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• Author: Margaret Atwood
• Category: Fiction

In what is probably described as a Sci-fi/post apocalyptic novel, Atwood gives us a frighteningly realistic bleak vision of the future, in which we follow the last of the humans, a bearded, naked man who clothes himself with a sheet, and who goes by the name of Snowman.

As we meet him, the world is a hell of a mess and though he is the last human, we soon learn he is not the last…humanoid creature. Innocent, naive, friendly people referred to by Snowman as Crakers live in the same area, walking around shamelessly naked and living in complete harmony in their territory. The animals, are familiar, but they are not the animals you and I would know and within a small amount of time we realize just how much of the world has changed.

Thankfully, we have Snowman, who once used to be known as Jimmy and who is haunted enough by his memories for us to see, little by little, how this future came to be, brought upon by ourselves and in a manner that is so realistic, it actually becomes frightening. Often, in the news, I will hear something that sounds like it came out of this book and it sends a chill up my spine. Basically, Atwood has made an effort to create a vision of the future that is entirely attainable if the right pieces fell into place. And when you see the results? It is scary as hell.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Notes: The topic of pornography comes up, specifically the topic of child pornography, which is likely to make most normal people cringe. Worry not, she does not dwell in the details, but it is something that comes on early in Jimmy’s life which turns out to be something significant by the end.