Questions About The Overstory

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Answered Questions (51)

What was the function of Neelay's story, his ultimate game, and "the Learners" that appear in the "Seeds" chapter? Do you sense that Powers is suggesting AI could evolve into a new life form that will inherit the Earth when it no longer provides humans a habitable environment? That's the only message I can discern but it seems inconsistent with the message I take from the Nick/Olivia/Douglas/Mimi/Adam story line.

Susan Beaumont I have a different take on Neelay's story. There is a strong theme in the book about stories and how stories motivate people to act. Someone (maybe Pa…moreI have a different take on Neelay's story. There is a strong theme in the book about stories and how stories motivate people to act. Someone (maybe Patricia?) says a couple of times - you cant tell people facts and hope to change their minds; we have to experience something that is either our story or feel empathy for someone else's in order to truly understand something. So if we translate that process into the future of human activity (virtual worlds, games, AI) what the Learners are doing is creating pathways for people to find the stories about the power of nature and what humans are doing to the world and by experiencing that in a virtual process, hopefully they will develop the motivation to protect it. (less)

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I've not read any books by this author but I am intrigued by the subject matter. I live in the Pacific Northwest & my family refused to sell land to a timber company. Should I start with this book or another?

Deena Metzger This book is written for you. It honors all those, like your family, who, despite terrible pressures and violence stood up for, stand up for the trees…moreThis book is written for you. It honors all those, like your family, who, despite terrible pressures and violence stood up for, stand up for the trees - which is standing up for life itself. Thank you for the profound way your family has chosen to live. You give us life by doing so. (less)

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Loved the novel--wise, sprawling, and fun to read. With that being said, anyone else find the Ray and Dorothy portion of the novel irrelevant? I felt like all their sections could have been excised without losing anything.

Cynthia Lamb I decided that, with Dorothy and Ray, Powers is arguing for a middle path. His activists, as much as I love them, don't exactly fare well. But quiet, …moreI decided that, with Dorothy and Ray, Powers is arguing for a middle path. His activists, as much as I love them, don't exactly fare well. But quiet, normal Dorothy and Ray find their way back to each other with the help of trees. And in their quiet way, they begin fighting for trees in their own back yard, showing the rest of us what we can do. So I think that Powers is giving US a next step. You don't have to give up your life and freedom, he says, you can start your own revolution in your own back yard!(less)

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Are Dorothy and Ray Olivia's parents?

Tracy S

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

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So, is Olivia the daughter of Ray and Dorothy?? Magical realism???

Gburgard Comcastnet I thought that a writer of Powers caliber would not tell us that Ray was an intellectual property lawyer and then tell us later that Olivia’s father w…moreI thought that a writer of Powers caliber would not tell us that Ray was an intellectual property lawyer and then tell us later that Olivia’s father was an intellectual property lawyer if he wasn’t making that connection. Also, in the conversation between Ray and Dorothy near the end of the book, the description of there “imaginary” daughter is too similar to Olivia to be coincidental. Also, the seedling in the cup was mentioned in the Olivia chapter and again as a gift from their daughter, in the conversation between Ray and Dorothy at the end. So, although Ray and Dorothy claim to have no children, I do think there’s a suggestion of magical realism(less)

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