A Review of Margaret Atwood's Maddaddam
Maddaddam is
the third book in a Margaret Atwood apocalyptic science fiction trilogy that
began with Oryx and Crake, followed by a prequel, The Year of the Flood. Maddaddam
is a sequel to both of the earlier books.
The novels are set in a future that could be just around the corner. The Year of the Flood is set in a world on the brink of collapse due to environment degradation and the rampant and totally unethical business operations of a mega multi-national. Everything has been privatised, including law enforcement, and government welfare services are non-existent.
The story revolves around a commune of refugees from the world, who live in an abandoned apartment block. They grow food on its rooftop and recycle the detritus of society. The commune is led by Addam, who is set on getting his followers ready for the inevitable collapse of civilisation. Much of the story concerns Toby, a woman who escapes to the commune to avoid certain rape and murder at the fast food restaurant where she had worked.
Oryx and Crake is set after a virus, created by scientific genius Crake, decimates the population of the world. Only a few humans survive along with a small group of a new species of genetically engineered humans. A species created by Crake, so they are called Crackers. They are resistant to the plague. The Crackers are a gentle and innocent species that don’t require clothing and eat the abundant genetically engineered foliage that has spread across the planet. The Crackers have built in defences like urine that warns off dangerous animals, and they have a big desire to procreate.
Oryx and Crake achieved the rare distinction of a being science fiction novel that was short-listed for the Booker prize.
In Maddaddam Toby and Zeb join up with the Crackers to survive the threat of Painballers - drug addicted psychopathic killers created for the future’s violent entertainments. But Maddaddam is not just an thriller/adventure novel, it is a contemplation on the propensity of humans to destroy themselves and the world around them. The novel asks if the world would be a better place without humans, instead filled with a more community minded and environmentally friendly species like the Crackers. A world were a less dominate main life form is on more of a level playing field with other genetically engineered animals.
Maddaddam differs from the other two novels in the trilogy with its humour. Much of the humour is provided by the naive interactions of the Crackers with the humans. The Crackers lack of understanding of human emotions such as greed, lead to many questions that can only be answered with concepts unfamiliar to them.
As with The Year of the Flood, Toby is a very engrossing main character. She has the strength of mind to do what she thinks is right, while dealing with many personal insecurities, especially around her relationship with Zeb. She appears to be the opposite polar of Zeb, who is full of bravado of what he has done to survive.
As usual, Atwood’s prose flows like a gentle meandering creek. She is so easy to read. This would have helped Maddaddam top a Goodreads’ poll as the best science fiction novel of 2013.
Maddaddam ends the trilogy with hope. Hope for an Earth that might rebound and sustainably provide the needs for all its life forms, including the few surviving humans. It is a worthy final book in an engrossing and thought provoking trilogy, one of the best science fiction apocalyptic series ever written.
The novels all have the added advantage of being standalone volumes without obvious hanging endings requiring the reading of another novel.
The novels are set in a future that could be just around the corner. The Year of the Flood is set in a world on the brink of collapse due to environment degradation and the rampant and totally unethical business operations of a mega multi-national. Everything has been privatised, including law enforcement, and government welfare services are non-existent.
The story revolves around a commune of refugees from the world, who live in an abandoned apartment block. They grow food on its rooftop and recycle the detritus of society. The commune is led by Addam, who is set on getting his followers ready for the inevitable collapse of civilisation. Much of the story concerns Toby, a woman who escapes to the commune to avoid certain rape and murder at the fast food restaurant where she had worked.
Oryx and Crake is set after a virus, created by scientific genius Crake, decimates the population of the world. Only a few humans survive along with a small group of a new species of genetically engineered humans. A species created by Crake, so they are called Crackers. They are resistant to the plague. The Crackers are a gentle and innocent species that don’t require clothing and eat the abundant genetically engineered foliage that has spread across the planet. The Crackers have built in defences like urine that warns off dangerous animals, and they have a big desire to procreate.
Oryx and Crake achieved the rare distinction of a being science fiction novel that was short-listed for the Booker prize.
In Maddaddam Toby and Zeb join up with the Crackers to survive the threat of Painballers - drug addicted psychopathic killers created for the future’s violent entertainments. But Maddaddam is not just an thriller/adventure novel, it is a contemplation on the propensity of humans to destroy themselves and the world around them. The novel asks if the world would be a better place without humans, instead filled with a more community minded and environmentally friendly species like the Crackers. A world were a less dominate main life form is on more of a level playing field with other genetically engineered animals.
Maddaddam differs from the other two novels in the trilogy with its humour. Much of the humour is provided by the naive interactions of the Crackers with the humans. The Crackers lack of understanding of human emotions such as greed, lead to many questions that can only be answered with concepts unfamiliar to them.
As with The Year of the Flood, Toby is a very engrossing main character. She has the strength of mind to do what she thinks is right, while dealing with many personal insecurities, especially around her relationship with Zeb. She appears to be the opposite polar of Zeb, who is full of bravado of what he has done to survive.
As usual, Atwood’s prose flows like a gentle meandering creek. She is so easy to read. This would have helped Maddaddam top a Goodreads’ poll as the best science fiction novel of 2013.
Maddaddam ends the trilogy with hope. Hope for an Earth that might rebound and sustainably provide the needs for all its life forms, including the few surviving humans. It is a worthy final book in an engrossing and thought provoking trilogy, one of the best science fiction apocalyptic series ever written.
The novels all have the added advantage of being standalone volumes without obvious hanging endings requiring the reading of another novel.
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