Ian McEwan's Solar on sale today

18 March 2010

Ian McEwan has been doing the rounds in anticipation of 'Solar', his novel about the complexities of the science, politics and economics of climate change, going on sale today. He appeared amongst other guest authors on Radio 4's 'Start the Week', and the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, as well as conducting interviews for the Observer and the Guardian, amongst many other appearances on media and literary platforms.

The launching of this novel co-incides with real life concerns revolving around recently emerged evidence of data manipulations from The University of Anglia's climate change scientists which have served to undermine the confidence of the general public on the absolute truth about global warming and its link to increased consumption of fossil fuels and carbon emissions. 

Ian McEwan has done his job as an author well. Prior to his university days, he was quite tempted towards a science career, and although he chose a literary career pathway instead, his interest in science remained. This will have help Ian on his visit to the Arctic circle, where his stay was made possible by living on a specially designed boat with a re-enforced hull, which is wedged into the frozen ice. It was this lived experience of staying with experts in the field of physics, climate science, and the geology of the arctic, that McEwan found the material for his book, where he laughingly describes how he realised that the complexities of this issue are being debated by people barely able to keep the boot room tidy.

Reassuringly, Solar does not require a PhD to understand.  Accurately explaining the issues in a deep and meaningful way, the book gives an insight into the human complexities that operate in an area where understanding and theory is emerging, but where urgency of action is required before the unknown tipping point in reality of global warming is reached. McEwan manages to capture this imperative, as well as creating an interesting social backdrop in which the scientific and moral issues are explored. 

Solar is released today, and is expected to top the book charts, as well as being attractive to script writers, as one of the next movie blockbuster to be created.  Click on the hyperlink to ensure you compare prices from our comprehensive range of retailers before you make your purchase.