The Windup Girl

Finally I have read a fairly current novel! Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl, has received quite a lot of acclaim, including being on several “best of 2009” lists. I have been somewhat stuck in series reading of late, and it was pleasant to find myself in a totally new setting and reading a new voice. Especially when the setting and the voice are as good as this.

The Windup Girl takes place sometime in the future. My guess is probably in the range of 100 to 200 years from now, although it is hard to pin it down as there are only vague historical references, and those tend to be to events which have not yet happened. The location is Thailand, one of the few nations to have not fallen prey to the “calorie companies.”

This is a post-apocalyptic story, but the apocalypse was entirely different than any other I have encountered. In short, humanity continued on its current course until fossil fuels were exhausted, and did not find a replacement source of energy before the end. On top of that, corporations began genetically engineering fruits and grains that would only allow for limited growth, before a whole new stock had to be purchased.

As a side effect, food related plagues have sprung up, some engineered and some accidental. Now people exist on short rations, in fear of what eating might infect them with, and with little to no variation in their diet. As the novel begins, an undercover “calorie man” has just discovered a new fruit in the Thai street markets.

Along with genetic manipulation of foodstuffs, scientists have also engineered different creatures such as “chesires” (a bread of cat that can basically become invisible) and megodaunts (some alteration of an elephant that makes it better suited for labor). The titular character, Emiko, is one such genetically “enhanced” person. Known as a New Person (of which there are variations) this particular person was bred by the Japanese for subservience, functionality as a secretary/translator, and of course as a sex toy. The “windup” moniker comes from the fact that her movements are herky jerky, most likely a trait added to forever mark her as other.

Plot wise this is a top notch novel. At no point in the story was there a predictable twist or turn, and there were plenty of those to be had. So many characters are key to the story, that until the very end the reader doesn’t really know who, other than the windup girl, are really the main characters. Even Emiko seems like just a bit player through most of the narrative.

Thematically this novel is very dark, which one could readily guess from its post-apocalyptic nature. Don’t set out reading and expect to feel happy at the end. You can, however, expect a sense of fulfillment and despite the darker moments in the narrative there is still some hope at the end. The one part of the novel that troubles me is the debasement of Emiko. She is used as entertainment at a whore house, wherein one of the other girls truly enjoys inflict pain and emotional trauma upon her before an audience. This is key to the novel, and I don’t have a problem with its use as a plot point, but it is just sad to me that things like this can and do happen.

That being said it points to a major theme in the novel, that of people continually preying on the perceived weaknesses of those around them. This is the central issue around which the entire plot revolves. There were many ways this novel could have gone, and most of those would have been brilliant right up until the end. Thankfully Bacigalupi managed to find the one ending that did not betray the rest of the story. This is truly one of the best novels of 2009, and well worth reading. I give it a 4.75/5.

Just a note: io9's Book Club discussion for the month is on the Windup Girl. Paolo Bacigalupi will be joining the discussion Friday 2/26/10!