When Lucy Hawking decided she wanted to write a fun, science-based novel for her young son, she did not have to look far to find an expert to collaborate with.
Her father, Stephen Hawking, is widely acknowledged as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists of our time.
His book, A Brief History of Time, became a global phenomenon after its release in 1988. The wide-ranging book tackled cosmology, the Big Bang theory, black holes, and complex mathematics for a non-specialist audience.
Now Lucy and Stephen Hawking have combined their talents to take children on a romp through the universe, explaining it to them in a fast-paced fun adventure featuring a small boy called George, Eric, the world's greatest living scientist, and the super-computer Cosmos.
In George's Secret Key to the Universe, released in NZ at the weekend, young George discovers that Cosmos, who belongs to new neighbour Eric, can propel people into outer space. The book is pitched at 8 to 12-year-olds but may appeal to a wider audience.
Eric's daughter Annie and George embark on a dramatic and dangerous adventure through space, made more urgent by the evil ambitions of another scientist.
As the children travel, they learn about many scientific concepts and the nature of space, including the latest theories on black holes - regions of space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape, making them impossible to see.
Once thought to be the "baddies" in space, devouring everything around them, they are now thought to be fundamental in the creation of galaxies.
The book features wonderful illustrations, factboxes explaining scientific concepts, and glossy photographs of planets, comets and cosmic clouds.
Lucy Hawking said combining fact with fiction and keeping the storyline flowing were particularly challenging, especially for a first-time children's author.
When she first sat down with her publishers they agreed that there were too many concepts to include in one book for children, so a trilogy is planned.
