Review of Operation Wandering Soul (Paperback)

This is the third book by Mr. Powers I have read recently, the options I have at this point are to either, let my mind heal before starting anotherof his works, or read only a few pages a day. I cannot begin to imaginewhere he harvests these ideas, or by what type of neural net hat trick heuses to store them, so they can be recalled in the sequencing he desires.He must remember everything his five senses have ever identified withoutany detail filtered, none at all.

The menagerie that is his PediatricWard, the holding pen for the "Pedes" makes George Lucas's Cantina at MosEisley look like the local coffee shop. And while there is no music thereis "the Rapparition" who not only rhymes but also when he moves, he,"concocts this elaborate triple-level, supersyncopated, free-fallinggymnastic routine". And that's about as slow and mellow as this book evergets.

This is the most emotional book of his I have read. Previous worksheld the possibility of futures that were none too pleasant, and pasts thatmay have stung, but this time the tale is in real time. The assault isconstant, no quarter given. The Pied Piper of Hamelin fame makes hisappearance, but compared to the hopelessness that Dr. Kraft presides over,the Piper is Opera Buffa, comedic relief. The 13th century tale of terrorfirst becomes a light story, and then a play with the real world's brokenchildren of Angel City playing their fictional counterparts. No methodacting just be your broken self.

Richard Powers portrays a world thatdeserves nothing but condemnation. A world where the Children would bebetter off were they lead away rather than live the lives they have. Adultshave done nothing but inflict damage, including our 5th year resident Dr.Kraft.

He supplies this book with questions for further study at the endof a chapter, and then a literal word-by-word definition of the story ofPeter Pan. And yes you guessed it, a child whose body is ten times its agein appearance while maintaining the age appropriate size. A girl named Joywho never experiences the feeling as she is gradually taken apart.

Thisis as about as up close and personal to a Richard Powers nightmare as thisreader would like to get. I have no claim on a particularly vividimagination, but the Author drills down so vividly he could disturb thevictim of a coma.

A unique Author with a very unique mind.



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