Nicholas Icarus

About the Book

After working as a nighttime janitor for seventeen years at a Chicago technical institute, thirty-seven-year-old Nicholas "Nick" Stolarski senses something unusual about this particular evening. When he investigates a strange sound coming from a laboratory, his first impulse is to stop the irritating noise by any means possible. By flipping switches and turning on gadgets, Nick unleashes a secret Pentagon experiment that alters the structure of his body. Suddenly, Nick has the amazing ability to fly.

It's not long before a hotshot reporter breaks the news to the outside world and the Pentagon catches wind of the story. Nick becomes a national phenomenon, rousing the imagination of the advertising industry and ushering in a pushy Hollywood talent agent. Entrepreneurs view him as an economic opportunity as Nick catapults to celebrity status.

Nick's rise to international notoriety brings fame and fortune, but it comes at a cost to his family relationships. Now, Nick must determine what is truly important in his life before he loses all that he loves.

Nicholas Icarus Or The Man Who Flew explores the lasting impact of fame in today's society as it traces one man's incredible journey from ordinary human being to extraordinary star.

About the Author

Hal Marienthal holds a doctorate from the University of Southern California and has taught film, theatre, and writing courses. He is the author of Good Germans and currently teaches screenwriting at the University of North Carolina-Asheville where he received the 2006?2007 Distinguished Teacher Award.