The Year of the Flood
Encyclopedia
The Year of the Flood is a novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood
, released on September 22, 2009 in the United States, and September 7, 2009, in the United Kingdom. The novel was mentioned in numerous newspaper review articles looking forward to notable fiction of 2009.
The book focuses on a group called God's Gardeners, a small community of survivors of the same environmental catastrophe depicted in Atwood's earlier novel Oryx and Crake
. The earlier novel contained several brief references to the group.
It answers some of the questions of Oryx and Crake
and reveals the identity of the three real human figures who appear at the end of the earlier book.
performances of 14 religious hymn
s that appear in the book.
, who paid $7,000 at a benefit for the magazine The Walrus
.
commented that "Margaret Atwood is genuinely inventive, rather than merely clever".
In 2010, the novel was longlisted as a candidate for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
. and shortlisted for the 2010 Trillium Book Award
.
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
, released on September 22, 2009 in the United States, and September 7, 2009, in the United Kingdom. The novel was mentioned in numerous newspaper review articles looking forward to notable fiction of 2009.
The book focuses on a group called God's Gardeners, a small community of survivors of the same environmental catastrophe depicted in Atwood's earlier novel Oryx and Crake
Oryx and Crake
Oryx and Crake is a novel by the Canadian author Margaret Atwood. Atwood has at times disputed the novel being science fiction, preferring to label it speculative fiction and "adventure romance" because it does not deal with 'things that have not been invented yet' and goes beyond the realism she...
. The earlier novel contained several brief references to the group.
It answers some of the questions of Oryx and Crake
Oryx and Crake
Oryx and Crake is a novel by the Canadian author Margaret Atwood. Atwood has at times disputed the novel being science fiction, preferring to label it speculative fiction and "adventure romance" because it does not deal with 'things that have not been invented yet' and goes beyond the realism she...
and reveals the identity of the three real human figures who appear at the end of the earlier book.
Main characters
- Ren, a trapeze dancer who works at the sex club Scales and Tails, who survives the plague by being isolated in the club's biohazard containment chamber. She previously dated Jimmy (Snowman) in school.
- Toby, a God's Gardener who goes into hiding to escape a dangerous stalker, by working in a high-end spa.
Promotion
Atwood's tour to promote the book included choralChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
performances of 14 religious hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s that appear in the book.
Naming rights
For both Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood, Atwood donated naming rights to characters in the novel to charity auctions. One of the winning bidders was journalist Rebecca EcklerRebecca Eckler
-Journalism career:Eckler's work has appeared in ELLE, Fashion, Maclean's, Lifestyles, Canadian House and Home and Mademoiselle. She was the host of the short-lived television show Modern Manners, and has appeared on CTV and CBC television, and on Global television as a reporter.Eckler was employed...
, who paid $7,000 at a benefit for the magazine The Walrus
The Walrus
The Walrus is a Canadian general interest magazine which publishes long form journalism on Canadian and international affairs, along with fiction and poetry by Canadian writers. It launched in September 2003, as an attempt to create a Canadian equivalent to American magazines such as Harper's, The...
.
Reception
The novel was generally well-received; reviewers noted that while the plot was sometimes chaotic, the novel's imperfections meshed well with the flawed reality the book was trying to reflect. The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
commented that "Margaret Atwood is genuinely inventive, rather than merely clever".
In 2010, the novel was longlisted as a candidate for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
. and shortlisted for the 2010 Trillium Book Award
Trillium Book Award
The Trillium Award is given annually by the government of the Province of Ontario and is open to books in any genre: fiction, non-fiction, drama, children's books, and poetry. Anthologies, new editions, re-issues and translations are not eligible. Three jury members per language judge the...
.