Prisoner's Dilemma (novel)

Prisoner's Dilemma
First edition
AuthorRichard Powers
Cover artistCheryl Asherman[1]
LanguageEnglish
PublisherBeech Tree Books
Publication date
1988
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages248 pp.
ISBN0-688-07350-6
OCLC16985003
813/.54 19
LC ClassPS3566.O92 P75 1988

Prisoner's Dilemma is a 1988 novel by American author Richard Powers. It is the story of a dysfunctional family living in DeKalb County, Illinois. The novel explores the impact of history on contemporary life.[2]

The novel centres on the father of the family, Eddie Hobson, who is trying to find a solution to the "prisoner's dilemma" posed by mathematicians at the RAND Corporation. He wishes to solve the dilemma through writing an alternate reality, explaining how human beings could live together peacefully. To do this, he uses many elements from real life twisted slightly.

  1. ^ Official website of Richard Powers Archived 2008-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Hegi, Ursula (March 13, 1988). "What's the matter with Eddie". The New York Times, accessed September 28, 2011.