Solar
Author | McEwan, Ian |
---|---|
Year | 2010 |
First published | 2010 |
Publisher | New York: Nan A. Talese |
Number of pages | 285 |
Edition | US hardback |
ISBN | 9780385533416 |
Keywords | physics, climate change, scientific ethics, scientists' social responsibility, humor |
Titles discussed
- Clode, Danielle; Stasiak, Monika (2014) Fictional Depictions of Climate Change. In: The International Journal of Climate Change (5) 19 - 29
Publications that discuss this title
- Trexler, Adam; Johns-Putra, Adeline (2011) Climate change in literature and literary criticism. In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 2 (2) 185 - 200
- Haynes, Roslynn (2014) Whatever happened to the "mad, bad" scientist? Overturning the stereotype.. In: Public Understanding of Science
Abstract
Michael Beard is an overweight, middle-aged, philandering, Nobel-winning physicist who has been sitting on his Laurels for years and has lost all sense of scientific curiosity, drive, and ethics. When his personal and professional worlds collide in a freak accident, he sees a way to reinvigorate his career—and make a lot of money—by applying his Nobel-winning physics to a younger colleague's idea for artificial photosynthesis and energy production. Beard is a parody—a literal embodiment of a greedy, over-consuming post-modern society—but despite the cynicism, McEwan's engaging story-telling, fine prose, and outrageous humor make this a fun read. (FMS Gaines)