Astrophysicist and folklorist Dr. Moiya McTier channels The Milky Way in this autobiography of the titular galaxy, detailing what humans have discovered about everything from its formation to its eventual death, and what more there is to learn about this galaxy we call home.
... creative, humorous and enormously entertaining ... quite adept at explaining complex scientific concepts to us (vastly more ignorant) humans, but the most surprising aspect of this book is that the Milky Way has a buoyant sense of humor, as well as a passion for 'inspiring others' ... As with any translation from another tongue, readers may marvel at the role of the translator in creating a book that is both informative and truly inspirational. Here, it's clear Dr. McTier has harnessed the sense of marvel she felt as a child, when she imagined the sun and moon as celestial parents who watched over her and talked to her on a regular basis. That childlike wonder, combined with her expertise in mythology and astronomy, makes her the perfect human to assist in telling this story ... At any rate, since the Milky Way took the time to help us all understand more about our universe, it would be only polite to put this highly recommended title at the top of your reading list.
Unlike typical books on this topic, McTier’s approach is especially lively and fun because the Milky Way is talking to us, offering fascinating anecdotes about our existence from an out-of-this-world perspective. We also learn of our place and importance (or lack thereof!) within a massive galaxy, which, although immense, is just one of billions. Educational, informative, and original, this will leave readers eagerly anticipating McTier’s next book.
... delightful ... McTier, writing as the Milky Way, cleverly covers the origins of the universe, , how it might end, and key players in the history of space science, all in a droll, dignified voice gently scornful of human foible ... McTier’s narrator is authoritative, funny, and moving, whether considering humans’ insignificance or the utility of myth ... McTier writes that her goal is to help people 'understand how ephemeral [our] existence is.' She succeeds smashingly. The result is truly stellar.
