"Dealers of Lightning" is a riveting exploration into the heart of innovation, where the unsung heroes of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) engineered the future in the shadows of Silicon Valley's luminaries. Michael A. Hiltzik masterfully recounts the tale of these visionary engineers and scientists who, in the 1970s, conjured the technologies that would define a generation. From the creation of the first personal computer to the development of the Internet, email, and beyond, this group's groundbreaking contributions laid the foundation for the digital revolution, all while operating under the radar of their corporate overseer, Xerox. Hiltzik's narrative is a testament to the power of creativity unleashed, the brilliance of minds unencumbered by the constraints of bureaucracy, and the silent inception of a technological age. Amid the bustling innovation race of today's tech giants, "Dealers of Lightning" offers a poignant reminder of the quiet corners of creativity that spark world-altering fires. Through detailed interviews and meticulous research, Hiltzik provides an inside look at the dynamics, struggles, and triumphs of the PARC team, whose work would eventually be co-opted and popularized by companies like Apple, IBM, and Microsoft. While Xerox remained largely oblivious to the goldmine of innovation within its walls, resulting in missed opportunities, the legacy of PARC's pioneers endures, immortalized in the technologies we now take for granted. This book is a compelling narrative that not only sets the record straight but celebrates the spirit of invention that continues to drive humanity forward.