We have all had the experience of hearing a familiar and likable piece of music from a long time ago. Suddenly the music short circuits time and makes yesterdays events, today’s reality.  It’s as if that song triggers primal changes within us, that allows us to transcend both space and time.

Now imagine if that was more than just our fond memories playing tricks on us. Image that the music had actually become part of us, of our DNA.  This notion is a small part of the brilliant blending of science, art, and literature, that is Richard Powers' new novel Orfeo. My conversation with Richard Powers: