• Date: 20 April 2004
• By: Richard
• Age Range: 15-Adult
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• Definitely one of the best reads of my life. *****

A/S Level English Literature. What could be more fun? I remember reading Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale. Clever, indeed, but lacked that motivation needed from such a novel for a reader to seriously take an interest in reading it.

The best way to describe Oryx and Crake is "everything Handmaid's Tale wanted to be." Oryx and Crake is set in the very near future in a world that is so unlike that of today. All we know is that there is seemingly one survivor: Snowman. His never-ending struggle and bitterness about the new world and the destruction of his old world is what drives the story on. The mysterious and abrupt start to the novel was perfect. It was exactly what was needed to motivate me into reading further - that constant question ringing in my head: "How did all this come about?"

Combining flashbacks and Snowman's current thoughts, Atwood creates the perfect atmosphere of constant curiosity and suspense. There is never a single page where you are not wondering what is going to happen next, or what had happened in the past. The 1984 styled storyline is so close to reality (nuclear wars, STD epidemics and alike) that an element of realism is thrown into the equation. It is really this realism that makes the story so chilling and frightening as Atwood plays on our own ideals. Her cunning satires are truly bitter and often involve a great deal of black comedy which make great reading for anybody.

But thus far, this is still not the perfect novel. Interesting and relevant themes are used, but Atwood was sure to include a fair share of drama! Her writing is not only coarse, real, and satirical, but highly imaginative and dramatic. The relationships between Oryx, Crake, and Snowman himself adds a "sexy" plot to the 1984 surface, making it appropriately tense and entertaining.

Orxy and Crake left me thinking about today's ideals, issues, and circumstances! Atwood is cunning, satirical, and sexy. Her well-handled time-shifts and black humour left me thinking right up until the final page... and even then it makes me want to read on. Definitely one of the best reads of my life and definitely a novel to match the sheer brilliance of George Orwell's 1984.

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