We were excited to sell this new novel from Powers. He is a long-time favorite in our area. Can't wait for the next novel.

This novel was not what I expected. It definitely makes you think about our place in the world and what we are doing to this planet. The characters were easy to care for.

An intense and grim pre-apocalyptic story of a man and his son struggling with grief both personal and planetary. I've never read Flowers for Algernon, so I think there are parts of the story I just wasn't able to connect with.

This book is a bit of a sleeper, perhaps a crawler, as it meanders here and there. Snippets of life of a father and son, together with memories of the way their lives had been, the country had been, the world had been, are seen through their observations. Along the way there are occasional news flashes about a president who has stripped power from both the legislative and judicial branches of government, who has declared an election “do over,” and about severe climate change having become the norm. It all sounds familiar, as some of it has happened, is happening, or could be the future.

The comparison to Flowers for Algernon is mentioned in the book, and I think it is fair to call this an updated version of the Algernon story, both Robin and the human race having acquired the tools and intelligence they need to manage their lives, and ultimately losing those skills.

Not quite as complex of a read as The Overstory, but still a lot of truth about our planet and the direction of humans who aren’t paying attention, or don’t care to pay attention to the warning signs, or to the destruction of the planet, and to pollution or species loss.

I was a huge fan of the Overstory and was greatly disappointed in this offering by Richard Powers. Seemed kinda pandering and heavy-handed. Shame.

A heartbreaking and beautiful exploration of grief and parenthood. Robin is a little boy who feels such a deep sense of empathy towards animals and nature that he has a difficult time controlling his desperation and rage in the face of humanity’s blatant destruction of the earth. His school is threatening to turn Robin’s father into social services if he doesn’t put Robin on medication. Desperate to help his son, Robin.s father enrolls him in an experimental treatment meant to train Robin’s brain to cope with difficult situations, by mapping his brain to that of his dead mother. Richard Powers is a beautiful writer and I’ve been recommending Bewilderment to everyone who comes into my bookstore.

A good book can take us on a journey. Perhaps it is a journey outward, into the wider world and what lies beyond. Or maybe inward, an exploration of psyche and emotion and personal truth. A book that can do both with thought, precision and heart, however? That’s not just a good book – it’s a great one.

“Bewilderment,” the latest book from Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Powers, definitely meets the criteria for the latter. A thoughtful deconstruction of the relationship between fathers and sons set against the backdrop of a troubled time and place that is a slightly skewed reflection of our own, it’s a story that manages to strike the perfect balance between looking out to the stars and into the soul.

Deftly plotted and constructed from the sorts of sentences that only Powers can craft, this is a book that is unafraid to explore the many forms that goodbye can take.

Theo Byrne is an astrobiologist. His life’s work is theorizing about what life might exist out there among the stars, considering the myriad possibilities of extraterrestrial existence. He’s also a single father to nine-year-old Robin, a brilliant and sensitive boy who struggles to engage with the world in the ways in which everyone expects. Both father and son are somewhat adrift, each failing in his own way to deal with the death of the woman they both loved – Theo’s wife and Robin’s mother.

But fascination with other worlds can’t hide the problems with this one. There are the issues writ large – a country devolving into police state tactics and economic chaos behind an unhinged authoritarian president, a climate whose changes are rapidly accelerating, a destabilization of the educational sector – but there are also more personal issues. Robin’s outbursts lead to incidents, which lead to school administrators questioning Theo’s fitness and not-so-gently pushing for pharmaceutical interventions.

Theo doesn’t want to medicate Robin. He sees Robin’s brilliance even as he struggles with the boy’s difficulties. Robin draws elaborate pictures of endangered species and seeks to find ways to follow in his late mother’s animal rights activist footsteps. He wants to hear the tales his father spins about the endless potential possibilities of life out there. But Robin’s outbursts become more and more difficult to manage.

When a university colleague suggests that Robin might be a candidate for an experimental process called decoded neurofeedback – a process intended to help remap the centers of the brain using neurological “maps” of others – Theo is somewhat skeptical. However, he is also desperate, and allows his son to begin the treatments.

What follows is nothing short of miraculous. Slowly but surely, the process retrains Robin’s brain, allowing the boy a much higher degree of self-control and far more emotional empathy than he’d ever displayed before. Theo is grateful, seeing his son finally break through and outwardly become more like the boy he always was inside.

