Martel, Payette will kick off space show

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, titled What the Drop of Water Had to Say, sets the theme for the show, which will be hosted by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Lalibert of Montreal 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 an 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.

The 14-city show, called Moving Stars and Earth for Water, will be broadcast on the internet and several TV networks.