Powers’ third novel remains both his most admired work and most criticized work. Those who admire the novel find the characters compelling, the narrative stunningly elaborate in its symmetries, and the prose richly and unflaggingly inventive. Those who have criticized the novel have found the characters less interesting than almost all of the other elements of the novel, the narrative structure so complex as to be bewildering, and the prose so self-indulgently dense as to be overwhelming rather than rewarding. Given their substantial length and consistent complexity, it is probably an exaggeration to say that any of Powers’ novels can be read and appreciated in a single, even very extended session. But a work such as
Prisoners’ Dilemmais certainly much more accessible and easier to…
1882 words
Citation: Kich, Martin. "The Gold Bug Variations". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 March 2024 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=21624, accessed 21 November 2024.]
