A new, full-length Margaret Atwood novel to be published in September. Just what I've been hoping for.
Here is the blurb from Amazon:
The long-awaited new novel from Margaret Atwood. The Year of the Flood is a dystopic masterpiece and a testament to her visionary power.
The times and species have been changing at a rapid rate, and the social compact is wearing as thin as environmental stability. Adam One, the kindly leader of the God's Gardeners—a religion devoted to the melding of science and religion, as well as the preservation of all plant and animal life—has long predicted a natural disaster that will alter Earth as we know it. Now it has occurred, obliterating most human life. Two women have survived: Ren, a young trapeze dancer locked inside the high-end sex club Scales and Tails, and Toby, a God's Gardener barricaded inside a luxurious spa where many of the treatments are edible.
Have others survived? Ren's bioartist friend Amanda? Zeb, her eco-fighter stepfather? Her onetime lover, Jimmy? Or the murderous Painballers, survivors of the mutual-elimination Painball prison? Not to mention the shadowy, corrupt policing force of the ruling powers . . .
Meanwhile, gene-spliced life forms are proliferating: the lion/lamb blends, the Mo'hair sheep with human hair, the pigs with human brain tissue. As Adam One and his intrepid hemp-clad band make their way through this strange new world, Ren and Toby will have to decide on their next move. They can't stay locked away . . .
By turns dark, tender, violent, thoughtful, and uneasily hilarious, The Year of the Flood is Atwood at her most brilliant and inventive.
It sounds like a book that will not be for everyone.
But.
I.Cannot.Wait.
25 comments:
First I was going to say, yay! a new Margaret Atwood novel! but then I read the synopsis and I'm not sure I want to read it! It sounds like it could be very disturbing (and Atwood already specializes in disturbing!). Thanks for the heads-up anyway!
I heard Margaret Atwood talk about this book - or to be more exact, its publication schedule - when she appeared at the Edinburgh Book Festival last summer, and she was hilarious. It would have been out in the autumn of 2008, apparently, but then it would have clashed with the US elections. Postponing it to spring '09 was no good as then "Canada is shut", she said, as everywhere is frozen, hence the later launch.
It would be lovely if it were as funny as its author was on that day, but it looks as though it wasn't mainly for laughs it was written!
Oh! This one sounds really good! I am adding it to Goodreads now. There's always so much to ponder in her novels.
Sounds totally bizarre- but in a good way!
Ooooh...sounds good! Thanks for the heads-up.
It's always so exciting to hear that a favorite author has a new book out! I really have to try Margaret Atwood one of these days.
Hmmm, I think I'll wait to hear what the reviews have to say. Atwood is one of those hit-or-miss authors for me and this sounds a bit strange. Although, probably no more so than Oryx and Crake, which I did like.
I hadn't heard about this one...thank you...hooray for Atwood!
Thanks for letting me know about this. I can't wait!
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
avisannschild, I am a fan of her sci-fi stuff - it seems like she's been going in that direction lately, hasn't she?
Cornflower, itsn't that interesting! Thanks for sharing that info. No, it doesn't sound like a very humorous book, does it?
Ti, there definitely is.
Chris, that's exactly what I'm thinking!
Softdrink, I think so too!!
Jennysbooks, I think she's great, and yes, it is great to have a full length novel by her to look forward to.
Les, I liked Oryx and Crake too, well, I've liked all the novels I've read by her, so I expect I'll like this as well.
Bybee, hooray for Atwood, indeed!
Anna, neither can I!
Oh wow, I did not know about this one; thanks for the head's up!
Margaret Atwood always but always has the most fabulous ideas and she writes EVERYTHING. It's amazing. I'm looking forward to this one.
chalk up another author i haven't read yet. based on the comments and your reviews, i can see that my literary cannon is seriously lacking. i'll get to work on this pronto!
DANG IT!
She couldn't have decided to put it out ONE MONTH EARLIER! By the time september gets here I will have just had the baby, and be back in school! READ- NO READING. ever!
UGH
I don't even need to read the blurb. It's an Atwood book and so goes on the wish list! :)
I love the cover too!
I'm going to read it but I'm still having nightmares after The Handmaid's Tale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Excellent news! I've always thought Atwood's strong suit was dystopian fiction. I'll have to look into this one.
I have never read a book by Atwood. Seeing as she'll probably be considered a classics author from our time period, I put one of her books on my 100 Books Project. Do you have a recommendation as to her best?
Diane, no problem!
Carrie K, I think she is Fabulous too! What an amazing mind!
Booklineandsinker, she's teriffic! I recommend her highly.
J.Danger, Nuts! Sorry to hear it! Don't worry, we'll leave a copy for when you're ready ;-)
Iliana, I know, I felt the same way!
Staci, THT is an amazing but terribly creepy book. Agreed.
Jena, I think so too - she's been doing more and more of it lately.
Bree, her best...The Blind Assassin is probably her best novel, Alias Grace is perhaps the most accessible and traditional, The Handmaid's Tale is a true classic and is not as long as the others...I'd probably say start with the 2nd or 3rd.
This sounds maybe too much like Oryx and Crake, don't you think? The gene-splicing, the devastated landscape, the catastrophe that wiped out most of the human race? I wonder how this will be different and present new ideas. Btw, for Bree, my absolute favorites are Cat's Eye and The Robber Bride.
Jenny, I agree. That was my first thought. But- knowing Atwood this will be somehow completely different. It sounds like your favorites are Atwood's more accessible books, no? I liked both - read The Robber Bride so along ago and should really revisit it.
Ooh, this one does sound good, and the cover is GORGEOUS! Very pretty indeed.
Having recently read The Handmaid's Tale I'll be looking to read more Atwood at some stage. This new one sounds unusual and very good.
Andi, yes, the cover is very cool!
Cath, it does sound so unusual! I hope you have more positive experiences with Atwood's writing.
Thanks for sharing this -- I hadn't seen anything about it, yet. I love Margaret Atwood!
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