Dystopia Land discussion

I'm wondering who is going to read with us Oryx and Crake. I've been very keen on reading the series for a long time and will be starting the book very soon.

I'm starting the 3rd one in the series and would welcome comments regarding the books as I'm currently writing a paper using this series as the foundation.

Really liked this book - not putting a review in here as a bit long (it's on my book page) but very taken with the breadth of Atwood's vision, drawing on human nature, creation myths, scientific developments, and the tension between group and self, one's own survival and sacrifice for the common good. I read this as stand alone. If there are two more books in the series they may have to wait - at this level of intensity I may need a light break before I take on another one. E

Remember in Sliders when they went to the mostly-female world and Arturo talked about how one can tell a lot about a society based on the toys they give their children, and observed this world had all girl toys and no war toys whatsoever?

Yeah, I find that really disturbing when applied to things like Three-Dimensional Waco, Infidels, and such delightful games and entertainment found in this messed-up worldsetting.

I enjoyed the series, Ms. Atwood always delivers.

Chris wrote: "I'm also currently listening to the audiobook of the first book in the series. How are you liking it? I listened to the second book first and for me, the reader they used killed any interest I had in it. But the reader for the first book is awesome. I'm loving every part of it. "

I like that the author uses flashback. You know what something bad happened, before she has reached that part of the story.

But I really need to get back to the book as I have barely listened to a couple of hours. Who is narrating your edition? I'm listening to Campbell Scott (I think)

Seeing there are a few people reading this, I though to bring it back as a group read.

Yep, I'm also listening to the Campbell Scott version and I love it. In my opinion, his reading is perfect: a somber tone to match the story. The reading of Year of the Flood (with over the top acting and voices) ruined the entire thing for me.

Chris wrote: "The reading of Year of the Flood (with over the top acting and voices) ruined the entire thing for me. ."

Any chance you remember the narrator, so that I avoid it when getting the second book?

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Any chance you remember the narrator, so that I avoid it when getting the s..."


I'm almost positive it was this one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Just finished Oryx and Crake and loved it even more than The Handmaid's Tale.

I've read all three books. I like how Year of the flood runs parallel to Oryx and Crake and is not a series per se. The three books are some of my favorites. I can't help but think about them when I buy chicken breasts that appear way too large.

What I don't understand so far is why he sleeps on a tree to rotect himself or the animals, but the children are safe living on the ground?

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "What I don't understand so far is why he sleeps on a tree to rotect himself or the animals, but the children are safe living on the ground?"

The Crakers are designed that way. The males have a scent in the urine that wards off predators.

I love Margaret Atwood's writing and sci fi/dystopian is pretty much my favourite genre so have been meaning to read Oryx and Crake for ages. I finished it a couple of days ago and am glad to say that for me it didn't disappoint. One of those rare books that has a really good story but is also meaningful and makes you think. As with The Handmaid's Tale the world MA creates works so well because it is different enough to be engaging yet believable enough to be chilling. I'll definitely be following up with the next two in the trilogy soon.

I thought it was good, but not great. And I HATED the ending! I despise books that end like that (don't want to spoil it). Just drop off at the end. The length of this book would have been better served by trimming the boring middle and expanding the end.

Is The Handmaidens Take book#2 in the trilogy? Does it pick up where O&C leaves off?

Liana wrote: "I thought it was good, but not great. And I HATED the ending! I despise books that end like that (don't want to spoil it). Just drop off at the end. The length of this book would have been better s..."


I love stories that end that way. : )

The Handmaid's Tale is a completely different and unrelated story. The Year of the Flood is the second book in the Madd Adam trilogy. It doesn't pick up where Oryx and Crake ended, but it is very closely related.

Liana wrote: "Is The Handmaidens Take book#2 in the trilogy? Does it pick up where O&C leaves off? "

The Handmaid's Tale has nothing to do withe the Oryx and Crake series. It's dystopian, for sure for sure (America has become a fundamentalist Christian theocracy), but it's a standalone book with no connection to O&C. Awesome book :)

And the series are going to be adapted by HBO ... might contain spoilers from the book:
http://www.vulture.com/2014/08/margar...

Wow! Thanks Ellie. I will definitely have to watch for this.

I loved this series and had no idea, until I read this thread, that the audio was read by Campbell Scott. He is one of my favorite readers. I have been known to request audio books from from the library JUST because he reads them.

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "And the series are going to be adapted by HBO ... might contain spoilers from the book:
http://www.vulture.com/2014/08/margar..."


Wow, if done correctly that series could be incredible.

Will they leave in the wagging blue penises, do you think? And the group sex?

Michele wrote: "Will they leave in the wagging blue penises, do you think? And the group sex?"

Maybe there will be wagging blue blurs? :)

I think they can get the point across regarding the group coupling without actually showing the act.

I'm really excited to see how everything is handled.

Since this is yet just an idea, I have the feeling we will be waiting a lot.

I just finished another of Atwood's books, Surfacing. It was written 30 years before 'Oryx and Crake' but is a must-read if you liked the first installment of the MaddAddam trilogy. You can see paralells in a character that's just like 'Snowman' and the endings are very similar. Really neat.