Hilarious meditation/re-envisioning of Poe's sole novel PYM. It's a satirical novel that takes jabs at academia, racial politics, Little Debbie and thHilarious meditation/re-envisioning of Poe's sole novel PYM. It's a satirical novel that takes jabs at academia, racial politics, Little Debbie and the paintings of Thomas Kinkeade. Imagine Invisible Man and Mumbo Jumbo were written by Moliere and edited by Richard Pryor and you have this fast moving, exciting laugh-out-loud work. Highly recommended for both literary and genre (fantasy/horror) lovers....more
The narrative POV is interesting--the plural first person. The world building has some interesting ideas- of a stratified class society that exaggeratThe narrative POV is interesting--the plural first person. The world building has some interesting ideas- of a stratified class society that exaggerates already exist inequities, with vague references to environmental and societal collaspe . And the prose had moments of brilliance. But the passivity of the lead character and the weirdness of the narrative style (how does the "We" know what happened or lines of dialogue) served to distance me from the text. It lacked emotional immediacy (maybe what the author intended?). The ending came out of nowhere....more
A sequel to Oryx and Crake (and the 2nd book in the newly-dubbed MaddAddam Series), The Year of the Flood is a better book, in my opinion, than the seA sequel to Oryx and Crake (and the 2nd book in the newly-dubbed MaddAddam Series), The Year of the Flood is a better book, in my opinion, than the series opener. The story is told through the eyes of two women, Ren and Toby, who are once and future members of an eco-cult called God’s Gardener. Ren grows up in the cult after her mom leaves one of the gated Pharmaceutical communities that control the world. Her narrative is first person and traces her life from an impressionable child to tough adulthood. Toby’s narrative is in third person, and she initially becomes a Gardener to escape a dire circumstance. Each of their contrasting sections is short and they end on a cliff hanger moments. Through these fragments, you get a different glimpse into the dystopian future she’s created, with its Corporate structure and science gone amok. Interspersed are sermons and hymns from the cult. A warning: the book is very dark, even grim-dark. Atwood doesn’t shy from describing the horrors these two very different, and differently strong women face. A criticism: I found it hard to believe one major plot point which I won’t spoil. The Year of the Flood also reminded of Octavia Butler’s Parable series, in the use of religion and dystopian themes....more
Craig Laurance
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Books:
dystopia-datopia
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