About the Author

Margaret Atwood was born in Ottawa in 1939, and grew up in northern Quebec and Ontario, and later in Toronto. She has lived in numerous cities in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
She is the author of more than forty books novels, short stories, poetry, literary criticism, social history, and books for children. Atwood s work is acclaimed internationally and has been published around the world. Her novels include "The Handmaid s Tale" and "Cat s Eye" both shortlisted for the Booker Prize; "The Robber Bride," winner of the Trillium Book Award and a finalist for the Governor General s Award; "Alias Grace," winner of the prestigious Giller Prize in Canada and the Premio Mondello in Italy, and a finalist for the Governor General s Award, the Booker Prize, the Orange Prize, and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award; "The Blind Assassin," winner of the Booker Prize and a finalist for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award; and "Oryx and Crake," a finalist for The Giller Prize, the Governor General s Award, the Orange Prize, and the Man Booker Prize. Her most recent books of fiction are "The Penelopiad," "The Tent," and "Moral Disorder." She is the recipient of numerous honours, such as "The Sunday Times" Award for Literary Excellence in the U.K., the National Arts Club Medal of Honor for Literature in the U.S., Le Chevalier dans l Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France, and she was the first winner of the London Literary Prize. She has received honorary degrees from universities across Canada, and one from Oxford University in England.
Margaret Atwood lives in Toronto with novelist Graeme Gibson."

Reviews

Atwood has visited the future before, in her dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale. In her latest, the future is even bleaker. The triple whammy of runaway social inequality, genetic technology and catastrophic climate change, has finally culminated in some apocalyptic event. As Jimmy, apparently the last human being on earth, makes his way back to the RejoovenEsencecompound for supplies, the reader is transported backwards toward that cataclysmic event, its full dimensions gradually revealed. Jimmy grew up in a world split between corporate compounds (gated communities metastasized into city-states) and pleeblands (unsafe, populous and polluted urban centers). His best friend was "Crake," the name originally his handle in an interactive Net game, Extinctathon. Even Jimmy's mother-who ran off and joined an ecology guerrilla group when Jimmy was an adolescent-respected Crake, already a budding genius. The two friends first encountered Oryx on the Net; she was the eight-year-old star of a pedophilic film on a site called HottTotts. Oryx's story is a counterpoint to Jimmy and Crake's affluent adolescence. She was sold by her Southeast Asian parents, taken to the city and eventually made into a sex "pixie" in some distant country. Jimmy meets Oryx much later-after college, after Crake gets Jimmy a job with ReJoovenEsence. Crake is designing the Crakers-a new, multicolored placid race of human beings, smelling vaguely of citron. He's procured Oryx to be his personal assistant. She teaches the Crakers how to cope in the world and goes out on secret missions. The mystery on which this riveting, disturbing tale hinges is how Crake and Oryx and civilization vanished, and how Jimmy-who also calls himself "the Snowman," after that other rare, hunted specimen, the Abominable Snowman-survived. Chesterton once wrote of the "thousand romances that lie secreted in The Origin of Species." Atwood has extracted one of the most hair-raising of them, and one of the most brilliant. (May 6) Forecast: Readers who know Atwood primarily as the author of The Handmaid's Tale will be thrilled by this return to the future; those who follow her work more closely will be even more impressed. This is a potential dystopian classic and should sell accordingly. Author tour. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Ingenious and disturbing. A landmark work of speculative fiction, comparable to "A Clockwork Orange," "Brave New World." Atwood has surpassed herself.
"Kirkus Reviews" (starred review)
Rigorous in its chilling insights and riveting in its fast-paced what if dramatization, Atwood s superb novel is as brilliantly provocative as it is profoundly engaging.
"Booklist" (starred review)
"Oryx and Crake" is Atwood at her playful, allegorical best.
"Globe and Mail
"
["Oryx and Crake" is written] with a style and grace that demonstrate again just how masterful a storyteller she is. If one measure of art s power is its ability to force you to face what you would very much rather not, "Oryx and Crake" the evocative tale of a nightmarish near-future is an extraordinary work of art, one that reaffirms Atwood s place at the apex of Canadian literature.
"Maclean s
" Atwood s new masterpiece. Extraordinary. [Atwood pulls] back the curtain on her terrible vision with such tantalizing precision, its fearsome implications don t fully reveal themselves until the final pages. A darkly comic work of speculative fiction.
