Experiments and Conspiracies Run Wild!

MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood is the third book in a highly imaginative dystopian trilogy. Atwood is a wonderful, award winning writer who really loves words. She has created a post-corporate world where experiments and conspiracies have run wild. Various animals are gene-spliced to create such creatures as "pigoons," grown for organ-harvesting, and "wolvogs," a cross between wolves and dogs. Within this world are places like "AnooYoo," a day spa, and "Scales and Tails," a sort of men's club where women dress as shiny, scaly reptiles, brightly colored flowers, and feathered birds. In this book, all the terrible things have already happened and a unique group of people remain after a cataclysmic pandemic, caused by a classic mad scientist. There is also a group of humanoids, called Crakers, created by this scientist, who also survive. Some of the most wonderful conversations are between the two groups as they try to communicate with each other and teach one of the Crakers to write. The Crakers learn by hearing stories which the other survivors must make up. In this world, food is scarce which forces people to learn new ways of using plants. Most of the human survivors are scientists who escaped the corporations or simply people with good sense and many skills, some of which involve great subterfuge and fortitude.

"MaddAddam " is an online underground group whose members take names of extinct animals. Their leader, Adam One, is a mysterious, brilliant organizer. His brother, Zeb, is a sort of master spy and enforcer. In love with Zeb is Toby, a woman who has survived by her wits and has become a leader in the group. She has learned all sorts of natural healing arts as well as how to keep bees.

There is wonderful humor as well as pathos in the book and some very scary villains who are survivors of a blood sport called "Painball." Reading this is an adventure — it becomes harder and harder to put down. (The first book is Oryx and Crake, the second is After the Flood.)

Be sure to join us at the library for the next Sci Fi Book Club on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. where we will be discussing Red Rising by Pierce Brown. If you need a copy, see Tammy during August at the WPL to request one via interlibrary loan.