Rating: 
Summary: This is not a Science Fiction, but an etymologist's lament
Review: There have been so many excellent reviews here, so I don't intend to repeat the praises, just make a comment. It seems that those negative reviews did emphasize on the doomed-to-be-shallow science fictions and the lack-the-depth-or-struggle characters here, namely Crake, Jimmy, or Oryx. Yes, it is a point, but not the whole point. Even those emphasizing on the linear and unplausible plot do miss a point Atwood wants to say. In a way this is not only a sociologist's fantasy or an ecologists's fear, but also a literator's tremble and an etymologist's lamment. Fungible, pullulate, pistic, cerements, trull. Windlestraw, laryngeal, banshee, woad. I don't think there will be many readers who recognize all of these words without looking up the dictionary. If the disappearance of these words is natural, why not other words? Only after that can we know Jimmy, a man of literature-oriented, doomed to be a useless junk in a science-is-the-supreme-criterion world. This is the sorrow of Jimmy, and also the sorrow of Atwood.
Rating:
Summary: Masterful, Absorbing and truly Frightening
Review: Dystopian fantasies are all around us -- everything from The Matrix to Mad Max, from Farenheit 451 to Brave New World. Some are escapist entertainment, seemingly far removed from any future we can relate to. Others, like Orwell's 1984, are truly frightening, because we can place it along a trajectory that includes our own real lives. Margaret Atwood's _Oryx and Crake_ is similarly evocative. _Oryx and Crake_ takes us back and forth between a post-apocalyptic world and the earlier events which led to the disaster. In these pages, we're introduced to Snowman, the narrator, whose changed persona reflects the drastic changes around him -- and we get to observe the elusive, fascinating Oryx and Crake, who are just mysterious enough to keep us wondering and wanting to know more. The crisis is built upon ever escalating genetic meddling and environmental destruction -- neither of which is far removed from our lives today. Vivid characterizations and a well-constructed narrative kept me turning the pages. Atwood knows how to dangle that proverbial carrot, drawing the reader in deeper as the flashbacks draw closer and closer to the narrator's present situation. Read this book if you're looking for an exciting page-turner. Read it because it's a great yarn. You'll get something extra in the process -- something to ponder as the world of science celebrates the mapping of the human genome.
Rating: 
Summary: Needed More Complex Characters
Review: I usually avoid books set in the future and anything that even remotely resembles science fiction, so I put off reading ORYX AND CRAKE for a long time. While I wouldn't call ORYX AND CRAKE hard core science fiction, it is definitely futuristic. The protagonist of ORYX AND CRAKE is a character known as Snowman, whose birth name, we learn, is Jimmy. Despite ORYX AND CRAKE being set in the future, I really liked the scene in which we're introduced to Jimmy. Instead of a dark, grim cityscape, Atwood gives us a seascape instead. And, instead of some post-nuclear holocaust, we're given a world that was destroyed by a particularly deadly form of plague. As Snowman walks along the deserted beach, he encounters a group of children who are obviously not "from the past." For one thing, they are too young to be "from the past." For another, they aren't even "normal human beings." This sets the stage for the book. At this point, Atwood begins to tell us what happened to the earth in a series of flashbacks that alternate with the present day story. In general, I'm definitely not a fan of flashbacks, but Atwood is a masterful writer and these flashbacks are so skillfully woven into the fabric of the present day narrative so as to be seamless. Jimmy, we learn, was actually one of the "lucky" ones. His father worked at OrganInc Farms and this kept Jimmy, his