On the other hand, I am beginning to be suspect of such books. On one hand, I appreciate building suspense.

This is also a novel where the entire premise is that the author refuses to tell the reader what actually happened until the end.

Much of Oryx and Crake is about Snowman’s personal life, which eventually all ties into the dystopian plot events, but the effect is often more intimate than exciting-another reason why the book is not terrifying, despite its suggestions about our near future.

Again, this is possible, but Atwood does not give a clear trail indicating how all this happened in the first place, which makes it a little more difficult to buy into.Īs for the story itself, Atwood tends to drag things out. There are dissenters in Oryx and Crake, people who believe all this science and “creation” is dangerous and wrong, so Atwood does recognize the controversy, but her speculation is that the scientists will be in league with the government and too powerful for the dissenters to stop. Yes, scientists are working on some of the experiments she mentions even now, so this could happen, but I think I have a bit more faith in the human race than she does. So does this seem right? Atwood does strive to base her novel entirely on existing science in order to lend some realism and actual terror to the book, but I cannot say I was personally horrified. Second, someone will eventually be smart enough he thinks he can play God, and the results will be catastrophic for the earth and the human race. Social classes will be based on proficiency in math and science, with geniuses receiving the best of everything. Her answer is rather bleak: First, biotech foods will become so cheap and efficient that real foods will be a luxury only for the rich. Review: Oryx and Crake is a well-written speculative fiction that follows the question “What will happen once we begin to become highly successful with genetic engineering?” to what Atwood clearly thinks is its natural end. As he watches over this new species, he teaches them and reminiscences about their beginnings: Before the world ended, Crake was his genius best friend, and Oryx was their lover. Summary: Snowman is the only human left alive, and by thus by default the caretaker of the genetically engineered Crakers.

Oryx book