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Marylegs (44 KP) rated Oryx and Crake (Madd Addam #1) in Books

Aug 14, 2019  
Oryx and Crake (Madd Addam #1)
Oryx and Crake (Madd Addam #1)
Margaret Atwood | 2004 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.9 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oryx and Crake is a dystopian style post-apocalyptic novel which for the majority focuses on one character, Jimmy, otherwise known as Snowman. The book centres on his life before the fall of a modern civilisation as well as how he move through life afterwards. This world (before the fall) is a perverted but in my opinion not too farfetched realisation of our future. The rich live in compounds with access to all sorts of medications and rejuvenating procedures to lengthen youth and help them remain beautiful. The poor live in the pleeblands, which appears to be not to different from the world we live in now. Food production has been streamlined with scientists creating ‘chicken’ style life forms that have no head/legs as these are not necessary, they just exist in a basic form with no brain function other than to grow. Also in this would entertainment has taken a leap and reality style TV has been twisted so much that it is almost incomprehensible that anyone would watch these shows. It is on one of these shows that Jimmy and his friend Crake first come across Oryx as a young girl. Jimmy and Crake grow up, go to different Universities and begin very different careers. Crake is an enigma, never really part of the human race, although he really does seem to be Jimmy’s friend. He is a genius and begins to develop science in leaps and bounds that could be the end of everything.

This book really got my mind asking questions of myself and science. Often at times it also made me feel anxious and tense in a way not many books have. I don’t see this as a negative, on the contrary I believe it was a positive element to the book. I personally am not a fan of reality shows, and the way entertainment is shown in the book doesn’t seem like a far stretch from what we are currently doing anyway. How many people only watch these shows to see people come to blows? When something horrendous happens on the news, how many people go and try and watch the act online? I am not say in the next few years I expect to see live executions on the TV, but it doesn’t seem like it could never happen. Which is more than worrying. The animal/food production element also doesn’t seem too far off, we can already grow meat in a lab, so how long till we can produce a chicken style organism like in this book. How long till science tries to combine different genes from animals to create new ones.

This is one of the best books I have come across this year and I fully intend to carry on the series. Fully entertaining, fully engrossing, horrific in an addictive way. There is no way to read it without questioning it. I would highly recommend.
  
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Christine A. (965 KP) rated Restricted Fantasies in Books

Dec 9, 2018  
Restricted Fantasies
Restricted Fantasies
Kevin Kneupper | 2018 | Contemporary
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Makes you think (0 more)
A Black Mirror-style sci-fi short story collection
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

As I read the description, "A Black Mirror-style sci-fi short story collection about the perils of our virtual reality future - and whether we're already living in it.", I was intrigued. For those that don't know "Black Mirror" is a British TV show that is available on Netflix. "Black Mirror" is a contemporary reworking of "The Twilight Zone" and is described by Netflix as a "sci-fi anthology series explores a twisted, high-tech near-future where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide."

Describing "Restricted Fantasies" by Kevin Kneupper as being written in Black Mirror-style is an actuate description. Each stand-alone story in both features its own cast of unique characters. As with "Black Mirror", this is not a collection to sit and read straight through. The stories make you think and mess with your mind. They need to be digested, thought through, and processed.

I do not want to discuss any of the individual stories as I do not want to mention any spoilers. With many of the stories I needed a few hours, if not days, to process. I highly recommend "Restricted Fantasies" to anyone who can read it and process it. I would not recommend reading it in one sitting.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Dream Town in Books

Jul 25, 2024 (Updated Jul 25, 2024)  
Dream Town
Dream Town
Lee Goldberg | 2024
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Eve Uncovers Nightmares in an Exclusive Community
Eve Ronin is called out in the middle of the night because someone has killed Kitty Winslow, the oldest of the Winslow kids. The Winslows are the stars of the extremely popular reality show Life with the Winslows, and they live in the exclusive town of Hidden Hills, an enclave of the rich and famous. The video of the killing makes it look like it was a robbery gone wrong. If that’s the case, will Eve ever be able to figure out what happened?

Of course, that’s just one aspect of this book. While this isn’t as much of a ticking clock thriller as some books in the series, there is still plenty here to keep the reader engaged and the pages turning. The twists and dead ends lead up to a logical climax. Meanwhile, I enjoyed the subplot involving the filming of the TV show based on Eve’s life. I also like how Eve continues to grow; it’s been fun to watch that as the series progresses. We get lots of new characters here who fit right in with the regulars. The foul content pushes the edges for me personally, but I suspect others won’t be as bothered by it. Still, know that is there. Overall, this is another winner. When you pick it up, you’ll find the pages fly by all too quickly.