Summary
Oryx and Crake, published in 2003, is an acclaimed work of speculative fiction by internationally bestselling Canadian author Margaret Atwood. The first book in the MaddAddam trilogy, it presents a chilling vision of a postapocalyptic future ravaged by genetic engineering gone awry. Set in a world dominated by powerful corporations, the story follows a character called “Snowman” as he struggles to survive in the aftermath of a global pandemic. Oryx and Crake was shortlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize and Orange Prize for Fiction.
Plot
Oryx and Crake tells the story of Snowman, formerly known as Jimmy, who may be the last human survivor in a postapocalyptic world. The novel alternates between Snowman's present-day struggle to survive and flashbacks to his past. In the present, Snowman lives near a group of genetically engineered, peaceful humanoids called Crakers. He decides to journey to a nearby compound in search of supplies, despite the dangers posed by aggressive hybrid animals.
In the flashbacks, we learn about Jimmy's childhood in a world dominated by powerful corporations. He befriends a brilliant student named Glenn, who later adopts the name Crake. Crake grows up to become a top scientist at a biotech company, while Jimmy goes on to work in advertising. Crake secretly develops two projects—the Crakers, designed as an improved version of humans, and BlyssPluss, a pill that promises health and happiness but actually causes mass sterilization. Crake also hires a woman named Oryx, with whom both he and Jimmy become romantically involved.
The story culminates in a global pandemic, intentionally caused by Crake through the BlyssPluss pill, which wipes out most of humanity. In the ensuing chaos, Crake kills Oryx, and Jimmy shoots Crake in retaliation. The novel ends with Jimmy/Snowman discovering evidence of other human survivors and debating whether to approach them, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Themes
Genetic engineering and scientific ethics
Environmental destruction and climate change
Corporate power and capitalism
Sexuality and exploitation
Friendship and betrayal
Survival in a postapocalyptic world
What it means to be human
Setting
Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake is set in a dystopian near-future, where advanced biotechnology and genetic engineering have radically altered society. The story takes place in two distinct time periods—a pre-apocalyptic world dominated by powerful corporations and a postapocalyptic wasteland after a global pandemic has wiped out most of humanity.
In the pre-apocalyptic era, society is starkly divided between the privileged elite living in secure corporate compounds and the impoverished masses in the “pleeblands” outside. The compounds are controlled by biotech companies engaged in ethically dubious scientific research and product development. Key locations include the HelthWyzer and RejoovenEsense compounds where much of the story unfolds.
After civilization's collapse, the setting is a desolate world reclaimed by nature, populated by dangerous genetically engineered hybrid animals. The main character, Jimmy/Snowman, lives near a beach, venturing into the ruins of abandoned compounds to scavenge for supplies. This barren landscape, haunted by the ghosts of the past, provides a stark contrast to the technological marvels of the earlier time period.
Characters
Jimmy/Snowman: The protagonist and narrator. A survivor of a global pandemic who looks after the Crakers, genetically engineered humanoids.
Crake: Jimmy's brilliant but disturbed childhood friend who becomes a geneticist and engineers both the Crakers and the pandemic.
Oryx: A mysterious woman from Southeast Asia who becomes romantically involved with both Jimmy and Crake.
Sharon: Jimmy's mother, who struggles with depression and eventually abandons her family to join an anti-corporate resistance movement.
Jimmy's father: A genetic engineer who works on pigoons (pig-human hybrids) and later remarries after Sharon leaves.
Ramona: A devoted lab assistant to Jimmy's father. She becomes Jimmy’s stepmother after Sharon's departure.
The Crakers: Genetically engineered humanoids created by Crake to be peaceful, environmentally-friendly replacements for humans.
CorpSeCorps: The powerful corporate security force that enforces order in the compounds.
Quick facts
Margaret Atwood was inspired to write Oryx and Crake while birdwatching in Australia, specifically after observing red-necked crakes.
Atwood describes Oryx and Crake as “speculative fiction” rather than pure science fiction, as it deals with technology that could potentially exist.
The novel was shortlisted for both the Man Booker Prize and the Orange Prize for Fiction.
It is the first book in Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy, followed by The Year of the Flood and MaddAddam.
The character Crake is named after Glenn Gould, a famous Canadian pianist, and is implied to have Asperger syndrome like Gould.
The cover of some editions features part of Hieronymus Bosch's painting The Garden of Earthly Delights.
Atwood paused writing the novel for a few weeks after the September 11, 2001 attacks, finding it unsettling to write about a fictional catastrophe during a real one.
Oryx and Crake contains references to real scientific advancements, such as green fluorescent protein used in genetic engineering.
In the novel, Atwood paints a grim picture of environmental degradation caused by human activity and corporate greed. The postapocalyptic setting serves as a warning about the potential consequences of ignoring climate change and ecological destruction.
Oryx and Crake has been banned in some US school districts due to its mature themes, sexual content, and graphic descriptions.
In 2019, the BBC included Oryx and Crake on its list of the 100 most influential novels.
An opera based on the novel premiered in 2023 at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden in Germany.
About the Author
Margaret Atwood is one of Canada's most celebrated and prolific authors, with a career spanning more than five decades. Born in Ottawa in 1939, she has published more than 50 works of fiction, poetry, and critical essays. Her most famous works include the dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale and the historical fiction Alias Grace. Atwood's writing often explores themes of gender, identity, environmental issues, and Canadian national identity.
Atwood's contributions to literature have earned her numerous prestigious awards, including two Booker Prizes, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. She was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1981 and appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019. Beyond her literary work, Atwood is known for her environmental activism and her invention of the LongPen, a remote robotic writing technology.
Atwood's influence extends beyond literature into popular culture. Several of her works have been adapted for film and television, most notably The Handmaid's Tale series on Hulu. She continues to be a prominent voice in Canadian and international literary circles, known for her sharp wit, social commentary, and advocacy for environmental causes.