And yet … is he still the same Robin? That question looms large, even as other aspects of life, both personal and in the wider world, threaten to collapse around them.

“Bewilderment” is a thoughtful and mesmeric tale, one that seeks to plumb the depths of the human condition while also casting hopeful inquiries out into the cosmos. The idea that life – any life – is precious is one that permeates a lot of Powers’ work, but the dichotomy he lays bare here is as effective an exploration of that idea as any he’s yet produced.

Theo is a fascinating protagonist. He’s a person who is consumed by a desire to understand, yet those things he most fiercely wishes to fully grok – the life outside Earth’s ken and the life inside his son’s psyche – remain outside of his reach. It’s all theory, whether he’s extrapolating extraterrestrial existence or simply trying to predict Robin’s next meltdown. And all the while, the ebb and flow of the tides of his grief, his constant awareness of what has been lost, tugging at him.

The world Powers has built around Theo and Robin is compelling in its own right. It’s not quite our world, but it bears more than a superficial resemblance; it’s a bleak and troubling place whose societal foundation is crumbling in ways that feel awfully plausible, a parallel America not as far removed from ours as we might wish it to be. The speculative nature of the work might lead to elicited comparisons; the classic Daniel Keyes short story “Flowers for Algernon” is name-checked multiple times, but there are plenty of allusions and influences at work that are considerably less overt.

And of course, Powers’ own thematic touchstones are present, continuing precepts and concepts with regard to man’s relationship to nature and the environment. “Bewilderment” really digs deep into the idea that no matter how hard man tries to exert his dominion over nature – whether it be the sweeping depths of the greater cosmos or the granular intimacy of the human brain – he will inevitably be faced with the hard truth that victory is not forthcoming.

But how can man accept that truth? And how can he pass that truth on to those who come behind?

“Bewilderment” is a story both large and small, a tale of what it means to connect. It is a thoughtful and haunting book, one that will resonate with the reader; it argues that rather than wage war with the world, we should make our peace with it. Novels like this one echo, their ideas and plots reverberating through our heads and hearts long after the final page is turned.

Bewilderment has all the trademarks of a Richard Powers novel -- keen insight, wide-ranging curiosity, beautifully crafted prose, and a profound appreciation of the natural world. This followup to THE OVERSTORY is much shorter, however, and with its deliberate parallels to FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON, it feels much more like a modern-day fable, especially when astrobiologist Theo spins stories of life on other planets for his neurodivergent son, Robbie. It's a dark fable, however, as the experimental treatment that initially works wonders for Robbie is unsustainable, and father and son struggle in the aftermath. Set in a grim and plausible alt-present day US, the novel has moments of staggering beauty, but that only heightens the tragedy that plays out. It's an excellent novel, very much of its time and place, but it's also a heartbreaking one.

For me, the best books are the hardest to review. I adore the 9-year-old boy at the heart of this story and the relationship between him and his dad. The amount of facts integrated into the novel is amazing, particularly concerning the rapid changes in our natural world and the work of astrobiologists in space exploration. Throw in an excellent bit of science fiction bedtime storytelling and a helping of current political events and this book is destined for awards.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Random House for the ARC to read and review.

Theo and Robin are grieving for they lost the third in the family, the mother and wife Alyssa. Robin has been diagnosed “on the spectrum,” has difficulties. Perhaps Robin’s main issue is he is “too sensitive” toward animals, much like his mom.

The species collapse means way too much to Robbie. And as the book progresses it is hard not to ache for him, trying to come to terms with what we all do, going about our day.

There is so much sadness in this tale, and yet joy as well. Robbie is certainly a delight, particularly after the neuro-treatments he starts to undergo. It calms him and he becomes so focused, he becomes smarter. Theo does all he can to keep up with his kid, trying not to make too many mistakes, which sometimes he cannot avoid.

Alyssa is put on a pedestal, being too perfect, which could happen when the person is no longer living. This attempt to have her still present is a constant in the book. There are few aspects that I had a little trouble with, it is a modern-day retelling of Flowers for Algernon. And when you forget about that, Powers brings it back up and reminds you. I could have done without that part. This is one book that will stay with you long after finishing reading.

