Orfeo
by Richard Powers
2014/369 pages
rating: 9.5  / contemp fiction

OMG!  One of my favorite books of all time is The Goldbug Variations by Richard Powers. And although I’ve read much of what he’s written since, nothing has come anywhere near the mark he set with that one – until now.   No, Orfeo doesn’t match Goldbug,  but it at least approaches that level.

The title is the name of  the Greek god of music and instruments as well as the name and subject matter of several operas.  According to Wikipedia the protagonist, Peter Els,  was inspired by the life of Steve Kurtz.

A frame story has the 70+-year old Peter Els grieving the death of his musically inclined dog, Fidelio, and being suspected of bio-terrorism by some feds. >>>>MORE>>>>