Galatea 2.2
RICHARD POWERS

Galatea 2.2 by Richard Powers 59 reviews (1995) (336p) National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction Finalist

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Book Description

After four novels and several years living abroad, the fictional protagonist of Galatea 2.2—Richard Powers—returns to the United States as Humanist-in-Residence at the enormous Center for the Study of Advanced Sciences. There he runs afoul of Philip Lentz, an outspoken cognitive neurologist intent upon modeling the human brain by means of computer-based neural networks. Lentz involves Powers in an outlandish and irresistible project: to train a neural net on a canonical list of Great Books. Through repeated tutorials, the device grows gradually more worldly, until it demands to know its own name, sex, race, and reason for exisiting.

Amazon.com Review

Cognitive neurologist and well-known writer team up to produce a machine that can pass a comprehensive exam in English literature, with predictably unpredictable results. Like The Gold Bug Variations, this is another of Powers' wild, unforgettable novels encompassing science, philosophy, and the frailty of mankind.

Other Award Winning Books by Richard Powers

Bewilderment by Richard Powers 7731 reviews (2021) (288p) (Amazon Top10Lit) (LJ Top10) (Booker) (Amazon) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

The Overstory by Richard Powers 1354 reviews (2018) (p) (Time Top10) (WP Top10) (LJ Top10) (PP) (PF) (Booker) (TIME) (ALA) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

Generosity by Richard Powers 29 reviews (2009) (304p) (ALA) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

The Echo Maker by Richard Powers 136 reviews (2006) (464p) (PP) (NBA) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

The Time of Our Singing by Richard Powers 47 reviews (2003) (640p) (NBCCA) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

Operation Wandering Soul by Richard Powers 10 reviews (1993) (352p) (NBA) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

The Gold Bug Variations by Richard Powers 50 reviews (1991) (640p) (NBCCA) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

Three Farmers On Their Way To A Dance by Richard Powers 20 reviews (1985) (352p) (NBCCA) Read Reviews | Visit this book's Amazon.com page

Richard Powers Award Stats

Major Prize* Nominations 13   Unique Books Nominated for a Major Prize* 9   Pulitzer Prize Wins 1 The Overstory ·   Pulitzer Prize Nominations 2 The Echo Maker · The Overstory ·   National Book Critics Circle Award Wins 0   National Book Critics Circle Award Nominations 4 Galatea 2.2 · The Gold Bug Variations · The Time of Our Singing · Three Farmers On Their Way To A Dance ·   National Book Award Wins 1 The Echo Maker ·   National Book Award Nominations 2 Operation Wandering Soul · The Echo Maker ·   Man Booker Prize Wins 0   Man Booker Prize Nominations 2 The Overstory · Bewilderment ·   PEN/Faulkner Award Wins 0   PEN/Faulkner Award Nominations 1 The Overstory ·

*Major Prize = Pulitzer Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award, National Book Award, Man Booker Prize, and PEN/Faulkner Award

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