Black and White (book)

Black and White (also called Schatten und Licht in Germany) is the first book of The Icarus Project by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge. The prequel to Shades of Gray, Black and White takes place in New Chicago. It follows the estranged friends, corporate superhero Jet and rabid vigilante Iridium. The narrative alternates between Jet and Iridium's point of view as it jumps between Then and Now (2112) storylines.

Back Cover
"They were best friends at an elite academy for superheroes in training, but now Callie Bradford, code name Iridium, and Joannie Greene, code name Jet, are mortal enemies. Jet is a by-the-book hero, using her Shadow power to protect the citizens of New Chicago. Iridium, with her mastery of light, runs the city's underworld. For the past five years, the two have played an elaborate, and frustrating, game of cat and mouse. "But now playtime's over. Separately, Jet and Iridium uncover clues that point to a looming evil, one that is entwined with the Academy. As Jet works with Bruce Hunter--a normal man with an extraordinary ability to make her weak in the knees--she becomes convinced that Iridium is involved in a scheme that will level the power structure of America itself. And Iridium, teaming with the mysterious vigilante called Taser, uncovers an insidious plot that's been a decade in the making. . . a plot in which Jet is key."

Then
The Then half of the book covers the highlights of the five-year span Jet and Iridium attend the Academy, c. 2102-2107.

Now
The Now half of the book covers the events over a few days in late October, 2112.

US
Black and White - published June 23, 2009 by Spectra and Random House Publishing.

UK
Black and White - published January 1, 2010 by Piatkus Books.

Germany
Schatten und Licht - published July 5, 2010 by Egmont Lyx.

Notes and Trivia

 * Jackie Kessler writes the Jet point of view.
 * Caitlin Kittredge writes the Iridium point of view.
 * Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge attended NYC Comic-Con in 2009 to promote the then-forthcoming Black and White.