Playground
"Evie liked Captain Cousteau--his playfulness, his singsong voice, his tobacco scent." - Richard Powers, Playground.
Four characters—Evie Beaulieu, a trailblazing oceanographer; Ina Aroita, a French Polynesian artist; Rafi Young, a scholar of literature; and Todd Keane, a tech entrepreneur who creates the wildly popular, gamified social media platform also known as "Playground"—are interwoven in Playground. The story comes together on the isolated island of Makatea, where locals are voting on a contentious "seasteading" project put forth by Todd's group. Makatea is still healing from the effects of colonial phosphate mining.
The book examines the benefits and drawbacks of social media and artificial intelligence, raising concerns about who gains from technological development and its unforeseen effects on interpersonal relationships and society.
The vulnerability of ocean ecosystems and the effects of human exploitation and climate change are major topics of discussion. Powers presents the ocean as a "playground" that humans are in danger of destroying, both literally and figuratively.
The book explores betrayal, ambition, complicated relationships, and forgiveness. The "infinite game" of life and planetary stewardship is contrasted with human "finite games" that are centered around winning.
Through literature, art, science, and technology, the characters represent various perspectives on the world, encouraging contemplation of whether wisdom and knowledge can coexist to secure a better future.
