Playground A Novel
Playground A Novel by Richard Powers, published by W. W. Norton in 2024, is a literary work that intertwines the lives of four individuals against a backdrop of environmental and technological themes. The narrative begins with twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu, who finds herself submerged in a swimming pool in Montreal, and follows the journeys of Ina Aroita, Rafi Young, and Todd Keane as they navigate their unique experiences. This edition spans 381 pages and is presented in English.
Readers will encounter a rich tapestry of connections as the characters converge on the historically significant island of Makatea in French Polynesia. The island, once a vital source of phosphorus, is now at a crossroads, facing a decision about the future of floating, autonomous cities. The novel delves into profound themes of friendship, nature, and the impact of technology on humanity, all while exploring the vastness of the ocean and the implications of colonization. Richard Powers crafts a narrative that invites reflection on our shared humanity and the environment, showcasing his distinctive storytelling style.
Official synopsis Publisher
Four lives are drawn together in a sweeping, panoramic new novel from Richard Powers, showcasing the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Overstory at the height of his skills. Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world’s first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home. Two polar opposites at an elite Chicago high school bond over a three-thousand-year-old board game; Rafi Young will get lost in literature, while Todd Keane’s work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough.
They meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped to feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity’s next adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island’s residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away.
Set in the world’s largest ocean, this awe-filled book explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize in a still-unfolding oceanic game, and interweaves beautiful writing, rich characterization, profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity in a way only Richard Powers can.
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