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Title: Icarus at the Edge of Time
ISBN: 0307268888
Author:
Brian Greene
Publicate Date: 2008-09-02
Publish: 2008-09-02
List Price: $19.95
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Board book
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $12.36
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $12.25
Amazon Merchant Price: $13.57
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Disappointed Overall
This book is very disappointing. The author does not consistently follow the Icarus thread, which is very cursory and does not meet expectations for a "modern day Icarus tale." Nor is the family journey or Icarus' role in it very well maintained. If you weren't seeking a myth but wanted a science story, you will be disappointed, as well. The only thing that pleases is the art work. Finally, the intended audience is not clear. It is a board book, which are typically read to small children. The minimal action could not hold the interest of a school-aged child. And, there are not enough layers to the story to appeal to an adult. Check this out from the library, if at all.
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2: Grandsons enjoying book
My daughter reported that her two boys, ages 8 and 10 years, enjoyed the book I sent them, Icarus at the Edge of Time, very much. The 10-year-old will soon be visiting the Space Center at Huntsville, AL, as part of his advanced placement class project, so this book on Einstein's Theory of Relativity was especially a propos.
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3: Great science-fiction for older children; beautiful images for everyone.
Brian Greene, author of "The Elegant Universe" and "The Fabric of the Cosmos" has teamed up with legendary book designer Chip Kidd to create an exceptionally cool book for older children. (And for young-at-heart adults, as well.)
The book, "Icarus at the Edge of Time," is a futuristic retelling of the myth of Icarus, involving an alien signal sent to Earth, a spaceship that's home to generations after generations of human that travels toward the star that sent the signal, and a boy on that ship named Icarus who wants to head out in a smaller spaceship to explore a black hole, despite the warnings of his family.
What happens when he approaches and then leaves the edge of that black hole is the twist and the crux of that story, and is very, very cool. It's science-based, and exciting.
The book is illustrated entirely with beautiful Hubble telescope images of the Universe, is a large board book, and is short enough that you could read it in its entirety while standing in a store. Still though, you should buy it. It's not quite simple enough for really young kids, but I think kids over six or seven might be old enough to enjoy it; it's a great read, and I recommend it.
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4: Nice photos, trite fable
On the whole I was disappointed when I examined the book. Gorgeous photos marred by the black spot. Little science content. Corny story with stock father and son characters, stilted dialog. I couldn't come up with anyone I knew, old or young, who I thought would enjoy more than one reading. *Thinks* save the money and get a book with LOTS of Hubble space pictures, not just the 16 or so used here!
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5: Misleadingly Overrated - Not for small Children
Doesn't go beyond a nice idea - way too abstract for children. Can be used as base material to making yourself familiar with the concept of time travel in the vicinity of black holes, but leaves it up to an older reader to grasp the meaning of the story.
Claims the existence of alien life.
Try harder next time.Icarus at the Edge of Time
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