Any literary group that embarks upon a study of Richard Powers's novels should begin with Galatea 2.2. Although it is his fifth novel in print, its metafictional approach helps to explain a great deal about his earlier work.

Powers discusses each of his books in some detail, providing initial readers of his work with valuable information that will help them to understand it.

Although Galatea 2.2 provokes and requires considerable thought, it is in many respects the least demanding of Powers's novels to date. The two basic story lines are clearly defined and neatly interwoven. The ancillary story lines are sketched lucidly and directly.

In this novel, the characterization is also better realized than that in any of Powers's earlier writing. This is particularly true of the Powers-C. portion of the book.

1. Galatea 2.2 is in part a work of science fiction. How is it similar to other works...