"W Magazine "(U.S.)
For all its artistic achievement, this novel poses serious questions. Margaret Atwood is a consummate artist, yes, but her work also pricks our social and ethical consciousness. That is a rare combination, an important
achievement.
"Globe and Mail
"
Atwood s great talent for narrative has never been displayed to better effect.
"Toronto Star
"
Riveting. Chesterton once wrote of the thousand romances that lie secreted in "The Origin of Species." Atwood has extracted one of the most hair-raising of them, and one of the most brilliant.
"Publishers Weekly
" "Oryx and Crake" is Atwood at her best dark, dry, scabrously witty, yet moving and studded with flashes of pure poetry. Her gloriously inventive brave new world is all the more chilling because of the mirror it holds up to our own. Citizens, be warned.
"The Independent" (U.K.)
"Oryx and Crake" can hold its own against any of the 20th century s most potent dystopias "Brave New World," " 1984," "The Space Merchants" with regard to both dramatic impact and fertility of invention. "Oryx and Crake" showcases a nightmare version of the present era of globalization on a globe coming apart at its ecological seams. It is a scathing (because bang-on) portrait of the way we live now. Majestic.
"Washington Post
"
Is there a more accomplished or versatile writer, in Canada, than Margaret Atwood? Atwood is on top of the times intuits them, really. The moral questions of "Oryx and Crake" are already in play. "
" "National Post" (profile)
"Oryx and Crake" is a broad canvas that allows Atwood to show off her brilliant talent for satire and wordplay, as well as her considerable love and knowledge of the natural world.
"Quill & Quire
"
Wonderfully vivid, and the sardonic unveiling of future history makes for a strong narrative drive.
"National Post
"
Perfectly constructed, funny, and satiric. It is inventive yet prophetic, in fact, apocalyptic and weirdly feasible. It is brilliant.
"Winnipeg Free Press
" "Oryx and Crake "is set just the other side of the evening news, in a future so close we can smell its stench. Atwood has outdone herself here.
"Georgia Straight
" Contemporary novelists rarely write about science or technology. Margaret Atwood tackles both and more in one of the year s most surprising novels.
"The Economist
""
"Ingenious and disturbing.... A landmark work of speculative fiction, comparable to "A Clockwork Orange," "Brave New World,.".. Atwood has surpassed herself."
-"Kirkus Reviews" (starred review)
"Rigorous in its chilling insights and riveting in its fast-paced 'what if' dramatization, Atwood's superb novel is as brilliantly provocative as it is profoundly engaging."
-"Booklist" (starred review)
""Oryx and Crake" is Atwood at her playful, allegorical best."
-"Globe and Mail
"
"["Oryx and Crake" is written] with a style and grace that demonstrate again just how masterful a storyteller she is. If one measure of art's power is its ability to force you to face what you would very much rather not, "Oryx and Crake" - the evocative tale of a nightmarish near-future - is an extraordinary work of art, one that reaffirms Atwood's place at the apex of Canadian literature."
-"Maclean's
""Atwood's new masterpiece....Extraordinary.... [Atwood pulls] back the curtain on her terrible vision with such tantalizing precision, its fearsome implications don't fully reveal themselves until the final pages.... A darkly comic work of speculative fiction."
-"W Magazine "(U.S.)
"For all its artistic achievement, this novel poses serious questions.... Margaret Atwood is a consummate artist, yes, but her work also pricks our social and ethical consciousness. That is a rare combination, an important
achievement...."
-"Globe and Mail
"
"Atwood's great talent for narrative has never been displayed to better effect."
-"Toronto Star
"
"Riveting....Chesterton once wrote of the 'thousand romances that lie secreted in "The Origin of Species,"' Atwood has extractedone of the most hair-raising of them, and one of the most brilliant."
-"Publishers Weekly
"""Oryx and Crake" is Atwood at her best - dark, dry, scabrously witty, yet moving and studded with flashes of pure poetry. Her gloriously inventive brave new world is all the more chilling because of the mirror it holds up to our own. Citizens, be warned."
-"The Independent" (U.K.)
""Oryx and Crake" can hold its own against any of the 20th century's most potent dystopias - "Brave New World,"" 1984," "The Space Merchants" - with regard to both dramatic impact and fertility of invention...."Oryx and Crake" showcases a nightmare version of the present era of globalization on a globe coming apart at its ecological seams.... It is a scathing (because bang-on) portrait of the way we live now....Majestic...."
