106 pages • 3 hours read
Margaret AtwoodOryx and Crake
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2003A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Oryx and Crake alternates between the present and past, following Snowman, formerly named Jimmy, as he navigates a world devastated by biotechnology gone awry. Snowman recalls his friendship with Crake, a brilliant scientist, and their mutual fascination with a woman named Oryx. Crake's utopian vision leads to the creation of the Crakers and a catastrophic event that leaves Snowman to guide these engineered beings. Extreme genetic engineering, child exploitation, and themes of human extinction are present.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake impresses with its vivid dystopian vision and provocative themes of genetic engineering and corporate greed. Critics laud Atwood's world-building and taut narrative, yet some feel the character development is lacking and the plot overly bleak. Overall, it’s hailed as a gripping exploration of ethical dilemmas in science and society.
Who Should Read Oryx and Crake?
Readers who enjoy dystopian and speculative fiction, rich in moral complexity and scientific intrigue, will find Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood captivating. Fans of 1984, Brave New World, and The Road will appreciate its exploration of genetic engineering, the destruction of civilization, and ethical dilemmas amid a gripping narrative.