Canadian Novelist to Kick Off Laliberte Space Show

Author Yann Martel to kick off Laliberte space show
CTV News

Acclaimed Canadian novelist Yann Martel says he didn’t know he had it in him to write a 14-stanza poem about water for a show that will be hosted in space this Friday.

The poem from the “Life of Pi” author, entitled “What the Drop of Water Had to Say,” sets the theme for the show, which will be hosted by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte from the International Space Station.

Martel says he’ll kick off the extravaganza by reading the first stanza with astronaut Julie Payette in front of a live audience at the circus centre La Tohu in Montreal.

Luminaries including former U.S. vice president Al Gore, U2 frontman Bono and pop star Shakira will then take over, reading one stanza each from their respective cities via satellite link-up.

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