THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2022
FROM THE PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR

‘Extraordinary’ New York Times
‘Remarkable’ Observer
‘Heartfelt’ Guardian

Theo Byrne is a promising young scientist who has found a way to search for life on other planets dozens of light years away. He is also the widowed father of a most unusual nine-year-old. His son Robin is funny, loving and filled with plans. He thinks and feels deeply, adores animals and can spend hours painting elaborate pictures. But after a violent outburst from Robin at school, the strength of their close bond will be tested to its limits...

What can a father do, when those around him refuse to understand his rare and troubled child? And how can he reveal to his boy the truth about our beautiful, bewildered world?

Richard Powers has published fourteen novels. He is a MacArthur Fellow and received the National Book Award. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Overstory. He lives in the Great Smoky Mountains.