July 2015 End of Month Discussion: Oryx and Crake

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LionesseRampant
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Alright, this is a tad bit late, but it's finally here! I know you were all chomping at the bit to get down and discuss this entire book. Spoiler warning if you haven't read it!



Question 1


The pre-catastrophic society in Oryx and Crake is fixated on physical perfection and longevity, much as our own society is. What is the irony of these quests, both within the novel and in our own society?


Question 2


If you had the chance to fabricate an improved human being, would you do it? If so, what features would you choose to incorporate? Why would these be better than what we've got? Your model must of course be biologically viable.



FAN ART



Question 3


How does Snowman's invented mythology of the world compare to Crake's attempts at genetically reformulating the world? What are some of the parallels between Snowman's creation of myth and Crake's creation of idealized life?



Question 4


In what ways does the dystopia of Oryx and Crake compare to those depicted in novels such as Brave New World, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and in Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale? What is the difference between speculative fiction—which Atwood claims to write—and science fiction proper?


ACTIVITY


There are a lot of really cool, and really gross, animal combinations in the book. Our challenge for you is to either draw one of these creatures that Atwood has already created, OR make up your own and tell us what the gene splicing would benefit, like how the wolvogs were developed to be predatory and help like reduce the glow-in-the-dark rabbit population. The drawing doesn't have to be perfect; if you wanted to, you could even do a photo-manipulation, as long as you source your stocks. Once you finish, link it here and it will go toward your point tally to win the prize!


PRIZES

Speaking of prizes, the winner from June's Book DOWN A DARK HALL, is vespera! Congratulations for being awesome! PinkyMcCoversong will contact you about the prizes soon!

This month our prize comes courtesy of St. Martin's/Thomas Dunne Books! Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by David Wong!


All you have to do to win is participate in the discussions in the middle and end of the month, reply to other people's comments, write reviews or fan fiction, draw fan art, or contribute to the activites! I'll be tallying up points and the person who contributes the most will win this month's prize!


Check out the rest of this year's books on the calendar and then go get started on the August Book: LOVE IS THE DRUG by Alaya Dawn Johnson!!


Skin by Dan Leveille
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QuentinZero's avatar
QuentinZero
Edited
1. I don't know, sorry
2. this kind of human will not feel need towards religion, will not be able to distinguish skin colour and gender. Because I think these are the three biggest causes of shit like war.
3. Omg I love the parts where snowman is talking bullshit and all the children of crake are just like of course xD. I think Crake was arrogant enough to see himself as a holy creator as snowman said. Also I thought the myths snowman created were really like christian church
4. I think science fiction is more like a wild fantasy and oryx and crake is like a pretty legit future?
okay so here are my animal combinations:
WIN 20150815 10 21 05 Pro by QUERYXX  WIN 20150815 10 21 18 Pro by QUERYXX  
I used plastic animals and switched their heads :D I think it looks really awesome. Toys were
bought at the toy shop.
These two are the hippopotiger and the tigramus, and were made by Crake as one of the first
prototypes. They were presented at freak shows and circuses after that, travelling through East Europe.
edit: I really feel like grunkle stan (Gravity Falls) with those plastic animals