Powers short story "Modulation" included in Best of 2009 anthology

Richard Powers's short story "Modulation" has been included in the 2009 edition of Best American Short Stories. Here's a comment from one reviewer:

There is one story which rises far above the others, due to the writer’s craftsmanship: Richard Powers’ “Modulation”. Powers mixes together a variety of dissimilar characters scattered around the globe and ties them all together with a science fiction storyline that conveys the power and importance of music in the present day. Powers has excellent command of the English language and keen observational skills, and it is hard to imagine how this story could be any better than it is.

Powers Reacts to his Induction into the Academy

I received the following note from Powers today, in response to my note of congratulations on his election into the American Academy of Arts and Letters:

Thanks for the good words. It really is a kick, I do admit. But when I look down the list of past and present members, it does seem as if my election might be some kind of clerical error that will be straightened up tactfully at the door when I try to show up for the induction ceremony in May.

Vintage Powers. Congratulations once again!

Powers elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters

Along with the somewhat better-known Meryl Streep, Richard Powers was elected into the elite (250 members) American Academy of Arts and Letters. Streep says she was stunned to be inducted into such an august body. No word yet from Powers, but then, the Associated Press didn't call him for a quote. I'll try to get an exclusive!

Inductees into the main body include authors Marilynne Robinson, Francine Prose, Thomas McGuane and Richard Powers, composers Tania Leon and Fred Lerdahl, architect Thom Mayne and painters Thomas Nozknowski and Peter Saul. Members are elected for life (openings are created when a member dies) and encouraged to serve on committees that distribute prizes, but there is no responsibility beyond agreeing to join.

Interesting thoughts on Powers's book titles

This post is a re-post of a review on Amazon UK. Not sure about who is doing the re-posting, but it's an interesting point of view, asking whether Powers might not be better known, or appeal to more readers, if his books had better titles. I find this interesting because my mom, who loved Powers's books, had a similar thought, in particular about "Operation Wandering Soul" as a title.

Here's an excerpt from the review:

What's the problem? I've alluded to some possibilities---his titles are often clunky and over-cute. 'Operation Wandering Soul', for example. 'Operation' because the protagonist (Richard Kraft---Power in German!) is a surgeon. 'The Gold Bug Variations'--punning, mildly embarrassing. The Time of our singing'---it's about singing, and it's about time! 'Gain', which sounds like the title of a boardroom blockbuster. Etcetera.