Playground: A Novel

Playground is a 2024 novel by acclaimed American author Richard Powers. In the novel, a large cast of characters come together to revel in the abundance and importance of ocean life and games. Much like Powers’s earlier works, Playground is a sprawling, nonlinear narrative that explores ideas about technology, environmentalism, and loss. The novel has been nominated for several awards, including the Booker Prize.

This guide uses the 2024 Penguin Random House edition of Playground.

Content Warning: The novel and this guide refer to intimate partner violence.

Plot Summary

Todd Keane is an American billionaire who made his fortune in tech. He narrates his life story to an artificial intelligence (AI) device, speaking about his desire to preserve his memories since he was recently diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. Specifically, Todd hopes to preserve his memories of his friendships with Rafi Young and Ina Aroita. Todd reviews his family background.

Young Todd’s father was a stockbroker who thrived on combat and competition. Though this led to constant fights and reunions with his wife, he passed his love of competition (especially through games) on to his son. At school, Todd met a young African American boy named Rafi Young, whose remarkable intelligence impressed him.