mother and his father away from the dangerous "pleeblands," the cities that once were great but then only breed violence and corruption. We also learn about Jimmy's friendship with Glenn, a boy/man, who in the present day narrative, is known as Crake. While Jimmy and Glenn were the best of friends during their high school years, their lives took very different turns when they went to college. Jimmy attended the Martha Graham Academy (very ordinary), while Glenn went to the Watson-Crick Institute (extremely prestigious and scientific, reminded me of MIT). Just when Jimmy is ready to give up on life and throw in the towel, Glenn (now Crake) comes back into his life and offers him a job at the RejoovenEsense Compound. There, in a unit called Paradice, Jimmy comes fact to face with a "vision" from his past...the beautiful Oryx. The plot of ORYX AND CRAKE is complex, well-crafted and sometimes surprising, though I think some readers are going to find its unfolding a bit too slow for their taste. (I didn't; I liked it.) Atwood's writing is, as always, first rate and a joy to read. What I think ORYX AND CRAKE lacks are complex characters. Crake is simply too much of a "god" while Snowman is simply too much of a "follower" and a "victim." Even Oryx is far too enigmatic to be "real." While I enjoyed the story of ORYX AND CRAKE, the characters were simply too one dimensional and lacking in depth and complexity for me to find any emotional engagement with them. I don't even blame Margaret Atwood for this; I think a lack of character development is just part and parcel of science fiction/futuristic stories which are, by necessity, plot driven rather than character driven. Even though I found ORYX AND CRAKE to be lacking in complex characterization, I still liked the book. The story itself held my interest and I enjoyed reading it, even reading far into the night, which is something I don't usually do. Atwood fans will love ORYX AND CRAKE (though it isn't nearly as good as THE HANDMAID'S TALE or ALIAS GRACE) but hard core science fiction fans may find it a little too "soft" for their liking. Still, it's masterfully structured and beautifully written.
Rating: 
Summary: A page-turner but not Atwood's best
Review: This books follows Atwood's usual formula of a slight mystery and a slow revel. The plot centres around one character, Snowman, who is living in an abandoned post-global warming world. He retraces the events of his life, starting with his childhood on an elite research compound where people work to develop genetically modified creatures, a place separate from the "pleeblands" where most ordinary humans leave. Snowman also slowly reveals the characters Oryx and Crake and their role in his life and current situation. Atwood definitely succeeds at creating a sense of place - a terrifying, overgrown world of characters split between the elite research facilities of Snowman's childhood and the dangerous "pleeblands" where average people live. I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to find how Snowman got to the place he was. But the characters in this novel aren't fleshed out. At the end we are still left wondering about the motivations of Oryx and Crake and Snowman himself. There is also a child pornography sub-plot that was kind of pointless. We are expecting a great denouement but get none. I was left wondering "so what?" Why was this tawdry industry explored if not to offer us some sort of meaningful criticism of it? To a lesser degree, the same is true of the genetic modification theme. Atwood is clearly horrified by the dangers but also seems fascinated by the possibilities, and in the end the question is not entirely resolved. While I enjoyed this book, it felt more like a tawdry paperback than a novel by one of Canada's foremost authors. I am shocked that of all of her novels, this one won the Booker Prize. If you want Atwood sci-fi read The Handmaid's Tale. And if you want a compelling, mysterious read try Alias Grace.
