Oryx and Crake is the beginning of a dark trilogy which shows a futuristic view of the downside to genetic modification both of plant life, and animals/humans. In an interview Ms. Atwood states that everything in her books is about something that has happened somewhere. I wonder about the creature developed that sports tentacles ending with chicken breasts and only a mouth to take in nourishment. As it has no eyes, no brain and feels no pain it is not protected by the animal cruelty laws. Then there are the pigoons that grow quickly and develop multitudes of internal organs that can be harvested. Yes, there are clinical trials for this!!
From the cover:
As the story begins Snowman, the narrator, is sleeping in a tree, wearing a dirty old bedsheet and mourning the loss of his beautiful and beloved Oryx and his best friend Crake. In a world in which science-based corporations have recently taken mankind on an uncontrolled genetic-engineering ride, he now searches for supplies in a wasteland. Insects proliferate and pigoons and wolvogs ravage the Pleeblands, where ordinary people once lived, and the compounds that sheltered the extraordinary. The narrative shifts to decades earlier. How did everything fall apart so quickly and why is Snowman left with nothing but his bizarre memories?
