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lisawhelpley's review
3.0
I enjoy all of Atwood's work. Such clear ideas & unique thoughts and style. Perfect that the ending surprised me and had me wishing for more.
margyly's review
4.0
This novela (a Kindle Single) is another of Atwood’s dytopias, based on the premise that economic issues could be solved by employing everyone as prison guards, with the guards taking turns as prisoners. She’s a wonderful writer, so even though the premise is thin, it was a fun read.
andrea_c's review
4.0
Very much reminded me of a JG Ballard short story, particularly the Twilight Zone-esque ending.
I'm not sure the colour of lipstick on the Byliner cover is the right shade (could always be my monitor of course). I only noticed because Atwood went to such effort describing the specific hue.
I'm not sure the colour of lipstick on the Byliner cover is the right shade (could always be my monitor of course). I only noticed because Atwood went to such effort describing the specific hue.
ivanssister's review
4.0
I could have read a book-length version of this. As it was, I felt the ending was rather abrupt. MOAR, MARGARET!
beentsy's review
4.0
I love it when Atwood does dystopian fiction. She's just really good at it. The little nuances of and details of what it means to be human even when everything is falling apart. This first volume in the serial has laid the groundwork, it will be interesting to see what happens in the next two installments.
trudilibrarian's review
3.0
Ah Ms. Atwood. We meet again. You and I haven't been getting along so well of late. [b:The Blind Assassin|78433|The Blind Assassin|Margaret Atwood|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327876197s/78433.jpg|3246409]? [b:Oryx and Crake|46756|Oryx and Crake|Margaret Atwood|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327896599s/46756.jpg|3143431]? I tried to love them but it was not meant to be. But here we are. At last you've given me a tantalizing premise that I just can't walk away from. A dark future? Yes please. A sinister dystopian landscape dressed in idealistic utopian clothing? Tell me more!
To sweeten the deal a little further, this is the first installment of a bona fide serial experiment on Atwood's part. The novel is Positron and it is being released serially exclusively in ebook format. Click here for more information.
While this first installment is short and sweet and only begins to hint at sinister shenanigans, I'm hooked already and will be sticking around for the duration. What I love about any well-constructed dystopia, is its construction. The devil is in the details. I love a slow reveal. I want a bit of foreplay. But then you had better be able to deliver on what you're promising!
I figure at this point in her writing career, I'm in good hands with Atwood and this crazy vision for the future she's concocted. I'm ready to go along for the ride anyway. I respect her tremendously as an author despite some painful misses, and [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185] has a permanent spot on my all-star team of favorites. Dystopias are my crystal meth, and Atwood's classic tale about reproductive rights is 'the blue stuff' -- Heisenberg grade if you kennit.
So far we have a kinky story going on that seems more lustful than outright unnerving and paranoid. But already I'm getting Stepford vibes that something is rotten in the the state of Consilience. Oh my my, Ms. Atwood, what do you have up your sleeve?