themselves are less impressive. The first pictures are pretty but they some are low resolution (undoubtedly due to the distances involved) and as the book proceeds, increasingly obscured by a big black “hole.” I don’t think this works as a picture book as I don’t think the similar and repetitious pictures would keep the interest of a younger child and the text is too small and complicated to follow along. More than that, the presentation of the text is ugly.
  
  Overall, the book is a great concept and idea but not as well executed as it could have been.
  
• 
  Anna

  Every time I shelve books at a certain library branch, my shoulder hits this oversize book. It's bright and colorful, but I'm always too busy to pull it off the shelf and look. Today I made the time. Based on the Greek Myth of Icarus, but set during a futuristic space exploration, this book is stellar (excuse the pun)! Not only, as you read this cautionary legend, are you educated in the in the mysteries of black holes and the importance of listening to your parents, but you will enjoy glittering pictures of galaxies and nebulas that will stir your inner scientist and inspire your soul.
• 
  Cassandra Kay Silva

  Were I to have any children this is the kind of stuff they would be read to at night it was very fun!
• 
  Sara Thompson

  Really lovely book with gorgeous pictures.
• 
  Bonnie

  This is a very cool mix of mythology, science fiction, and science, all in a board book for children. It's the story of Icarus, who doesn't fly too close to the sun in this version, but rather the edge of a black hole. He is a member of the Proxima's crew, and the families on this ship have left Earth to find other life in the galaxy, knowing that generations will be born and die on their ship before they reach their destination. Icarus is a few generations in and wants to be something more than a "link in a chain," so he ventures out into space and circles the edge of black hole, only to suffer an unusual fate.
  
  This book uses pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope as a backdrop to a fairly short story. A scientific explanation and theories finish up the story. The book is a little misleading - I tend to think of board books as for very young children, but I think the story will appeal more to mid- and upper elementary school kids.
• 
  Adam

  While this book is very pretty to look at on some level, it's also very frustrating to have beautiful images covered with an black dot that increases in size with every turn of the page. Interesting concept for a book, but the execution could have been much better.
  
  Also, this is a coffee table book, not a novel like
  The Elegant Universe, which is coming up soon on my to-read list, and I'm very much looking forward to. Stick to the physics, Brian, let the artists do the coffee table books.
• 
  Eli

  Greene, best known as the theoretical physicist that wrote The Elegant Universe, wrote this board book for all ages as a cosmic retelling of the Icarus fable. Filled with stunning imagery of celestial phenomenon, it's also filled with some basic tenets of outer space physics as plot points.
  
  I was drawn to the book as it sat several shelves away at the library tonight. It's visually very interesting. It took only a few minutes to read. The language is quite evocative (as Greene's language tends to be), though the narrative doesn't always flow seamlessly. It's a beautiful, eerie, chilling experience of a book.
• 
  Mary Rugg Courtney

  This is a beautiful futuristic retelling of the story of Icarus and Daedalus, set on a ship that left Earth to find life in the galaxy. Icarus, an overly confident child genuis born on the expedition, flies too close to the edge of a black hole, rather than the sun of the classic myth. Physics professor Brian Greene tells the story (and discusses the concept of time slowing near a black hole) through stunning photographs of stars, nebulas, and supernovas. It was easy enough to read with my second grader, but beautiful and thought-provoking enough for an adult to appreciate. This is a wonderful blend of myth, science fiction, physics, and art!
  
  
• 
  Raina

  This is a book in a class by itself. It's large (12x9 inches), and on board pages. Really it's a short story retelling of the ancient Icarus myth, in a space travel/black hole science context. Illustrated by NASA space photos.
  Really, really unique. It's a quick read, and very worth it. Explains some facts about black hole science, but is a very engaging story of human error.
• 
  Erin

  Super interesting concept! Loved the twist on the ancient myth, and the actual science behind it is fascinating. The book also features beautiful images. Great book for a budding scientist!
• 
  Jessada Karnjana

