First Light: The Search for the Edge of the Universe

by Richard Preston

Book Overview

Seven years before Richard Preston wrote about horrifying viruses in The Hot Zone, he turned his attention to the cosmos. In First Light , he demonstrates his gift for creating an exciting and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679449698
• ISBN13: 9780679449690
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 275 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A book worth owning. . .

I adore this book. Of course, I must give a disclaimer, I've always loved the subject of astronomy ever since I was very small. Unfortunately for me, I lacked the patience and the math skills to really delve into it, but books like Preston's, which are written for the layman but dare to delve a little, are a great read. 'First Light' follows two different groups of people: one working at the famed Palomar Telescope in Pasadena; the other, Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker of the Shoemaker Comets fame. The book is rich with detail and lovingly paints a picture of the kindly, eccentric and brilliant people who inhabit that world. Especially wonderful are the analogies that help you understand how large the universe is when compared to objects around us (i.e., "Imagine the sun the size of the dot on this i. . .").No, the writing isn't flawless, but the depth of detail and the easy flow of the narrative will keep you reading. . . Highly recommended for all ages.

An intimidating subject brought down to earth

Preston's storytelling is compelling and very readable. The science of astronomy is accessible and its practitioners become real-life, normal human beings. Preston's writing is enlightening, instructional and engaging, without any condescension related to the science. Great book.

My favourite book

This is an engaging book about a subject which most people know little about. It surprised me so much the way it drew me in and taught me so much about this fascinating world of astronomy. I can't wait to read all his books

Amazing look at an awe-inspiring profession

First Light isn't a science popularization, like you might expect from authors such as Gould, Sacks, or Hawking. Instead, like the author's later book The Hot Zone, this is a very human story, told in an engrossing, narrative fashion. If you're looking for a galactic primer, there are better books. But if you're looking for a look at the daily life and work of astronomers on the cutting-edge, no better book has been written.

A must-read who anyone who enjoys a good read

This book easily makes my "ten best books ever" list. It's the story of the scientists using the Palomar 200-inch telescope to look for the edge of the observable universe. But it's more than that. Like an involving novel (even though this is non-fiction), it's also a portrait of the engaging, human, and sometimes quirky characters involved. Finally, First Light is a stylishly written, seductive explanation of what's at stake as the science team tries to "drill wildcat holes in look-back time." Even if you hate science and care nothing for astronomy, this book will charm and delight you