Rating:
Summary: A dark, fascinating novel
Review: It's been a long time since I've read a book that was difficult to put down -- but Oryx and Crake kept me intrigued till the end. In terms of energy, it's better than The Blind Assassin, but it's too dark to be my favourite Atwood novel. Atwood paints a scary picture of a future with company compounds, killer viruses, gene splicing, volatile weather, and scarce commodities. It should make us think twice about experiments in genetics and the large investments in biomedical firms some companies are making. Atwood's invention rings true -- I especially think the games Jimmy and Crake play as 14-year-olds (including Extinctathon) are clever. However, many of references in the games and the novel hark back to the 20th Century--good for the reader to relate to, but not completely realistic. In that sense, the novel is not as successful as say, Neuromancer, in which you are completely immersed in that time and place. Some of the reviewers here see Jimmy as a static character and an average Joe. I very much disagree. He is far from average -- he's brilliant with words. However, his talent is not valued by the biomedical society of the future. He's a person with good instincts (he doesn't want to betray his mother, though he's angry at her; he questions the intentions and experiments of the brilliant Crake) trying to cope in a world where an immoral corporate elite is in control. His character growth may not be so obvious because of the structure of the novel--we are in the present and viewing the past from that vantage point. Crake is also in intriguing character. I thought at one point he might be working with Jimmy's mother to try to save the world. But he becomes evil, distributing the virus that kills off most of the world's population. Did he send Oryx to Jimmy to deliberately create the love triangle that resulted in his death? Did the planning for that begin years before Paradice? Why did he select Jimmy--the word person--as the Crakers' caretaker? These are all questions I'd like to ask Atwood. All in all, this novel is excellently written and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Staring at the stainless steel abyss
Review: A struggle, and a waste of time. I felt as if i were locked inside an airless bubble of poorly-digested secondhand "scientific" press clippings - the sort of regurgitated drivel you might find in the washbasin on a 'plane. I've read everyone of her books since "Surfacing" but no more Margaret Atwood for me. If the author were unknown surely this book would never have been published. Don't buy it. You can rescue my copy from the dumpster, if you must.
Rating:
Summary: fascinating, strange, and plausible
Review: This is the first Atwood book that I have read, and I fully intend to read more from her. This is some of the best speculative fiction out there. The characters behave realistically, in ways that many people today behave, if we are only willing to look and open our eyes to both the good and the bad that people do.
The scientific "advancements" that Atwood uses are based entirely on current scientific reseach and development. Atwood also touches on current global trades and markets, including human slavery.
Want to know a dark outcome that could happen from where we are today? Ever wonder what Huxley or Orwell would predict if they were modern contemporaries? Then start reading Atwood, because these chilling and fascinating tales may be what saves us. If not, it will surely entertain us on our downfall.
Rating:
Summary: Another reason to love Atwood!
Review: This is the reason I love Margaret Atwood. I found this novel compelling from the beginning. Although it has moments of great satire, it is a frighteningly realistic book.
Watching the direction our world seems to be moving, I found most of the ideas not only relevant, but more possible than I like. This book shows us a world, much like our own, desensitized and demoralized. Overly accepting of the corporate greed and influence that rules the planet.
The characters leave you with an appropriate amount of questions. This is not neatly wrapped up. As in real life, the reader is left to wonder about and interpret each character.
What a wonderful bookclub book. So much to discuss. I have read all of Atwood's books and I think this is definitely one of my favorites.
Margaret Atwood is one of the greatest authors of all time!
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful and Interesting Tale of the Future
Review: I just finished Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, and it was one of those books I just could not put down. I personally feel this is one of Atwood's best novels (not as good as Handmaid's Tale, but darn close). Her glimpse into the future is not that far-fetched in theory although the details are not realistic -- yet. With technology changing so dramatically and consistently, her future could soon be our future. If you liked Handmaid's Tale, then definitely check this book out. With the right director, this would make a great movie too.
Rating:
Summary: A very entertaining read.
Review: This was a very entertaining book and I had a good time reading it. I think what keeps it from being a great book is the author's failure to concentrate on either a literary, highbrow commentary on society and science OR an engaging adventurous sci-fi tale. If she'd chosen the first route, she could have made her points without the simplistic, recycled, over-the-top science mumbo-jumbo which is clearly not her forte anyway (in the Handmaid's Tale the "science" behind the infertility epidemic was left appropriately vague). If she'd chosen to go for an all-out apocalyptic anti-fairy tale she could have devoted more effort to making her world of the future more believable and Snowman's attempts at survival more credible (why is this guy living among dangerous animals unarmed and wearing a sheet that constantly falls off? Everyone else is dead there's not an extra pair of pants and a weapon lying around?) Even a potentially suicidal character would at least attend more diligently to their physical comfort. More interesting details would have upped the entertainment factor even more. Of course, there's no reason why a book can't be both, but Oryx and Crake doesn't quite make it. Sure comes close though and I would recommend it.
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