Reviews

Oryx y Crake by Margaret Atwood

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outcolder's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed reading this, I guess I mean the prose and some of the characters. The plot was more of a mood than a plot, though, both the flashback plot, which at least has events, and the framing plot, which actually had some suspense. The black hat genetic engineering was ham-fisted, the animal-mixes like something out of a kid’s comic book, which made the thought experiment side of the sf also kind of weak. The Windup Girl, published four years after Oryx and Crake, is on similar ground but makes much more sense in terms of what would GreedHead BioTech Inc do if they could edit genes like we edit words. Somehow though it all comes together into a ... well, I can’t call something this disturbing “fun” exactly or “pleasurable “ ... but a great read and I already ordered part 2.

I almost forgot the pandemic! It’s more marburg/ebola than covid, but yikes! Man, I don’t want to die like that. Can we please get serious about global public health?

mandik's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

"Oryx and Crake" is a compelling yet complex dystopian novel that explores the boundaries of science, ethics, and human nature. Set in a chilling future where genetic engineering has run amok, the story follows Snowman, the last known human, as he reflects on the events that led to the collapse of civilization.

The book’s strongest point is Atwood’s meticulous world-building. The landscape she paints is both haunting and fascinating, with detailed descriptions that vividly bring to life a society obsessed with genetic manipulation. Atwood’s prose is sharp and evocative, pulling readers into a thought-provoking and cautionary narrative.

However, the book's pacing can be uneven at times. The constant shifts between Snowman’s present and his past as Jimmy can disrupt the flow, making it challenging to stay fully engaged. While the flashbacks provide essential backstory, they sometimes feel overly drawn out, slowing down the momentum of the main plot.

The characters, particularly Oryx and Crake, are intriguing but somewhat enigmatic. Their motivations and deeper connections could have been explored more thoroughly. This lack of character depth can make it hard for readers to form a strong emotional attachment to their fates.

Overall, "Oryx and Crake" is an ambitious and thought-provoking novel that, while not perfect, offers a unique and disturbing vision of the future.

It's also interesting to read following The Road due to their tone being very similar. "Oryx and Crake" almost feels like a prequel to The Road and Snowman is Man in the future.

cherryxlee's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

moshikami's review against another edition

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3.0

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and devoured it quite quickly. It is well-written with timeline-shifting short chapters in which plot details are scarce, but graphic depictions of Atwood's ~~dystopian~~ speculative world of spliced-animals and casual child pornography and execution watching teens are abundant. Naturally, I was intrigued.
I read on, in hopes of gleaning more information about the world and our three main characters: Snowman, Oryx, and Crake. My curiosity about this new world was satisfied, but I cannot say the same in regards to the characters. Jimmy/Snowman was the most fleshed out, but Oryx and Crake were somehow hollow? It may have been intentional on Atwood's part, but it didn't make them sentimental characters to me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
As I was reading this book, I found myself already excited to read the next books in the trilogy. However, at this point I am unsure if I will continue and I may check out one of Atwood's other works instead. I enjoyed the narrative structure and found Atwood to be a terrific writer, but there was something abrupt and unsatisfying about the resolution of Oryx and Crake. I am thankful for the page-turning experience I was able to have, and hope to have more in the future.

bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition

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3.0

Atwood delivers a biotech dystopia where large genetics companies engineer new animals and microorganisms, ultimately to the detriment if civilization. She is a master at her craft. The voice is firmly jaded, cynical, and cold, presenting a world with unhappy, or muted characters. Oddly, the companies operate more like government agencies or unaccountable political actors, rather than the way individuals behave within market systems. Her misunderstandings surrounding economic forces and businesses left this novel less than believable.

The scientific elements were interesting, but I was not too worried by the outcome. I am far more optimistic about biotech than Atwood appears to be. There's no utopia in this world, but The Handmaid's Tale is a far prescient warning to the world than Oryx and Crake.