George's Secret Key to the Universe

George's Secret Key to the Universe

In their bestselling book for young readers, noted physicist Stephen Hawking and his daughter, Lucy, provide a grand and funny adventure that explains fascinating information about our universe, including Dr. Hawking's latest ideas about black holes. It's the story of George, who's taken through the vastness of space by a scientist, his daughter, and their super-computer named Cosmos. George's Secret Key to the Universe was a New York Times bestseller and a selection of Al's Book Club on the Today show. "The book gets points for tackling the recurrent tension between environmentalism and science, but it succeeds first and foremost as a good old-fashioned adventure tale." ― Natural History *"What better way to interest young readers in science...than for one of the world's most renowned theoretical physicists to put his subect at the center of a children's book?...A true beginnger's guide to A Brief History of Time. " ― Publishers Weekly, starred review "[An] entertaining read-aloud that integrates well-presented scientific facts and theories within a charmingly illustrated chapter book." ― Booklist "A relief for the science-deficient parent in need of a little extra help." ― New York Magazine Stephen Hawking was a brilliant theoretical physicist and is generally considered to have been one of the world’s greatest thinkers. He held the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge for thirty years and is the author of A Brief History of Time , which was an international bestseller. His other books for general readers include A Briefer History of Time , the essay collection Black Holes and Baby Universes , The Universe in a Nutshell , The Grand Design , and Black Holes: The BBC Reith Lectures , as well as the books in the George’s Secret Key series. He died in 2018. Lucy Hawking, Stephen Hawking’s daughter, is a journalist and novelist. She is the coauthor of the George’s Secret Key series for kids, as well as the author of the adult novels Jaded and Run for Your Life. She lives in Cambridge with her son. Garry Parsons is the award-winning illustrator of many books, including George’s Secret Key to the Universe , George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt , George and the Big Bang , George and the Unbreakable Code , and George and the Blue Moon by Lucy and Stephen Hawking; Billy’s Bucket by Kes Gray; and What’s Cool About School by Kate Agnew. He lives in London. Visit him at GarryParsons.co.uk. George’s Secret Key to the Universe Pigs don’t just vanish, thought George as he stood staring into the depths of the very obviously empty pigsty. He tried closing his eyes and then opening them again, to see if it was all some kind of horrible optical illusion. But when he looked again, the pig was still gone, his vast muddy pink bulk nowhere to be seen. In fact, when George examined the situation for a second time, it had gotten worse, not better. The side door of the pigsty, he noticed, was hanging open, which meant someone hadn’t shut it properly. And that someone was probably him. “Georgie!” he heard his mother call from the kitchen. “I’m going to start supper in a minute, so you’ve only got about an hour. Have you done your homework?” “Yes, Mom,” he called back in a fake cheery voice. “How’s your pig?” “He’s fine! Fine!” said George squeakily. He threw in a few experimental oinks, just to make it sound as though everything was business as usual, here in the small backyard that was full of many, many vegetables and one enormous—but now mysteriously absent—pig. He grunted a few more times for effect—it was very important his mother did not come out into the garden before George had time to think up a plan. How he was going to find the pig, put it back in the sty, close the door, and get back in time for supper, he had no idea. But he was working on it, and the last thing he needed was for one of his parents to appear before he had all the answers. George knew the pig was not exactly popular with his parents. His mother and father had never wanted a pig in the backyard, and his dad in particular tended to grind his teeth quite hard when he remembered who lived beyond the vegetable patch. The pig had been a present: One cold Christmas Eve a few years back, a cardboard box full of squeaks and snuffles had been delivered to their front door. When George opened it up, he found a very indignant pink piglet inside. George lifted him carefully out of the box and watched with delight as his new friend skidded around the Christmas tree on his tiny hooflets. There had been a note taped to the box. Dear all! it read. Merry Christmas! This little fellow needs a home—can you give him one? Love, Grandma xxx. George’s dad hadn’t been delighted by the new addition to his family. Just because he was a vegetarian, it didn’t mean he liked animals. Actually, he preferred plants. They were much easier to deal with: They didn’t make a mess or leave muddy hoofprin