Fire, Ice, and Physics, Rebecca C. Thompson
Fire, Ice, and Physics, Rebecca C. Thompson
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Fire, Ice, and Physics
The Science of Game of Thrones

Author: Rebecca C. Thompson, Sean Carroll

Narrator: Lisa Flanagan

Unabridged: 10 hr 28 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/29/2019

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

Exploring the science in George R. R. Martin's fantastical world, from the physics of an ice wall to the genetics of the Targaryens and Lannisters.

Game of Thrones is a fantasy that features a lot of made-up science--fabricated climatology (when is winter coming?), astronomy, metallurgy, chemistry, and biology. Most fans of George R. R. Martin's fantastical world accept it all as part of the magic. A trained scientist, watching the fake science in Game of Thrones, might think, "But how would it work?"

In Fire, Ice, and Physics, Rebecca Thompson turns a scientist's eye on Game of Thrones, exploring, among other things, the science of an ice wall, the genetics of the Targaryen and Lannister families, and the biology of beheading. Thompson, a PhD in physics and an enthusiastic Game of Thrones fan, uses the fantasy science of the show as a gateway to some interesting real science, introducing GOT fandom to a new dimension of appreciation.

Thompson starts at the beginning, with winter, explaining seasons and the very elliptical orbit of the Earth that might cause winter to come (or not come). She tells us that ice can behave like ketchup, compares regular steel to Valyrian steel, explains that dragons are "bats, but with fire," and considers Targaryen inbreeding. Finally she offers scientific explanations of the various types of fatal justice meted out, including beheading, hanging, poisoning (reporting that the effects of "the Strangler," administered to Joffrey at the Purple Wedding, resemble the effects of strychnine), skull crushing, and burning at the stake.

Even the most faithful Game of Thrones fans will learn new and interesting things about the show from Thompson's entertaining and engaging account. Fire, Ice, and Physics is an essential companion for all future bingeing.

This audiobook includes a bonus PDF of charts, figures, and illustrations.

About The Author

REBECCA C. THOMPSON, PhD, is a physicist and author of the popular Spectra series of comic books about physics. Head of Public Engagement for the American Physical Society from 2008 to 2019, she is now Head of the Office of Education and Public Outreach at Fermilab near Chicago.SEAN CARROLL is a theoretical physicist at Caltech and the author of popular science books, including The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sille

Humanitaarina on mul füüsikaga alati ambivalentne suhe olnud, samas pole ma kunagi laskunud selleni, et öelda, nagu oleks vältimatu, et humanitaar füüsikat eriti ei jaga. Pigem arvan, et see on väga suuresti õppemetoodika küsimus - füüsika on kahtlemata väga huvitav, aga seda on võimalik väga igaval......more

Goodreads review by Tilda

Füüsik Rebecca C. Thompson otsustas uurida kuidas “Troonide mängu” väljamõeldud maailm oma ettearvamatult vahetuvate aastaaegadega, kibedas külmas palja päi lippavate meestega, tohutu jäämüüri, jääzombide ja tuld sülgavate lohedega teadusega suhestub. Tuleb välja, et suhestub küll. Epiloogis ütleb t......more

Goodreads review by Brita

This book brings Westeros into life. I learned about how seasons work ("Winter is coming"), what could be the secret of Valyrian steel.. and to end with, the science behind different death sentences (this part was extremely morbid). You probably should not read this book if you haven't finished read......more