359 pages
English language
Published Aug. 17, 2009
The Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel by American writer Paolo Bacigalupi. It was his debut novel and was published by Night Shade Books on September 1, 2009. The novel is set in a future Thailand and covers a number of contemporary issues such as global warming and biotechnology. The Windup Girl was named as the ninth best fiction book of 2009 by TIME magazine. It won the 2010 Nebula Award and the 2010 Hugo Award (tied with The City & the City by China Miéville), both for best novel. The book also won the 2010 Campbell Memorial Award, the 2010 Compton Crook Award and the 2010 Locus Award for best first novel.
I heard about this book on a podcast over a decade ago, bought it, and it sat on my bookshelf all this time. Worth the wait, but I do wish I'd read it sooner. While it took time for me to adjust to the style and the occasional Thai or Chinese words, I thought this book to be a modern masterpiece. And, in its final chapters, pretty f'ing cinematic. TV Series, perhaps?
This is a difficult book. Very difficult. That makes it all the more worthwhile to read.
Dystopian? Check.
Cyberpunk? Check.
Threatening? Check.
This book is loaded with genetics, manipulation, history, views and visions, hopes, dreams... you name it and I probably found it somewhere.
All of this and also the background of each character is intriguing and takes you on a trip through a Bangkok you've never seen before. I think that's a good thing, although having a peek at a Megodont would be amazing. It's difficult to say much about this book without giving things away. If you like a peek into our possible future you need to read this. Again, it's not an easy book if you really read it.
