The first truly accessible account of black holes - beautifully written and fun to read.What is a black hole? Could we survive a visit to one? Have we yet discovered any real black holes? These are just some of the tantalizing questions answered in this tour-de-force, jargon-free review of one of the most facinating topics in modern science. In search of the answers, we trace a star from its birth to its death throes, take a hypothetical journey to the border of a black hole and beyond, spend time with leading theoretical physicists and astronomers, and take a whimsical look at some wild ideas black holes have inspired.Prisons of Light - Black Holes is comprehensive and detailed. Yet Kitty Ferguson's lightness of touch and down-to-earth analogies set this book apart from all others on black holes and make it a wonderfully stimulating and entertaining read.What is a black hole? Could we survive a visit to one? Have we yet discovered any real black holes? These are just some of the tantalizing questions answered in this tour-de-force, jargon-free review of one of the most facinating topics in modern science. In search of the answers, we trace a star from its birth to its death throes, take a hypothetical journey to the border of a black hole and beyond, spend time with leading theoretical physicists and astronomers, and take a whimsical look at some wild ideas black holes have inspired.Prisons of Light - Black Holes is comprehensive and detailed. Yet Kitty Ferguson's lightness of touch and down-to-earth analogies set this book apart from all others on black holes and make it a wonderfully stimulating and entertaining read.In this jargon-free review of one of the most fascinating topics in modern science, acclaimed science writer Kitty Ferguson examines the discovery of black holes, their nature, and what they can teach us about the mysteries of the universe. In search of the answers, we trace a star from its birth to its death throes, take a hypothetical journey to thlsl