More of the Same

Lydmouth is still trapped in the aspic of the 1950s with its dramas exaggerated. Much the same plot as the previous one in the series (and the same main characters of course - with the Dean replaced by the Actor).

A competent mystery with two or three distractions away from the main whodunit providing other possible suspects. Actually the final twist was a bit unexpected - patricide when it was not confirmed exactly what the relationship was until very near the end. Still ultimately uninteresting.

Somewhat Disturbing

What could possibly go wrong (with genetic engineering). Interestingly the virus/pandemic that actually wiped out the human population (aside from Jimmy/Snowman perhaps) was a deliberate act by Crake taking it upon himself to play god (from the best possible rational motives). How does this relate to our recent/current experiences with mass vaccination and a rising excess death rate - we will find out.

The story is quite compelling, starting in the (storyline) present and exploring what went wrong through Snowman's dreams and memories of life before the event horizon. In litearal terms it is a somewhat unllikely tale (and since it was written in 2003 things aren'tturning out quite like that) but in liiterary terms as a metaphor  for what is actually happening it is a bit disturbing. 

The figure of the lone survivor trying to make sense of it all is as clear as the example of Pete Postlethwaite in Age of Stupid - in both cases because we can imagine that waypoint doesn't mean that it is inevitable, but in both cases it is compelling because it is a believable extrapolation from what we see aroud us.

Overal it was better than The Handmaiden's Tale as a read - maybe because it was easier to identify with the lead character. The ambiguity at the end (did he pul the trigger) is enough to make me likely to read the next in the trilogy.