The Windup Girl (2009) by Paolo Bacigalupi is a SF dystopian / biopunk novel. It’s set in Thailand in the 23rd-century, where powerful biotech corporations and global warning have created a ruthless new world and where humanoids like Emiko (the windup girl) are bred to be used like slaves by their owners. Dark and chilling, with pages of moving beauty, The Windup Girl has won a plethora of awards in 2010, as Nebula, Hugo and Locus (among others) for the best novel of the year.
Well, you had me at ‘biopunk’ – is it wrong that I want to read it just because of that description!
Also, ‘a plethora of awards’. not to mention ‘dark and chilling with pages of moving beauty’ – this may not be a long review but it certainly does the trick. Somebody just take my money!
Lynn 😀
Thanks Lynn – I have to say this author has been such a good surprise for me. I’ve really enjoyed this book, and if you like dystopias of a different kind of Hunger Games (which I’m afraid I’m unable to appreciate, for a series of reasons), you’re in for a treat.