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Summary
Summary
Albert Einstein said his first ideas about relativity came from looking in the mirror as a teenager and wondering what it would be like to travel on a beam of light. This is the story of that journey... Journey by Starlight follows Albert Einstein 2.0, an artificial intelligence (AI) recreation of Albert Einstein, and his traveling companion through space and time as they travel on a beam of light from a star over 3,000 light years away to Earth. Along the way, Einstein explains the science behind everything from the origins of the universe to the meaning of life, relativity, black holes, quantum mechanics (for beginners), climate change, evolution vs. intelligent design, and how the brain works, all delivered in fun, easy-to-understand, bite-sized chunks. Based on the popular blog of the same name, Journey By Starlight has been given the graphic novel treatment, pairing the narrative with fantastic, whimsical artwork to assist in simplifying what can be difficult-to-understand
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In an intricate and detailed comic, Albert Einstein is recruited to tell the story of the makings of the universe, in just a little over 200 pages. Einstein zooms through the cosmos, filling in his nameless travel companion on not only how the universe works, but also about the people behind the theories and ideas that helped move society past fear and superstition of the sciences. The comic is based on Flitcroft's blog, "Journey by Starlight," which breaks down major scientific concepts for the everyday reader and is filled with enthusiastic illustrations from Britt Spencer. Every panel is packed with information and minute detail, and filled with humor that keeps the pace feeling speedy, even when the concepts are complicated and drawn out. The use of Einstein feels forced at times, with Flitcroft packing his own earnestness into Einstein's image, but Flitcroft's mission to make science more accessible is sincere. Even if this story isn't a light read, it has the potential to open up physics and the realm of Einstein to unsuspecting comics fans, which means Flitcroft's journey is a success. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Jules Verne's Voyages Extraordinaires hold nary a candle to this trip. Cannonball to the moon! Hitchhike on a comet! Pah! Flitcroft and Spencer give us Einstein and interlocutor riding beams of light originating 3,200 light-years from their destination, Earth, on which, when they start out, the Trojan War rages, but which looks just like 2013 when they arrive. As they more-than-rocket onward at the speed of light, you know they discuss stars and atoms, the atom bomb, the big bang and microwaves, dark matter and wimps, gravity, supernovas, black holes, the history of light, quantum mechanics, relativity, space and time, planets, the sun, life, greenhouse gases, and vision, in that order and roping in plenty of subtopics en route. Avoiding confusion and condescension for the entire duration, visual physiologist and eye surgeon Flitcroft proves an ideal informant, packing the dialogue with science and just the right amount of humor to amuse without trivializing by either silliness or shortchanging the subject. An extraordinarily proficient caricaturist, Spencer makes Einstein come alive on the page in gesture and pose, and he does the same for the giants on whose shoulders Einstein says he stood the likes of Newton, Galileo, and Kepler when they are cited. Also, exploiting perspectival effects adroitly, Spencer makes a very verbal book zip along as if it really were astride a photon. Science comics extraordinaire!--Olson, Ray Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
This engaging popular-science work for younger readers is based on a blog by Dublin eye surgeon and creator Flitcroft and narrated by a fictional Albert Einstein as he rides a ray of light toward Earth. Along the way, Einstein explains (to an unnamed companion full of questions) foundational science ideas, discoveries, and terms in the areas of physics, astronomy, biology, and genetics, from the big bang to evolution to his own theory of relativity. Flitcroft's personable Einstein, appealingly rendered by illustrator Spencer in a big-nosed caricature, provides many concise descriptions of scientific phenomena, including a particularly nice explication of the Schroedinger's cat paradox. He relates unusual or humorous anecdotes from the history of science in the manner of Larry Gonick's Cartoon Histories, and occasionally waxes philosophical. A few bits seem forced, some explanations are not entirely clear, and Spencer unfortunately keeps changing the number of color bands in his rainbows. VERDICT While not quite as charming or outstanding as the best books of this type (see Gonick or Jay Hosler's Evolution), this is still a worthwhile addition to popular-science collections.-S.R. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
