Darkstroke

Solar

Solar book cover
S
Fiction Fiction Science Fiction

by Ian McEwan

starstarstarstarstar
3.23 (17.3K ratings)
calendar_today 2010
description 287 pages

Solar by Ian McEwan holds a mixed reviews rating of 3.23 out of 5, based on 17.3K reader ratings. First published in 2010. The book spans 287 pages.

About Solar

Michael Beard is a Nobel prize–winning physicist whose best work is behind him, and whose fifth marriage is crumbling. However, an invitation to travel to New Mexico offers him a chance for him to extricate himself from his marital problems, reinvigorate his career, and save the world from environmental disaster. Can a man who has made a mess of his life clean up the messes of humanity?Michael Beard is a Nobel prize–winning physicist whose best work is behind him. Trading on his reputation, he speaks for enormous fees, lends his name to the letterheads of renowned scientific institutions, and half-heartedly heads a government-backed initiative tackling global warming. While he coasts along in his professional life, Michael’s personal life is another matter entirely. His fifth marriage is crumbling under the weight of his infidelities. But this time the tables are turned: His wife is having an affair, and Michael realizes he is still in love with her. When Michael’s personal and professional lives begin to intersect in unexpected ways, an opportunity presents itself in the guise of an invitation to travel to New Mexico. Here is a chance for him to extricate himself from his marital problems, reinvigorate his career, and very possibly save the world from environmental disaster. Can a man who has made a mess of his life clean up the messes of humanity? A complex novel that brilliantly traces the arc of one man’s ambitions and self-deceptions, Solar is a startling, witty, and stylish new work from one of the world’s great writers.

Detail Value
Author Ian McEwan
Published 2010
Pages 287
Genres Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction
Average Rating 3.23 / 5.00
Total Ratings 17,333

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

3.2
starstarstarstarstar
17.3K ratings
With a rating of 3.23, Solar is rated below the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.99, it performs below the genre benchmark.

How It Compares

3.23
This Book
3.99
Science Fiction Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is Solar?

Solar is categorized as Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Science Fiction.

Is Solar worth reading?

Based on 17.3K reader ratings, Solar has an average score of 3.23 out of 5.00, which is considered "Mixed Reviews."

How many pages is Solar?

Solar has 287 pages.

Who wrote Solar?

Solar was written by Ian McEwan. It was first published in 2010.

What is the ISBN for Solar?

The ISBN-13 for Solar is 9780385533420.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026