From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

The Windup Girl

Paolo Bacigalupi

Start date: March 7, 2010

Finish date: May 17, 2010

Discussion: 2010 Reads

Why we're reading this: Our book pick, as chosen by Cory Doctorow.

[close] Our book pick, as chosen by Cory Doctorow.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 143 topics — 1,986 comments total

2010 Reads

WWZ: Favourite characters in zombie Movies and T.V. shows
By deleted member · 1 post · 12 views

last updated Sep 21, 2015 12:11PM

SFU: Architectural concepts in Science Fiction
By Anika · 17 posts · 58 views

last updated Sep 02, 2015 08:18PM

showing 10 of 66 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Apr 29, 2010 Sandi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, sci-fi, 2010, post-apocalyptic-dystopian, hugo-nominees-2010

Science fiction has always been my first love. I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately simply because it's more popular and there's more good new fantasy than good new science fiction. So much science fiction just looks like it's rehashing old stories, I kind of yawn reading the blurbs. However, The Windup Girl has been getting a lot of good word of mouth and I really liked a couple of short stories I've read by the author, so I thought I'd check it out. I was truly impressed with the book. Pa ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Apr 17, 2016 mina rated it liked it

The most depressing book I read this year.

A dystopian story, focusing on Thailand in the future. This time the destruction of the world is brought by bio-engineered plague causing the plants and animals (and human beings) die. Thereafter, the world is controlled by global calorie companies producing genehacked carbohydrate sources, fruits, vegetables. Add to that the extinction of fossil fuels. I am shuddered thinking of the possibility that this might also happen to us in reality.

The idea itse ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 24, 2011 Tiffany rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

I know this book is touted as the next big thing in science fiction, and I think it's a good book, but I didn't really see why everyone thought it was so amazing. This might be like how I never understood why people like the entire Ender's Game series so much when I could only enjoy the first one because I couldn't stand Orson Scott Card's writing style past that first book.

I enjoyed the book mostly because as a biologist, I was intrigued and horrified at the thought of such widespread biologic ...more

Like · see review

Oct 01, 2014 Tanvir Muntasim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Bacigalupi makes an outstanding debut with this science fiction (sweeping 5 major awards including Hugo and Nebula) that depicts a chilling future with multinational agro businesses dominating economics and politics. He shows how the control over seeds and food in general will determine where the actual power lies. This is visionary and cautionary story telling at its best. An all too feasible reflection of the future, and it doesn't look pretty. Unlike the popular Young Adult dystopian novels, ...more

Like · see review

Oct 13, 2011 L. Lawson rated it it was ok

Cardboard characters, meant only to drive the plot. Revenge fantasy sci-fi. Main female char in book only to be abused sexually or act as mother figure for future "New People." Disappointing. ...more

Like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Marci rated it it was ok

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I really liked the characters and the changing perspective and the world vision. However, many of the scenes were way to graphic for my liking.

Like · see review