-"Washington Post
"
"Is there a more accomplished or versatile writer, in Canada, than Margaret Atwood?... Atwood is on top of the times - intuits them, really.... The moral questions of "Oryx and Crake" are already in play.""
"-"National Post" (profile)
""Oryx and Crake" is a broad canvas that allows Atwood to show off her brilliant talent for satire and wordplay, as well as her considerable love and knowledge of the natural world."
-"Quill & Quire
"
"Wonderfully vivid, and the sardonic unveiling of future history makes for a strong narrative drive."
-"National Post
"
"Perfectly constructed, funny, and satiric. It is inventive yet prophetic, in fact, apocalyptic and weirdly feasible.... It is brilliant."
-"Winnipeg Free Press
"""Oryx and Crake "is set just the other side of the evening news, in a future so close we can smell itsstench....Atwood has outdone herself here."
-"Georgia Straight
""Contemporary novelists rarely write about science or technology. Margaret Atwood tackles both - and more - in one of the year's most surprising novels."
-"The Economist
"
" Ingenious and disturbing.... A landmark work of speculative fiction, comparable to "A Clockwork Orange," "Brave New World,.".. Atwood has surpassed herself."
- "Kirkus Reviews" (starred review)
" Rigorous in its chilling insights and riveting in its fast-paced ' what if' dramatization, Atwood's superb novel is as brilliantly provocative as it is profoundly engaging."
- "Booklist" (starred review)
" "Oryx and Crake" is Atwood at her playful, allegorical best."
- "Globe and Mail
"
" ["Oryx and Crake" is written] with a style and grace that demonstrate again just how masterful a storyteller she is. If one measure of art's power is its ability to force you to face what you would very much rather not, "Oryx and Crake" - the evocative tale of a nightmarish near-future - is an extraordinary work of art, one that reaffirms Atwood's place at the apex of Canadian literature."
- "Maclean's
"" Atwood's new masterpiece.... Extraordinary.... [Atwood pulls] back the curtain on her terrible vision with such tantalizing precision, its fearsome implications don't fully reveal themselves until the final pages.... A darkly comic work of speculative fiction."
- "W Magazine "(U.S.)
" For all its artistic achievement, this novel poses serious questions.... Margaret Atwood is a consummate artist, yes, but her work also pricks our social and ethical consciousness. That is a rare combination, an important
achievement.... "
- "Globe and Mail
"
" Atwood's great talent for narrative has never been displayed to better effect."
- "Toronto Star
"
" Riveting.... Chesterton once wrote of the ' thousand romances that lie secreted in "The Origin of Species,"' Atwood has extracted one of the most hair-raising of them, and one of the most brilliant."
- "Publishers Weekly
"" "Oryx and Crake" is Atwood at her best - dark, dry, scabrously witty, yet moving and studded with flashes of pure poetry. Her gloriously inventive brave new world is all the more chilling because of the mirror it holds up to our own. Citizens, be warned."
- "The Independent" (U.K.)
" "Oryx and Crake" can hold its own against any of the 20th century's most potent dystopias - "Brave New World,"" 1984," "The Space Merchants" - with regard to both dramatic impact and fertility of invention.... "Oryx and Crake" showcases a nightmare version of the present era of globalization on a globe coming apart at its ecological seams.... It is a scathing (because bang-on) portrait of the way we live now.... Majestic.... "
- "Washington Post
"
" Is there a more accomplished or versatile writer, in Canada, than Margaret Atwood?... Atwood is on top of the times - intuits them, really.... The moral questions of "Oryx and Crake" are already in play." "
"- "National Post" (profile)
" "Oryx and Crake" is a broad canvas that allows Atwood to show off her brilliant talent for satire and wordplay, as well as her considerable love and knowledge of the natural world."
- "Quill & Quire
"
" Wonderfully vivid, and the sardonic unveiling of future history makes for a strong narrative drive."
- "National Post
"
" Perfectly constructed, funny, and satiric. It is inventive yet prophetic, in fact, apocalyptic and weirdly feasible.... It is brilliant."
- "Winnipeg Free Press
"" "Oryx and Crake "is set just the other side of the evening news, in a future so close we can smell its stench.... Atwood has outdone herself here."
- "Georgia Straight
"" Contemporary novelists rarely write about science or technology. Margaret Atwood tackles both - and more - in one of the year's most surprising novels."
- "The Economist
"