Oryx and Crake

The novel starts with Snowman, formerly known as Jimmy, living on a beach in the aftermath of an apocalyptic plague that appears to have wiped out all mankind. Through the novel he reflects back on the events leading up to the apocalypse and wonders if anything could have been done to prevent it.

The world Jimmy was born into has gone mad with gene splicing and genetic engineering, finding ever more inventive ways to produce designer animals and strange foods. Bioterrorists are also active designing new viruses and bacteria that can beat known drugs and vaccines. Society is becoming dystpoian, divided into the "Compounds" where the big corporations rule making products for those who could afford it and "pleebland" where the masses live and battle to survive. Growing up, Jimmy makes few friends but bonds with the super smart Crake and together they spend their free time on the Internet playing games and trawling porno sites. It is on one of the kiddie porn sites, that they first see the beautiful Oryx who later becomes important in both their lives. After high school, Jimmy an indifferent student ends up attending a low key liberal arts college while Crake enters a prestigious science and technology University where he is groomed for a career in genetic engineering.

Crake and Jimmy's friendship survives their separation and Crake ensures that Jimmy survives the apocalypse leaving him responsible for his latest experiment. As Snowman, Jimmy takes on this responsibility and struggles to survive. Food is in short supply and clean water is even harder to come by and Snowman must survive on his wits and what he can scavenge from buildings already starting to decay.

As always Margaret Atwood's novels are provocative. this book is set in the not too distant future and much of what she describes could already be possible if unregulated tinkering with genes, particularly across species was condoned in our society. The novel ends on an unresolved note, setting the scene for what must be to come in the sequel - one I'm very much looking forward to.