Although prisoner’s dilemma is an early Richard Powers novel (1988) it’s right up there: splendidly written; intricately constructed narrative; just enough tension – those big unanswered questions – which keep you going right to the end. And the characters – Pop and his clan – do indeed ‘pop’ off the pages.
There is a great deal to admire; the novel even treads on the boundary of that legendary landscape “I wish I’d written that”. If you like Powers and you’ve read his more recent stuff (like The Overstory) then I recommend you try out prisoner’s dilemma.
Ian Gouge - Writer 