Sum: The Afterlife May 25, 2010

Neuroscientist and fiction writer, David Eagleman has, in his best-selling book Sum, written 40 tales from the afterlives. You may find that God is the size of a microbe and unaware of your existence. Perhaps the afterlife contains only those people whom you remember, or maybe God is a married couple struggling with discontent. In a different version, you work as a background character in other people’s dreams, or discover that the hereafter includes the thousands of previous gods who no longer attract followers. A series of wonderfully imagined tales – funny, wistful and unsettling – all rooted in science, romance and awe at our mysterious existence: a mixture of hope, love and death that cuts through human nature at innovative angles. Stephen Fry said “You will not read a more dazzling book this year”.

Price: £6.50 / £4.50. Contact At-Bristol on: 0845 345 1235 (local rate calls) or 0117 915 5000 (9.00-17.00 weekdays), or book in person (every day 10.00-17.00).

Official Website: http://www.ideasfestival.co.uk/?p=414