I guess you would call Oryx & Crake a Post Apocalyptic novel (a genre I really enjoy) but having just read it, it is my least favourite in this genre.
The message of this novel are the
questions “how much is too much?” and “how far is too far?” with regards to
genetic engineering gone mad. But, just
Google ‘genetic engineering gone mad’ and you will read something far more
alarming than any science fiction novelist can dream up – glow in the dark
cats, transgender goats, even goats crossed with spiders (and that is just
what we are being told about!). Not to
mention the disturbing facts on genetically modified soy and corn. Time to invest in green houses folks and grow
your own fruit and veggies!
The story of Oryx & Crake is told in flash back by post-plague survivor
Jimmy AKA Snowman. Crake was Jimmy’s
best friend and Oryx, a mysterious Asian girl with a disturbing past, was the love of Jimmy’s life. Crake is your
standard issue megalomaniac and Oryx is his unwitting tool in his master
plan. Jimmy finds himself the lone
survivor of a plague engineered by Crake, and guardian of the ‘Crakers’, Crake’s many coloured Adam and Eve’s genetically engineered to replace humans.
So, what did I not like about
this novel? Well, I guess I felt that it
had all been done before, and a lot better.
The warnings and alarm bells have been ringing since before this novel was written, and I didn’t
like its outdated vision of the future.
It read like a 1960’s image of the future – all lurid colours, bubble
furniture and satirical product names.
In a word – gimmicky.
There were some interesting
ideas, but it doesn't compare with say The Road or I Am Legend.
Maxine
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