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Description
With the same stunning blend of prophecy and social satire she brought to her classic The Handmaid’s Tale , Margaret Atwood gives us a keenly prescient novel about the future of humanity—and its present. Humanity here equals Snowman, and in Snowman’s recollections Atwood re-creates a time... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis
Cast of Characters/Important People
- Jimmy the Snowman: The novel's narrator, Jimmy is apparently the only human survivor of an unknown disaster that devastated the world. In this post-apocalyptic world, Jimmy cares for a childlike herbivorous humanoid species that he calls the "Crakers." Through a series of flashbacks, the reader learns more about who Jimmy was before the end of the world, and how this disaster came about.
- Crake: Jimmy's best friend growing up. His real name is Glenn. "Crake" is an epithet taken from one of the boys' favorite computer games, "Extinctathon." Crake becomes a brilliant scientist.
- Oryx: An Asian woman who resembles a child seen by Jimmy and Crake on a child pornography site. Crake is so haunted by the image of the child that he later locates Oryx, who may or may not be the same person.
Memorable Quotes
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“"What pays for all this?" he asked Crake, as they passed the state-of-the-art Luxuries Mall - marble everywhere, colonnades, cafes, ferns, takeout booths, roller-skating path, juice bars, a self energizing gym where running on the treadmill kept the light bulbs going, Roman-look fountains with nymphs and sea-gods. "Grief in the face of inevitable death," said Crake. "The wish to stop time. The human condition." Which was not very informative, said Jimmy. "You'll see," said Crake.”
First Sentence
Snowman wakes before dawn.
Table of Contents
Authors & Contributors
- Margaret Atwood (Author)
Awards
- Man Booker Prize (Finalist, 2003)
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