Marc’s passion and enthusiasm for the subject has spurred the publication of his first book New Stars for Old. Providing fictional accounts of the lives of some of the most prominent figures in astronomy as they make their factual discoveries, this title will be released by award-winning publisher Candy Jar Books on July 9th.
In a colourful attempt to remind us all that science is done by real people, Marc Read lifts the lid on the private lives of Aristotle, Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton along with many others, and explores the way in which human influences have shaped science.
From this challenging viewpoint, twenty short stories emerge, illuminating the worries of Ptolemy, and Aristotle’s unusual domestic situation, which shaped their efforts to make sense of the universe.
He continues: “The idea initially materialised as a series of one-act plays, but after writing a handful of them, I realised that short stories would be a much more suitable form.”
He continues: “The idea initially materialised as a series of one-act plays, but after writing a handful of them, I realised that short stories would be a much more suitable form.”
The historical context of New Stars for Old is
drawn from Marc’s PhD in History and Philosophy of Science. Given its strong
academic roots, it comes as no great surprise that this book has an educational
slant. Yet Marc strikes a healthy balance between fact and fiction, succeeding
in entertaining his readers, not boring them.
In spite of his extensive research, there is still a lot of room
for speculation. Marc says: "Whilst much astronomical writing has survived
from this period, people weren’t in the habit of keeping diaries in those
days."
Megan Jones
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