Perhaps an unconventional form of affirmation, but for Lucy Hawking, her father’s response as she shared a portion of a children’s novel during dinner at his home in Cambridge was both crucial and exhilarating.
‘As I was reading a draft to him, he laughed so hard he leaped out of his chair,’ she recalls. ‘Two of his carers had to catch him and set him back down again.’
‘That was the moment I realized he was fully engaged, that he had begun to truly enjoy this.’
‘This’ refers to an unexpectedly delightful collaboration between father and daughter. In recent years, Stephen Hawking, the renowned theoretical physicist, has partnered with his daughter Lucy to co-author a series of children’s books focused on science.
The cosmic escapades of a young boy named George have become global bestsellers, translated into 37 languages. The latest installment, George And The Big Bang, is expected to achieve stellar success as well.
The odd blend of fame, physics, and disability often leaves his family— including first wife Jane and sons Robert and Tim— feeling, as Lucy puts it, ‘trapped in another chapter of the Stephen Hawking story.’
Subsequent allegations suggested Mason had been abusive towards Hawking, with claims that he sought treatment for unexplained injuries including cuts and bruises.
Lucy was among those who expressed concern to the authorities… yet Hawking declined to cooperate, resulting in the police dropping the case.
At the same time, Lucy faced her own challenges: her marriage to UN worker Alex Mackenzie Smith had ended, and she learned that their young son William was autistic.
In 2004, she admitted herself to a rehabilitation center in Arizona to address depression and alcohol-related issues.
‘It was a devastating period. As a family, we experienced our own “falling into a black hole” moment,’ she reflects, finding a fitting metaphor in the astronomical phenomena central to her father’s work.
‘Emerging from that involved doing something meaningful. Collaborating with Dad to write the books and inspire children felt like a way to contribute.’
The inspiration for the books originated during William’s seventh birthday celebration. ‘All of William’s friends were gathered around Dad, firing questions at him – “Stephen, what would occur if I fell into a black hole? What would the sensation be like?”
‘That’s when I realized they could grasp information by making it relatable to their experiences.’
The outcome was George’s Secret Key To The Universe, an interstellar adventure that combines an action-packed narrative with child-friendly elements.Essays by Hawking and other experts discussing the marvels of science.
Although it may seem that Hawking had minimal involvement in the characters or storyline, Lucy asserts that he now plays a significant role in the creative process.
“In the first book, he viewed his role as a consultant scientist, ensuring the content was accurate and educational,” she explains.
“By the second book, he had embraced the process. For the third, he devised the plot involving a mysterious group intent on sabotaging the Large Hadron Collider and preventing the secrets of the early universe from being uncovered.
“Thus, he transitioned from being quite teacher-like to saying, ‘What the hell, I’m writing the story.’”
The writing journey has provided a bonding opportunity, as father and daughter frequently meet for dinner at his Cambridge residence.
“It’s been wonderful for both of us.
“Dad never imagined he would collaborate with any of his children professionally, especially me since I was so focused on the arts, and this has brought him a great deal of joy.”
From her perspective, this experience has deepened Lucy’s pride in her 69-year-old father’s resilience.
“He has navigated his condition so effectively that people sometimes overlook the physical challenges he faces.”
Hawking communicates by utilizing a muscle in his cheek, which activates an infrared beam attached to his glasses, enabling him to move a cursor on a screen dictionary for word selection.
“There’s an element of recreating a past there,” says Lucy. “However, it’s not overwhelmingly melancholy. He doesn’t perceive it that way.
“He enjoys the concept of an alter ego who can actually venture into outer space rather than just contemplating it.”
Having served as a caregiver to her disabled father throughout much of her childhood, Lucy describes the discovery of her son’s autism as a significant setback.
“When William was very little, I sensed something was amiss, but I kept convincing myself it couldn’t be possible, thinking that lightning doesn’t strike twice. Then, upon his autism diagnosis, I found myself asking, ‘How? How can this be?’ I felt a surge of anger.”
The stress played a part in the dissolution of her marriage.
Now 13, William is thriving, Lucy shares. He accompanied her to America when she embarked on a year-long writing residency at Arizona State University.
“I recognized that relocating was unusual, particularly given William’s condition, but with my 40th birthday approaching in the town of my upbringing, I felt a desire to change things up,” she reflects.
“Arizona has an outstanding autism research association, so I was confident we had support. And William thrived there—he played basketball and learned to ride like a cowboy. His confidence really grew.”
Upon returning from America in June, she and William established a home in London while still visiting Stephen regularly. The bond between grandfather and grandson is sweet and uncomplicated.
“In America, we spent a day at Universal Studios with Dad,” Lucy recalls. “William held onto Dad’s wheelchair like a little bodyguard. He has no understanding of my father’s fame—his only comprehension is that he uses a wheelchair. He was simply looking out for him.”
This imagery must have seemed unimaginable a few years back. “Dad often mentions in his lectures that black holes aren’t as dark as they’re typically portrayed,” Lucy notes.
“He discovered that it’s possible to escape a black hole. At the conclusion of the lecture, he emphasizes that if you find yourself in a dark situation, don’t lose hope because there’s a way out. I always consider that a lovely way to encapsulate our experiences.”
by Debbie Dot
