Playground
Remarkable
Vivid
Original

Playground

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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Reviews

Photo of Philip Rosenbaum
Philip Rosenbaum@icanread
5 stars
Jun 30, 2025

Fantastic.

+4
Photo of Marlene Renkl
Marlene Renkl@marlenchen
5 stars
Apr 18, 2025

Mich hat dieses Buch von der ersten Seite an gepackt! Erzählt wird die Geschichte von der Pazifik-Insel Makatea und von vier Menschen, deren Verbindung zueinander und zu der Insel man erst nach und nach versteht; es geht um eine besondere Freundschaft und ums Anderssein, um das Meer, Naturschutz und Künstliche Intelligenz, wunderschön und bestürzend zugleich! Hat mich zurück ins Lesefieber geholt, große Empfehlung!

Photo of Howard Greller
Howard Greller@heshiegreshie
5 stars
Jan 9, 2025

Incredible

+2
Photo of Sarah Erle
Sarah Erle@serle
5 stars
Oct 10, 2024

Possibly best book of the year. Explores big ideas beautifully

Photo of Alex lee
Alex lee @aflee
3 stars
May 31, 2025
Photo of Andrea Hak-Kovacs
Andrea Hak-Kovacs@andreareads
5 stars
Jan 30, 2025
+1
Photo of Beth Benbow
Beth Benbow@beths_books03
3.5 stars
Nov 10, 2024
Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln
4.5 stars
Oct 15, 2024
+7

Highlights

Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln

Of all the things we humans excel at, moving the goalposts might be our best trick.

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