**The legendary physicist explores his favorite subject in a pair of enlightening, accessible, and cleverly illustrated essays for curious readers, originally delivered as BBC lectures.** *“It is said that fact is sometimes stranger than fiction, and nowhere is that more true than in the case of black holes. Black holes are stranger than anything dreamed up by science-fiction writers, but they are firmly matters of science fact.”* For decades, Stephen Hawking has been fascinated by black holes. He believes that if we understood the challenges they pose to the very nature of space and time, we could unlock the secrets of the universe. In these conversational pieces, Hawking’s sense of wonder is infectious as he holds forth on what we know about black holes, what we still *don’t* know, and theoretical answers to more specific questions, such as: *What would happen if you ever got sucked into one?* Annotated and with an introduction by BBC News science editor David Shukman, featuring whimsical and illuminating illustrations, *Black Holes* offers a candid peek into one of the great scientific mysteries of all time. **Praise for Stephen Hawking** * * * “[Hawking] can explain the complexities of cosmological physics with an engaging combination of clarity and wit. . . . His is a brain of extraordinary power.” **— *The New York Review of Books*** * * * “Hawking clearly possesses a natural teacher’s gifts—easy, good-natured humor and an ability to illustrate highly complex propositions with analogies plucked from daily life.” **— *The New York Times*** * * * “A high priest of physics, one of a handful of theorists who may be on the verge of reading God’s mind.” **— *Los Angeles Times***