![]() ![]() And genre writing, despite its many pleasures-thrilling plots, the satisfaction of seeing battles of ideas (in sci fi) or battles of wits (in mysteries) played out-is constrained by its conventions. I want utterly convincing writing that immerses me in an experience, delivering unexpected truths. While I spent my high school years devouring visionary futuristic works by Hugo- and Nebula-award winning authors, I’m a literary nerd now. Not that I geek out much these days on science fiction (or “speculative fiction,” the term Atwood prefers). Begun in 2003 with Oryx and Crake (shortlisted for the Booker Prize) and continued with 2009’s acclaimed The Year of the Flood, this saga had already hooked me with its portrayal of life before and after a bioengineered plague destroys most of humanity. Which is why I savored the rare sense of excitement that gripped me as I opened up MaddAddam, the final volume in the recently concluded dystopian trilogy by Margaret Atwood. Unlike genre stories, literary novels seldom end with an implied “to be continued.” ![]() Extraordinary novels of the sort that garner nominations for the Booker Prize and its ilk are typically one-offs. ![]() ![]() While literary fiction offers many pleasures, its readers don't usually get to experience this one: the joy of pouncing on the next book in a much-loved series. ![]()
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