  เป็นนิทานที่เขียนล้อ mythology ของกรีก เกี่ยวกับ Icarus ซึ่งฉบับกรีกนั้น Icarus เป็นสัญลักษณ์ของเด็กชายที่เก่ง หัวรั้น และกระทำเรื่องอุกอาจจนเทพหมั่นไส้ น้องใช้ขี้ผึ้งติดขนนกทำเป็นปีก ติดกับแขนตัวเอง สำหรับบินหนีออกจากเกาะครีต เธอบินได้สูงขึ้น สูงขึ้น จนเกือบถึงดวงอาทิตย์ พอใกล้ดวงอาทิตย์มากเข้า ก็ร้อนมากขึ้น จนขี้ผึ้งละลาย Icarus จึงหล่นลงมา ตกทะเล จมน้ำ ตาย ส่วน Icarus ฉบับของ Greene นั้นเป็นเวอร์ชั่นไซไฟ ท่องอวกาศ การผูกเรื่องยังคงรักษาสัญลักษณ์แห่งความเป็น Icarus ได้ดี [คำเตือน ข้อความต่อจากนี้เปิดเผยเนื้อเรื่องตอนจบ] โชคชะตากำหนดให้เด็กชาย Icarus เกิดบนยานอวกาศ Proxima และตายบนยาน Proxima ในภารกิจเดินทางไปยังดาวเคราะห์เอเลี่ยนที่โคจรรอบ Proxima Centuari ซึ่งโลกของเราได้รับสัญญาณวิทยุบ่งบอกถึงการมีสิ่งมีชีวิตทรงภูมิปัญญาเมื่อประมาณ 2-3 ชั่วอายุคนก่อน ภารกิจนี้กินเวลาประมาณ 5 ชั่วอายุคน นั่นหมายความว่า เด็กชาย Icarus รุ่นที่ 3 แทบไม่มีบทบาทอันใดเลยนอกจากถ่ายทอดพันธุกรรม และบอกเล่าประสบการณ์สู่ลูกหลานรุ่นถัดไป (ไม่ผิดอะไรกับถูกขังบนเกาะครีต) ระหว่างเดินทาง ยานมีเหตุให้ต้องผ่านเข้าใกล้หลุมดำ Icarus ตื่นเต้นมาก ทุกคนตื่นเต้นมากเช่นกัน เพราะไม่เคยมีใครเข้าใกล้หลุมดำขนาดนี้มาก่อน แต่ด้วยภารกิจที่ชัดเจน Proxima จึงต้องเบี่ยงเส้นทางเพื่อให้อยู่ห่างหลุมดำมากที่สุด เด็กชาย Icarus เป็นเด็กที่ฉลาดมาก ออกแบบ runabout ที่มีกำลังขับสูงและมั่นใจว่า จากการคำนวณของเขา ยาน runabout จะสามารถไปเฉียดใกล้เส้นขอบฟ้าเหตุการณ์ของหลุมดำ และโคจรรอบหลุมดำ โดยไม่ผ่าน the point of no return ได้อย่างสบาย ๆ พร้อมทั้งมีกำลังพอที่จะเดินทางกลับออกมา พ่อห้ามก็ไม่ฟัง เด็กชาย Icarus ขับ runabout ออกไปเที่ยว วนรอบหลุมดำหนึ่งรอบ ใช้เวลาประมาณหนึ่งชั่วโมง พอกลับมายังจุดที่ Proxima อยู่เมื่อชั่วโมงที่แล้ว กลับพบยานอวกาศลำใหญ่ รูปทรงแบบใหม่ และเมื่อพบกับคนบนยานลำนั้น จึงรู้ว่าเวลาได้เดินผ่านไปนับพันปี (เพราะเวลาที่บริเวณสนามโน้มถ่วงสูงมีการยืดออกตามทฤษฎีสัมพัทธภาพทั่วไป) และในพันปีที่ผ่านมา มีเรื่องเล่าของเด็กดื้อผู้ไม่เชื่อฟังพ่อ ขับยานไปออกไปยังหลุมดำ น่าเศร้า เด็กชายลืมคิดถึงการยืดออกของเวลา หลังจากนั้น ไม่มีใครพบเขาอีกเลย
• 
  S.M.M. Lindström

  Icarus is a brilliant 14-year-old who lives on a generation ship heading from Earth to a planet with sentient life. Born in space, too far away from their goal to ever see it, Icarus itches for a way to prove his own uniqueness. Then the ship comes close to an uncharted black hole...
  
