COMPILING a collection of short stories inspired by breakthroughs in modern science must have had its challenges. In the name of flowing prose, would authors gloss over the nuances of Einstein’s arrival at his special theory of relativity or Denis Noble’s efforts to mathematically model heart cells? Or would a nitpicky focus on the details of discovery undermine the escapist quality of fiction?
Litmus avoids these pitfalls by presenting unfettered fiction followed by commentary from scientists. So Michael Jecks’s tale of a sorrowful man for whom Einstein’s theories are a unique source of joy is complemented by an essay…
