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An Audience for Einstein (2006 EPPIE Award Winner)
by Mark Wakely
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Mundania Press, LLC (2005-09-30)
ISBN: 159426385X
EAN: 9781594263859
Hardcover: 176 pages
Reading Level: Young Adult
SKU: 08030493
Condition: Like New Like New
Comments: Hardcover. Like new cover and text. Like new dust jacket with very minor shelfwear. Near Fine condition. Beautiful book.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Professor Percival Marlowe is a brilliant, elderly astrophysicist who's dying, his greatest achievement still unfinished and now beyond his diminished means. Doctor Carl Dorning, a neurosurgeon, finally discovers a secret method of transplanting memories from one person to another, thanks to Marlowe's millions. Miguel Sanchez, a homeless boy, agrees to become the recipient of Marlowe's knowledge and personality in this unorthodox experiment, enticed by Dorning's promises of intelligence, wealth and respect, but dangerously unaware that his own identity will be lost forever. What results is a seesaw battle for control of Miguel's body, as Marlowe learns to his dismay what his lifetime of arrogance and conceit has earned him. And when Marlowe stumbles upon the shocking procedure Dorning used in desperation to succeed, the professor does what he must to defeat Dorning and redeem himself at last.
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Download Description
Professor Percival Marlowe is a brilliant, elderly astrophysicist who's dying, his greatest achievement still unfinished and now beyond his diminished means. Doctor Carl Dorning, a neurosurgeon, finally discovers a secret method of transplanting memories from one person to another, thanks to Marlowe's millions. Miguel Sanchez, a homeless boy, agrees to become the recipient of Marlowe's knowledge and personality in this unorthodox experiment, enticed by Dorning's promises of intelligence, wealth and respect, but dangerously unaware that his own identity will be lost forever. What results is a seesaw battle for control of Miguel's body, as Marlowe learns to his dismay what his lifetime of arrogance and conceit has earned him. And when Marlowe stumbles upon the shocking procedure Dorning used in desperation to succeed, the professor does what he must to defeat Dorning and redeem himself at last.
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Customer Reviews
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Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Rating  (5)
Date: 2006-11-27
8 out of 8 customers found this reveiw helpful
Young Percival Marlowe was a typical science geek; elderly Professor Marlowe is a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist who needs more time to complete all of the brilliant projects he has yet to share with the world. Unable to find a way to retrieve his own youth, Marlowe backs the project of neurosurgeon Carl Dorning, hoping but never truly believing that Dorning's revolutionary technique of transplanting memories will prove successful by the time Marlowe's rapidly-approaching death arrives.
Dorning knows that he only has one shot at transplanting Marlowe's essence, and realizes that the Professor doesn't have much time. When he meets a young homeless boy, Miguel Sanchez, all of the pieces begin to fall into place. But, when Marlowe finally realizes that this procedure may actually happen, he begins to question the moral implications of Dorning's potential success: "You've wrestled with the procedures and won, but not with the long term consequences, Dorning. Don't you see? If you're successful, you might have found a unique way to create a new class of slaves" (p. 42).
Mark Wakely's first novel tackles some big issues, forcing the reader to weigh the value of the life of a genius of science against that of an illiterate street urchin. Is the potential value of continuing a life already proven invaluable to mankind worth the sacrifice of one homeless boy who doesn't even know his own age? Or is the unique spirit Miguel brings to humanity more important than all of the equations and theories a second life for Professor Marlowe could offer?
2006 EPPIE Award
2003 Authorlink New Author Award for Science Fiction
2002/03 Fountainhead Productions National Writing Contest Winner
2003 Writemovies.com International Writing Competition, Finalist
Reviewed by: Mechele R. Dillard
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A finely written story that explores the biggest science question
Rating  (4)
Date: 2006-09-27
11 out of 12 customers found this reveiw helpful
Reviewed by Kelley Anderson for Reader Views (9/06)
Dr. Carl Dorning has come up with a brilliant surgical procedure. He has discovered a way to transplant the memories of one person into another. Completing his years of research, he has perfected his technique and discovered a way to completely transfer the personality without any chance of relapse. However, he does not reveal his startling revelation that perfected his technique until it is almost too late for Miguel. Miguel is the 10- year old boy that is the recipient of the memories of Professor Marlow, one of the most brilliant astrophysicists ever. Dr. Dorning takes a poor street-boy and turns him into Professor Marlow -- his memories, at least. But, at the price that Miguel's self is lost forever, this seems to be too much for both the Professor and Miguel.
Mark Wakely does an amazing job of putting enough medical detail into the procedure to make it believable without becoming overwhelming. The thoughts, memories and actions of the characters are realistic and likeable and I was drawn into the story quickly. The only low point, in my opinion, was the "dark revelation" of how Dr. Dorning perfected his technique. I was expecting to be blown away by some horrible secret and instead, my reaction was, "Oh, that's all?" You'll have to read for yourself and decide, but I was hoping for a more dramatic secret.
Even so, I would recommend this book for anyone that enjoys science fiction with a little suspense and a big dose of ethics. The writing style and storyline strike me as appropriate for teenagers and young adults, as well as anyone who enjoys a good story.
An "Audience for Einstein" was a pleasant surprise. From characters I could connect with, to a fast moving storyline, it was an enjoyable read from beginning to end.
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Really enjoyed this book
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-06-02
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
Too many reviewers have given away the plot so all I want to say is that I really enjoyed An Audience for Einstein and that I look forward to the author's next book.
No spoilers from me.
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Cool
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-05-15
6 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
I haven't read a whole lot of science fiction, but this book was the best one I've read yet. It made me think about how doctors might soon be able to change people in ways we might not really want to be changed. And I really liked the characters in the story, especially Professor Marlowe and Miguel. And Doctor Dorning was a great bad guy, smart but evil for not caring about what his experiment would do to Miguel. I was sorry about what happens to Marlowe in the end, but I was glad that Miguel was going to be okay, although I wasn't sure that his family would ever get back together again like he wanted. You've got to read this book.
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A serious book
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-04-28
4 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is the type of book that holds important lessons but is still fun to read. Both Professor Marlowe and Miguel grow as persons by the end as they finally make the right decisions. I was sad that the professor couldn't go on living, but he had actually died on his birthday when the operation took place. The few weeks he was alive after that were on borrowed time, stolen from Miguel. I didn't at the end think that Miguel would ever be as smart as the professor, but I thought Miguel would be successful. This book really held my interest because the story is truly a matter of life or death. This is one of the more intelligent young adult novels out there.
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