Who is Richard Powers from Galatea 2.2 and what is their importance?

Richard is a writer who has recently returned from abroad, where he was living with his girlfriend of ten years. He has not ever been married and he and his girlfriend C. had no children together. He receives an appointment at the Center for the Study of Advanced Sciences by virtue of his most recent book. He will be staying on at the center for a year as the visiting Humanist on the faculty. Richard originally takes physics while attending university in U., and is a star pupil. However, he switches majors at the last moment and gets his masters degree in literature, much to the chagrin of his father.

He is accepted into the doctoral program but is unable to finish. His father dies during his schooling and he struggles with guilt, knowing that his father had been disappointed in him. Richard's father was an alcoholic and Richard, as a child, often had to take care of him when he became too drunk. Richard continues to write although he has become somewhat misanthropic and jaded. He has been severely affected by his recent break-up and continues to be awkward around women.