On the website of the book, Margaret Atwood claims that her book Oryx and Crake is not science fiction, because it doesn't have space travel, teleportation, or Martians. Instead, she claims, it's speculative fiction, 'cause it speculates on what could happen if our science and society kept on certain paths they are taking.

I will refrain from commenting on that madness. The book is a quite good close future what-if, anyway, and very much worth reading.

Released on Thursday, November 04, 2004 at about 12:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Helsingin yliopisto, Exactum, aula in Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland.

RELEASE NOTES:

I went hunting for this book, and my hunt proved succesful. There it was, sitting on the little table in the lobby, with loads of people sitting around the table and not paying any attention whatsoever to the cute little travelling book. Such brutes! And good for me, since I was able to rescue the book. Yay!

It might take me a while before I get to read Oryx and Crake, however, since I have to read extensively for my literature course. I might start around Christmas. If someone wants to read this book before that, they're welcome to do so! Just ask.

PS: Jnk, congratulations for your 100% catch rate! Exactum seems to be an excellent book-releasing site! I must try it myself.

Jeez, it took me long to start reading this book! After I started, it was a fast and gripping read, though. A brilliant book, may it be called sci-fi or speculative fiction. (Yes, I would call it sci-fi as well.)

I found Oryx and Crake to be intelligent and well-written. Atwood has a way with words, just like the main character Jimmy / Snowman (who reminded me of Arthur Dent, by they way). The book wasn't exactly enjoyable, not as such, since it addressed far too many of my fears concerning future, climate change, biotechnology and bioterrorism. I was really anxious to finish it, and now the story won't leave me. I recommend it, nonetheless.

What is Oryx and Crake all about, then? It's about life and death, and people's longing for immortality. It's about future, about past, about the need to remember and be remembered. But - and I find this interesting - it's not really about good and bad. The destruction of human kind is not really portrayed as "bad", not even inside Jimmy's head. Although he blames Crake for all he's done, he must recognize Crake's logic in doing it.

Nature does not blame anyone, it doesn't forgive - it doesn't need to. It will go on existing, and it really doesn't matter if the rabbits glow in the dark or if the pigs are strangely altered by long-gone people. What is "natural", anyway, and why should it be a virtue? These are some of the questions Oryx and Crake deals with.

I haven't yet decided what to do with this book now that I've read it. It was so good I'd like to make a score of people read it right away. Then again, it's currently on 44 wish lists, so maybe I should give all those people who already know they want to read it a shot. Maybe I'll bring it to the next meet-up with me. Or release it at Finncon. I'll come up with a decision sooner or later.

Thanks for releasing this book Jnk! It was really a favour you did to the reading public! I for one will have to start reading more Atwood right away.

Oryx and Crake is going to be a book ray, and I've already sent it on to Skjaeve, the first participant. I'll provide a list of participants very soon.

This is book #11 in my 2006 Keep Them Moving Release Challenge! The challenge was started by guinaveve.



ETA: The list of participants in this book ray is as follows:

Skjaeve (Norway) (done)
kazeh (UK) (passed)
TheWhiteLion (UK) (done)
Nelle (Canada) (done)
CarynPic (USA) (has the book)
Shellheap (USA)
nvangel12073 (USA)
miriam2 (USA)
DianaCoats (USA)
neriman (USA)(passed - contact the next one, please)
Fluffy-Owl (UK)
KiwiWonder (New Zealand)
c-a-m (Australia)


Three continents - not bad! I tried my best to take into account everyone's shipping and reading order preferences. I hope I have succeeded at least to some extent. (It was trickier than I thought!)

The last person in the ray is welcome to do as they wish with the book. This is not a ring, so I don't need the book to come back to me in the end.

Thanks all for participating! And if your plans have changed, you're welcome to drop me a note and ask to be removed from the ray. Sometimes life's just too busy, and I understand it well.

Whee!

This was a very good book indeed. Now it's waiting for someone to be forwarded to.

Shipping to TheWhiteLion.

Just received the book. Have two other books to read in front of this, but will get to it asap.

Silly me! I made the journal entry above without being logged in! Just wanted to let you know the correct person has received the book, and not just an anonymous finder.

I have just finished the book and am sorry to say that I didn't enjoy it at all. After reading the first 100 pages I wanted to give up, but decided to persevere in the hope that I would become more attracted to the story. Halfway through the book I was very tempted to give up, but as so many people has said that this was a good book, I decided to persevere to see what it really was about and to form my own opinion.

I have learned through bookcrossing that I don't to love the books that others have enjoyed, and this book is definitely not for me. I didn't enjoy the storyline, thought the story was too confusing with the frequent flashes back into Jimmy's past, wanted to read more about Oryx's life growing up, and the ending was too abrupt.

That said, I have to admit that Margaret Atwood has an amazing imagination. If you like Harry Potter/Lord of the rings type stories, then you will most probably enjoy this book.

Am sending the book to Nelle today.

Thanks for sending this book to me all the way from London, TWL!
I am looking forward to it since I have heard so much about it. It will be next on my TBR pile.

I can't really say I "enjoyed" this book because of the possibilities it presents for the future of our species! Rather bleak outlook but it is all within the realm of the possible with the rampant genetic engineering that is taking place. It was , however, an interesting read!
I am mailing it off to CarynPic in California today.

Looking foward to this read, just discovered Margaret Atwood. Have two bookring's in front of this one.

Only have a few pages left. Am thoroughly enjoying it! Already have Shellheap's address. Hope to pop it in the mail this week.