Book rating: 4.5 stars

“‘Which do you think is bigger? Outer space . . . ? Or inner?’”

Richard Powers once again proves his talent as a contemporary fiction writer (I think I liked this one more than The Overstory). Our narrator, Theo, is an astrobiologist searching for life on other planets. He is also a single parent to nine-year-old Robin, who struggles with behavioral issues and shares the same vibrant passion for nature as his late mother. A promising new neurofeedback treatment has the potential to help Robin achieve greater emotional control; simultaneously, the tumultuous political scene and troubling evidence of climate change threatens to undo him.

The synopsis of the book intrigued me from the start. Theo and Robin have been through a lot, and are both deeply flawed but lovable characters that lean on each other, need each other deeply. It was interesting to watch Theo’s relationship to Robin change as the treatment changed his behavior; Robin was feeling and acting more stable than ever before, but Theo didn’t recognize his own son anymore. He was jealous that Robin shared a connection with his wife through the neurofeedback treatment that he would never experience. The evolution of Theo’s inner dialogue and feelings toward his son was highly compelling.

Another unique and thought-provoking piece of this book was the way Robin was perceived by other characters. Many of them found Robin to be overly dramatic, highly volatile, and just too extreme in his reactions to the plight of wildlife and nature as a result of human activity. However, one comes to realize that his responses to the increasingly rapid destruction of the natural world are, in fact, quite reasonable. The people that carry on with their lives as though nothing is wrong are the irrational ones, as it is only a matter of time until the earth as we know it (and eventually, the earth itself) is no longer.

Powers has a way of evoking the natural world in his writing that just leaves the reader in absolute awe, weaving science into his stories with incredible grace. With its contemporary setting, poetic style, and heartbreaking but hopeful ending, this book is sure to leave a deep impression on its readers. Bewilderment could not be more aptly named.

Written with the same masterful touch as The Overstory, Bewilderment is so poignant that at times I found it difficult to take a deep breath. Heartbreaking, infuriating and sad sad sad, with an all-too-crucial message.

This is such an intense book, full of beautiful descriptions of the natural world, but also full of some hard truths about the fate of this world. I don't think I could ever read this book again because although I enjoyed seeing little 9-year old Robin grow in the book, it was heartbreaking and devastating. It was, at its core, life-affirming, but a dim view of humans and our willingness to protect nature pervades the narrative. The power of the book is undeniable, but the story takes a real emotional toll on the reader.

Reading Powers is always a pleasure. His modern take on Flowers for Algernon reminded me a great deal of Generosity: An Enhancement, particularly Powers' wariness about media (social or otherwise). I can't really imagine being a single parent, and this was handled with the right amount of fear. He seems to have pared down his flowery prose in his last few books.

There is so much to this exceptional novel that not only met my high expectations but exceeded them. Primarily this is very much an eco novel that explores the world we live in and what’s beyond. Theo and his son Robin are trying to navigate the world after a tragic loss. They both exhibit a strong connection to nature both earth and beyond in a way that made fascinating reading. There were many elements in this one I knew I would enjoy but even the AI that comes into play was a pleasure to read and something I don’t usually enjoy. Overall I would definitely recommend this book and very much look forward to its release. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this drc available through netgalley.

Awe is the best word I can find to describe my reaction to Richard Powers' latest novel. I am in awe. Bewilderment explores the inner and outer worlds of a father and son who must deal with the heart-wrenching loss of their wife/mother as well as the son's behavioral control issues while seeing the planet and the universe of which it is a very small part unravel. Set in the near pre-apocalyptic future, Bewilderment takes the reader on an extraordinary journey, raising big issues such as the meaning of life - in all its forms and everywhere, what it means to try to control behavior through emerging techniques that infuse a person with the enthusiasm of someone no longer living and then what it means to take it away, the role of big science, the role and responsibility of governments to fund big science, and the deterioration of democracy as we have known it. Bewilderment will, in fact, not leave the reader bewildered but rather more prepared to examine and act upon these questions and others that it raises. If Bewilderment does not find a place in our canon, such as 1984 has, then I will, indeed, be bewildered. Highly recommended.

Powerful new novel by Richard Powers that beautifully explores our outer world and our inner world through the eyes of a father and son.

In Bewilderment Richard Powers brings to life the pre-apocalyptic novel--a genre that has been written before but never with such depth and such insight.

