Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (2003): A Review
Author: Margaret Atwood
Publication Year: 2003
Pages: 389
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction
Awards: shortlisted for the 2003 Man Booker Prize for Fiction and 2004 Orange Prize for Fiction
Source: eBook
Opening Sentence: Snowman wakes before dawn. He lies unmoving, listening to the tide coming in, wave after wave sloshing over the various barricades, wish-wash, wish-wash, the rhythm of heartbeat. He would so like to believe he is still asleep.
Margaret Atwood’s “Oryx and Crake” is the first book in the MaddAddam Trilogy. This post-apocalyptic novel follows Snowman (also known as Jimmy) as he navigates a world where humanity as we know it has vanished. The only beings left that resemble humans are the Crakers—genetically engineered creatures created by Jimmy’s brilliant but mysterious friend, Crake.
I’d had this book on my TBR list for ages, but finally picked it up thanks to a book club moderated by Masha—and I’m so glad I did. Normally, I don’t gravitate toward sci-fi or dystopian novels, but this one completely drew me in, even as it unsettled me. Atwood explores a wide range of disturbing topics: pandemics, sex trafficking, authoritarian regimes (with a scientific twist), class separation, poverty, identity, genetic engineering, climate change, and, most chilling of all, the extinction of humanity. There are especially tough moments involving Oryx, but they reflect the dark realities of both our past and present societies. The novel is packed with allusions that send you down rabbit holes if you’re curious, and what really struck me is how plausible everything feels—Atwood’s world isn’t far-fetched, which makes it all the more haunting. It really makes you question whether we’re already living in a dystopia.
Beyond the philosophical and political themes, I found the novel absolutely gripping. The short chapters made for a fast-paced, seamless read, and I was constantly on edge, eager to piece together what happened in the past to bring the world to this point, and what might happen next. Atwood masterfully keeps readers guessing, offering only glimpses of the backstory and making you beg for more clues. By the time the origins of the apocalypse are revealed, I was left in awe—and a bit angry—at how everything unfolded. The suspense builds relentlessly, and the novel ends with a cliffhanger that left me desperate to dive into the next book in the series.
I try to be stingy with my ratings, but this book truly deserves a full five stars.
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