  Beautifully illustrated, succinctly written and heartbreaking in the best of ways. It goes in line with the myth it's based on. Recced both for the ending and the visuals.
• 
  Paul Long

  One of my favorite science writers has written this gem of a children's book. The wonderful pictures come from NASA.
  The myth is retold.
• 
  Jimbo

  It's almost a children's book. The story is awesome. The images are great hubble shots, but there isn't any visuals of the narrative, so my 2 year old isn't ready for the story yet.
  
  Definitely a book for older kids or people into Greek mythology and or space.
• 
  Denise

  Brief but interesting story.
• 
  Viktoria Dobrodenchuk

  Simple, beautiful and emotional visual representation of the story
• 
  Amr Elhaddad

  The same old legend of the boy who flew too near to the sun with some imaginative, creative tweaks that are meant to inform and entertain simultaneously.
  Very enjoyable.
• 
  Randy Dias

  Good god, that was dark.
• 
  Seda Harutyunyan

  Շատ փոքր, բայց չափազանց հուզիչ գիրք
• 
  Amanda

  There's really only a few things separating this book from 3 and 4 stars. But first, why I liked it. It's a really really really fantastic idea:a children's book for those precocious little kids just waiting to grow up to be the all-powerful nerds. Seriously, this book is something I would have loved when I was younger. It's a children's book, but it's not too kiddy, it'll let your future nerd indulge his real-age and his brain-age at the same time. The story of Icarus, like the Greek (roman? i'm all foggy on the difference, i mean, were the roman myths just greek myths with different names?) story of the boy with the wax wings, gets a futuristic slant. Sub sun for black hole, sub wax wings for an advanced spaceship designed by a 14-year old. It still holds the same message, about being rash and arrogant(at least, that's what I got out of Icarus), but manages to impart a little science mysticism about, you know, the unexplained. Brian Greene throws in a little there's other life out there theory, a little black hole theory. It's the kind of children's book that introduces ideas that later become the basis for huge discoveries. You know, the "Ever since I was a little kid and read this children's book, I've always wondered about....and how....and I guess, I never stopped looking for the answer to...." The kind of thing that percolates in the back of your head and then later you realize, holy crap, I've based my entire life on these questions. The photographs are absolutely gorgeous, so it's visual stimulation for the adults too, and it's hard to believe that this stuff is really out there.
  
  And honestly, the only reason it didn't get 4 stars or 5 stars is cuz I kind of felt like Icarus' story was a little week. His father barely protested, Icarus didn't really rebel. However, when Icarus starts getting close to the black hole, that's when it got really good and after that, I was like, whoa! AWESOME. But, I guess I'm being kind of picky since it is a children's book. I mean, they're probably not thinking weak character development when they read it.
• 
  Marlowe

  Icarus is the classic story of the boy who flew too high for his own good. The twist here is that the titular hero lives in the future, grew up on a space ship, and flies into a black hole rather than the sun. Icarus is also a rather large board book, illustrated with beautiful images taken by the Hubble space telescope.
  
  POSITIVE: Icarus offers an interesting blend of classical mythology and modern science. It’s a great introduction to black holes and the relativity of time. Finally, the stunning images can only feed a young mind’s interest in science.
  
  NEGATIVE: I don’t know what Icarus was trying to be. Board books are normally associated with younger children, but the diction seems too advanced. I’m all for books that challenge kids, but I think that this would only serve to frustrate. The book is also far too large to be comfortably read to a young audience that wants to see the pictures too. If, on the other hand, Icarus was intended for a slightly older set, I think that kids would find the story too simplistic.
  
  Another major flaw was the choice in representation of the black hole. This is shown as a black dot (literally a ‘black hole’ in the middle of the page) that progressively takes over the entire page and then shrinks back down. I can understand an appreciate that this is supposed to allow the reader to “approach” the black hole as Icarus does, but it’s just plain black and it obscures the beautiful background images (almost completely for several of the middle pages). It’s both distracting and frustrating.
  
  The greatest flaw this book has is its apparent lack of direction. Perhaps the author wanted it to be too many things at once. Who can blame him? The niche for storybooks that also teach science is severely under-filled – but one book alone cannot hope to fill all of it. The result is literary schizophrenia.
  
  This, coupled with the unfortunate design choice, makes this book somewhat of a disappointment. It’s still worth getting, though, if only because of how sparse the genre is.