Benjamín Labatut’s book is a fictional exploration of the lives and discoveries of eminent twentieth-century scientists. The author examines pivotal moments in the history of science—moments that forever altered our understanding of the world—through the lens of the personal stories of physicists and mathematicians. The work balances on the border between documentary prose and artistic invention, showing how scientific breakthroughs impact not only the development of humanity but also the fates of the scientists themselves.