Universe of Two

A Novel

By: Stephen P Kiernan

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

From the critically acclaimed author of The Baker’s Secret and The Curiosity comes a novel of conscience, love, and redemption—a fascinating fictionalized account of the life of Charlie Fisk, a gifted mathematician who was drafted into Manhattan Project and ordered against his morals to build the detonator for the atomic bomb. With his musician wife, he spends his postwar life seeking redemption—and they find it together.

Graduating from Harvard at the height of World War II, brilliant mathematician Charlie Fish is assigned to the Manhattan Project. Working with some of the age’s greatest scientific minds, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Leo Szilard, Charlie is assigned the task of designing and building the detonator of the atomic bomb.

As he performs that work Charlie suffers a crisis of conscience, which his wife, Brenda—unaware of the true nature of Charlie’s top-secret task—mistakes as self-doubt. She urges him to set aside his qualms and continue. Once the bombs strike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the feelings of culpability devastate him and Brenda.

At the war’s end, Charlie receives a scholarship to pursue a PhD in physics at Stanford—an opportunity he and Brenda hope will allow them a fresh start. But the past proves inescapable. All any of his new colleagues can talk about is the bomb, and what greater atomic weapons might be on the horizon. Haunted by guilt, Charlie and Brenda leave Stanford and decide to dedicate the rest of their lives to making amends for the evil he helped to birth into the world.

Based on the life of the actual mathematician Charles B. Fisk, Universe of Two combines riveting historical drama with a poignant love story. Stephen Kiernan has conjured a remarkable account of two people struggling to heal their consciences and find peace in a world forever changed.

©2020 Stephen P. Kiernan (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Thought provoking historical fiction

I loved parts of this book but other parts made me sad and even anxious because I sympathized with the characters so much. Brenda is a wonderful character and it was interesting to see her mature throughout the story. I'm not sure how this male writer manages to portray the female psyche so well. There was a lot of interesting historical facts threaded throughout the story. This author's stories could make you fall in love with history. Although this novel is very good I resent the fact that it wasn't as good as the Baker's Secret.

Couldn't Stop Listening/Hated For The Story to End

Cassandra Campbell brought Brenda to life in the most extraordinary way. Brenda and Charlie's story is a beautiful tribute to life during the war years. Stephen P. Kieman weaves a story that is both mesmerizing and memorable. "Universe of Two" bring together two very talented people, the author and the narrator and a story I didn't want to end.

A lovely read

Set in the last years of WWII, this is a lovely story of love and a person's crisis of conscience that is calmed by it.

Perfection!

This story was beautifully written. I enjoyed every minute and would recommend it to anyone.

Best book I’ve read this year.

Of all books about WWII, I enjoyed this one so much that it truly surprised me. It’s about the power of music. It’s a love story. It’s history. I’ve recommended it to friends and family, loved it.

wonderful!

absolutely loved it! read it for a bookclub at work and the author joined via zoom. such a wonderful story. I highly recommend!

Fiction and history combined, well done.

I have read a lot of books about Los Alamos. I lived in Oak Ridge and visited Los Alamos. I found this story well told and spellbinding. It is heavily fictionalized but still retains the atmosphere of the people who worked on the Manhattan Project. The author also describes Santa Fe and New Mexico to my satisfaction. One of the best books I’ve listened to this year.

Always enjoy Kiernan’s stories

A mix of historical fiction and romance while being delightfully entertaining. Kiernan’s books always introduce me to facts in history I didn’t know, while telling the story thru personal relationships.

Beautiful Story

Great book! It held my attention from beginning to end. Both characters were well developed and likable.

Good historical fiction

Cassandra Campbell...always a good narrator.

Book is good though Brenda annoyed me at times.

Get this book. You won't be disappointed. Worth the credit for sure.