Title: Oryx and Crake (Goodreads)
Author: Margaret Atwood
Series: Maddaddam #1
Published: Bloomsbury, 2003
Pages: 378
Genres: Dystopia, Speculative Fiction
My Copy: Audiobook
Buy: Amazon, Book Depository, Kindle (or visit your local Indie bookstore)
Jimmy was a member of a scientific elite, living in isolation, suffering through bitter loneliness. Then an unnamed apocalypse came along, now he is known as Snowman and he may be one of the few survivors. This post-apocalyptic hermit resides near; what he refers to as Crakers—strange human-like creatures. In flashbacks the story develops, the Crakers, Wolvogs, Pigoons and Rakunks are assorted life forms that are the products of genetic engineering.
Oryx and Crake are the symbols of a fractured society, which Jimmy was once a part of. This is where trying to explain this novel can get complex. There are two different worlds within this book the post-apocalyptic world but then there are the flashbacks. The dystopian world was far more interesting for me. Much like Super Sad True Love Story. this is a dystopian world that I can see coming, corporation’s rule the world and pornography has become mainstream. It is normal to watch live executions and surgeries, nudie news (apparently watching the news when they are fully clothed is just weird), even child pornography.
I love novels that deal with the dangers of corporations having too much power; Super Sad True Love Story is a prime example of it (I should re-read that novel) and Oryx and Crake is another example of this (need more examples). Science and marketing techniques leave the public as powerless consumers and there is nothing to stop the unprecedented corporate greed.
Genetic engineering is a slippery slope; I seem to find myself attracted to novels that deal with science going too far. Oryx and Crake is a great example of this; Crake is a scientist working in the biotech project that created the Crakers. Genetic engineering progress continued to advance and eventually lead to a complex and sinister project called Paradice, but when that collapsed it caused this global devastation.
Oryx was a girl Jimmy and Crake found on a child pornography site that eventually was hired by Crake as a prostitute and to teach the Crakers. Oryx obviously had a difficult past, and Oryx and Crake attempts to deal with this issue as well. This is not an easy issue to deal with, the majority of the world would say they are against child pornography and yet it continues to happen and we see no signs of it ever being truly dealt with. Margaret Atwood doesn’t have a problem with trying to deal with difficult issues and this novel has plenty to say.
Moving away from the dystopian world and into the post-apocalyptic one, we have a whole new set of themes and issues. While this is a direct result of the corporate destruction, now we have to deal with survival. The Crakers are like little helpless children that Snowman tries to help; so now we have parental responsibilities as a major theme as well as our social responsibilities. He also has to protect them from the Wolvogs, Pigoons, Rakunks and whatever might disrupt their civilisation.
This is the second Margaret Atwood novel I’ve read and I’m starting to see a familiar theme coming through in her novels. I believe she wants the reader to have a look at civilisation and what we are doing that is beneficial or harmful. I’m sure the rest of the Maddaddam trilogy will deal with this; I’m not sure if all her books have a similar theme but I suspect they might.
I love a novel that tells a great story but is also loaded with different themes and symbolism. I feel so fulfilled reading a book like Oryx and Crake and spending time digesting the words and examining what Atwood wants to tell us. I was meaning to read this novel for so long and now I’m left with intense desire to read the next two in the series. Thanks you Bloomsbury Australia for pressuring me into reading this book, I have no regrets.
Atwood is such an amazing writer and this is definitely my favorite (so far) of hers. I’ll be picking up the final installment, MaddAddam soon.
I will be reading the next good; hopefully soon. if I can fit it in
I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I’m really anxious to read Year of the Flood and MaddAddam as soon as I can.
Too many books, I want to read the book soon as well but I want to read everything soon
A few years ago, I started reading The Year of the Flood and couldn’t get into it, so DNF it was. I just now realized (after checking goodreads) that it was book 2! Well, how was I to know? Amazon did not say that! (And I wasn’t on goodreads).
I’m surprised Amazon didn’t mention it. Another reason Goodreads is useful.
What other Atwood have you read? Sounds like Handmaid’s Tale. Her writing is actually very diverse. My personal fav is Alias Grace – historical fiction.
I think perhaps I need to read Super Sad True Story.
I’ve only read Handmaid’s Tale; but I don’t feel like they were similar. I’m a big advocate for Super Sad True Love Story
This was already on my slate for next month, but after this review I’m twice as excited to dig in!
Think you’ll enjoy this one, I’m keen to read the next book in the series Year of the Flood
Aren’t you overjoyed that you’ve now got the rest of the trilogy to indulge in? There’s no better feeling. Both Oryx & Crake and The Year of the Flood are sat on my bookshelves unread. I suppose it’s the typical nervous feeling I might feel slightly let down though I’m sure Atwood will live up to expectation. Reading J D Ballard earlier in the year left me feeling exhausted but I may just feel refreshed enough for a little more dystopia. One that, as you says, still deals with issues that are pertinent to us.
I’ve ready started The Year of the Flood