For fans of Richard Powers, this is a curveball. His last book, the Pulitzer-winning The Overstory was epic in depth and in breadth, knitting together 8 character arcs to ingrain in readers' minds a view of the world as trees may experience it.

In his new book, Powers focuses on two characters, a father and a son, wrestling with the loss of a mother and wife. The father, an astro-biologist who searches for habitable planets, tries to help his son by describing the conditions on new worlds.

But death stalks the son, Robin. His mother has died; Mother Earth is dying (in this pre apocalypse). He cannot cope with the stress, the neighbors have noticed, and the Department of Children's Services may need to step in.

Science provides a new therapy, letting Robin interact with AI to get his thought processes under control--AI which had previously scanned his mother's brain and had scanned many of its patterns. The therapy proves successful, bringing celebrity and scrutiny.

As a pre-apocalyptic novel, Powers has set the novel in the near future. Climate disasters, a livestock pandemic. Politicians defunding and distrusting science. A president refusing to accept the results of an election. Many aren't headlines today, many are.

As I read the book and found myself drawn into the lives of the Byrnes (a climate pun?) family, another novel came to mind, a bedrock of post-apocalyptic fiction published 14 years ago. I'm writing about Cormac McCarthy's The Road. The world-building, the development of the relationship, the insight, and the tragedy--even the shorter length of Powers's novel paralleled the impact that The Road had on me.

Readers will read and enjoy Bewilderment for many years to come. Whether or not the pre-apocalyptic scenarios described in the book can be avoided by mankind on this planet.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this remarkable book.

Outer space and inner space are finely explored in this entrancing novel by Richard Powers. Theo, an astrobiologist, and his young son Robin are struggling to cope with both personal and universal challenges. Their current day world is gasping from environmental calamities and reeling under political upheaval. Theo questions his parenting of his uniquely sensitive, highly intelligent child, and Robin tries to make sense of a world that is hurtful and damaging. They envision life on other planets as an escape from their stresses and reflect on other worlds and life “out there”. Attempting to help Robin deal with outbursts and mental triggers, Theo enrolls him in an experimental therapy that yields astounding results for both father and child, changing their lives to the core. The deep bond between father and son resonates throughout the novel. Powers has created characters that are simultaneously unique and familiar, and his perceptive and fascinating writing makes this novel an enriching read the reader won’t soon forget.

Theo Byrne is a professor of astrobiology who is raising his nine-year old son Robin by himself after his wife Alyssa died in a car accident a few years before. The relationship between Theo and Robin is sometimes fraught, mainly due to the challenges of bringing up a child identified as being ‘on the spectrum’. Robin is highly intelligent and deeply connected to nature, but also emotionally unstable and socially awkward. When school administrators push him to put Robin on mind-altering drugs, Theo opts for the experimental alternative of decoded neurofeedback sessions that allow Robin to tap into the recorded empathic patterns of his mother’s brain. This treatment is spectacularly successful in changing Robin’s behavior until government officials shut down the laboratory, which leads to his sad and ultimately tragic regression.

As Richard Powers notes in a Foreword, Bewilderment is strongly influenced by the story Flowers for Algernon that the author read as child. Indeed, this novel can be viewed as an updating of that classic fable, which focuses on, among other things, how we teach our children to process information about the world around them. It also advances Powers’ recent agenda, begun with his masterful The Overstory, to examine the damage that mankind is inflicting on the planet with its hubris and willful ignorance. This is also the author’s most overtly political novel to date, with a Twitter-obsessed, environmentally insensitive, and reactionary president conveniently serving as the ultimate villain in the tale. While unnamed, there is little doubt who Powers had in mind when creating this character.

I found this to be a deeply affecting story that was also quite enlightening in terms of the applications and ethics of the new science it explores. Powers is an extremely thoughtful writer and his descriptions of the flora and fauna of this world, as well as his imaginings of what life might look like on other worlds, were remarkable. My only real criticism of the novel would be that the main characters were not always quite believable—Theo was one-dimensional and far too clueless while the swings in Robin’s emotional state and mental prowess were too dramatic—and they served mainly as devices to deliver the message the story needed to impart. Still, Bewilderment was book that this fan of the author enjoyed, even if it might end up being an acquired taste for other readers.