How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
The heirs of drug wars past had been in eclipse this last decade; access to "ecstasy and enhancement" was so widespread that competition had done what enforcement could never accomplish. (1.52)
Rainbows End doesn't focus on this, but the growth of tech changes the drug market seriously. Basically, tech crushes the illegal drug trade—at least for the old drugs. So already we see how much change comes from tech.
Quote #2
Every day there were new changes in himself, and old barriers suddenly removed. He could easily accept Reed Weber's advice to be patient with his limitations. So much was changing and all for the better. One day he was walking again, even if it was a lurching, unstable gait. He fell three times that first day, and each time, he just bounced back to his feet. (3.46)
This section soon moves on to Robert playing ping-pong on a very old table, but let's just look at this part, which emphasizes Robert's changes. One curious aspect of these medical changes is that they are, in effect, changing him back to the days before he got old. There aren't a lot of changes back in this book.
Quote #3
"Oh." Chumlig looked kind of sad for a moment, like she was figuring out how to pass on bad news. "Administration has changed a lot, Dean Blount."
Winston Blount sat back in his chair. "Okay. So we have to learn some new tricks." (4.102-3)
Blount is another man out of time. Like Robert, he wants to get back on top—and he's willing to… well, what? Chumlig says that there are changes, but Blount doesn't seem to take them seriously when he says that he'll learn the new tricks. Memo to Blount: the change isn't just "tricks."