Margeret Atwood "The Handmaid's Tale"

Not the title I was recommended, but one I found nevertheless. This work of science fiction is a really classic example of the genre. Along the lines of create a different world, in this case the USA of the future ruled by some kind of male dominated theocracy similar to, but worse, than present day Iran, and explore what it means.  In a society like ours, where the last hundred years have seen a massive step forward in terms of rights for women, racial minorities, homosexuals and just about everyone except for perhaps body odor challenged polygamists, it takes an extreme example to get your attention, and that is what Atwood manages to do with this novel.

The book postulates an extreme society in which the presence of disease and infertility has led to the worse kinds of behavior by the men of the ruling classes.  Fertile women are enslaved and forced to provide children for the elite childless males.  The justification for the seizure of power, the denial of rights and the oppression of pretty much everyone is religion.

What makes the book interesting is the depth of the character development.  You learn a lot about the unnamed woman who is the handmaid of the title, and a lot about the depths that people will go to when it comes to justifying the hunger for power.  In some ways it was maybe a bit wordy when compared to other writers in the genre.  Atwood has essentially taken a common approach of literature that is rarely used in science fiction and applied it to a science fiction theme, so it is a bit different.  You could compare it directly to another novel along similar lines by Heinlein, "Revolt in 2100".  Heinlein has a similar theocracy ruled America, but packs in a lot more action. The difference in styles is remarkable, but both are well worth a read.

I enjoyed my first foray into this talented Canadians work and look forward to reading more of her works.

I look forward to reading more by Margaret Atwood!