Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam, #1) in Apocalypse Whenever

May 17, 2016 Jak rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: post-apocalypse

Oryx and Crake is the tale of Snowman (Jimmy) who has survived a human crated apocalypse which is revealed on flashback form. Snowman, the last Homo Saipan alive, is now living in a new world with a special breed, genetically modified species of humans that were created to be perfect and inherit the earth.

Atwood depiction of a squalid dystopian future is kinda scary as you could easily imagine that’ll be earth/humanity in as little as 50 odd years. This speculative dystopian future is ruled by Oryx and Crake is the tale of Snowman (Jimmy) who has survived a human crated apocalypse which is revealed on flashback form. Snowman, the last Homo Saipan alive, is now living in a new world with a special breed, genetically modified species of humans that were created to be perfect and inherit the earth.

Atwood depiction of a squalid dystopian future is kinda scary as you could easily imagine that’ll be earth/humanity in as little as 50 odd years. This speculative dystopian future is ruled by unscrupulous corporations whom have created a compliant population addicted to needless consumerism and their products, many of which are genetically modified to deliver just enough of its selling point but will create a cycle of dependency and never deliver full satisfaction.

Science is out of control, with no political oversight, as the corporations race to the bottom splicing genes of every conceivable animal to bioengineer new breads to fill humanities ever increasing consumption demands. Pigoons (pigs spliced with human stem cells) that grow multiple organs to harvest for transplant and ChickieNobs that are chicken like organisms that only grow the required appendage for consumption (breast/drumstick etc). “What they were looking at was a large bulb like object that seemed to be covered with stippled whitish-yellow skin. Out of it came twenty thick fleshy tubes, and at the end of each tube another bulb was growing.” And with humans playing God ruination is clearly coming.

The corporations keep their best and brightest minds (not to mention their money) in self contained enclaves while the lasses live on the Pleeblands… The original opiate of the masses, TV has been replaced by the internet and again there are no barriers in terms of taste and decency with every conceivable vice catered for. Live executions, graphic surgery, Noodie News, frog squashing and pornography of every predilection including child.

In this dystopia we follow the story of Jimmy and Glenn (whom eventually rename themselves Snowman and Crake) and more tangentially Oryx who are all together come for the end of humanity (save for Snowman). It’s human hubris that has ended humanity in the ultimate attempt to create perfect humans and give them the condition they need to thrive.

While the concepts of Oryx and Crake are engaging and thought provoking, like many of the other reviews, I lament not a great deal happening plot wise. Good writing but no story.
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Dec 31, 2014 Guy rated it it was amazing

I actually started reading this a few days ago. Finished it today so it qualifies as my first book of the new year. The college football bowl games are almost all on ESPN and as I do not have cable or satellite any longer I have had more time to read than usual in the past week. Also we are undergoing an unusual (for me at least) cold spell here in Tucson. We even had a white New Year's. More time indoors equals more time to read.

Anyway I have wanted to read this trilogy for some time now and am ...more

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Mar 09, 2014 Sarah rated it it was ok · review of another edition

It took me forever to get into this book. The last 25% were enjoyable, and I couldn't put down the last couple of chapters. Just when I started caring about what happened next the book abruptly ended on a cliff hanger. Part of the difficultly was my utter lack of caring for the main character, who also happened to be the narrator. I gave the book two stars because the last fourth made me interested in reading the next book, but the sluggishness of the pace is making me think twice. Additionally, ...more

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