The Windup Girl

Paolo Bacigalupi's debut novel The Windup Girl is a frightening, realistic and brilliant look at the near future of the world. Taking place in Thailand at some point in the future, Bacigalupi paints a picture of a world that is caught between several major problems: climate change has affected the lives of many people around the world, and in turn, has brought a rise in global agricultural corporations, and global energy resources have been depleted, forcing major changes in the way people live their lives, and how a world-wide economy functions with different resources. Corporations have run amok with trying to maintain their profit margins, and released a number of plagues upon the world that devastated the planet's ecology upon which we all depend, and because of their actions, remain just a single step ahead of the latest mutation of blister rust and other assorted plagues. Thailand is a country that has thus far weathered the storm - the Royal government has maintained a fierce isolationist policy to keep the country from succumbing. As a result, Thailand has a precious resource that western companies desperately want: a genebank, containing thousands of new strains of crops that could be utilized to combat the ongoing struggle against plagues and hunger world-wide.

The story follows several discrete storylines and characters, each with their own motivations and demons. Anderson is a `calorie man', a westerner who ostensibly manages a factory that manufactures kink-springs, a renewable power source. Jaidee is a member of the Environmental Ministry, tasked with maintaining a barrier between Thailand and the rest of the world and the dangers that it poses. Emiko is a windup, a genetically engineered woman, designed by the Japanese for servitude and for sex, who has been abandoned in Thailand and fears that she will be mulched (killed and burned for energy). In addition to these main characters, there are a number of other background characters who are just as complex as their counterparts. In a nut-shell, Anderson has come to Thailand on the behalf of a major Agricorporation that is hoping to gain a foothold in the country in order to obtain rights to the country's gene banks. While he is ostensibly looking for ways to combat the plagues, Thailand officials believe that the corporations have far more sinister and selfish motivations for the gene banks. While in the country, he has to walk a narrow line to stay in the country, as the Environmental Ministry intends to keep Thailand free.

Captain Jaidee is a leading member of the Environmental Ministry, and throughout the book, it is clear that the country is not necessarily unified in its position to remain away from the rest of the world. Limited trade and imports occur through the actions of the Trade Ministry, which is at frightening odds with the Environmental Ministry, to the point where open bloodshed and crimes are committed on both sides to try and force their position upon the rest of the country, which eventually interrupts into violence, which helps to push forward some of the plans that Anderson and others have laid to gain more traction into the country.

Emiko's titular character is somewhere between the various storylines. As an artificial biological construct, she is a representation of what is wrong with the outside world in the eyes of a secular nation that believes heavily in the value of one's soul and rebirth. To the Thai people, she is a soulless being, one who is against nature, and essentially lumped in with the problems of the world. Thus, Emiko, who is unsuited for Thailand's climate with reduced pores (she overheats easily) and a body structure that makes her stutter while moving, which makes her a literal odd woman out, and thus a target to the Environmental Ministry (also known as White Shirts for their uniform) who see her as a threat to the country's independence.

Futuristic worlds are a common element in Science Fiction, but it is very rare to have one that is so deeply realized as Bacugalupi's Thailand, one that takes the current state of existence for the country and extrapolates into the future with hypothetical events. The portrait that he paints of the world is very scary indeed, and the constructed world has reacted accordingly though a number of levels. What makes this novel so interesting is just how everything fits together. There are economic elements that make sense, social, biological and political, all of which are not mere exposition in a prologue in the novel, but where they are an active part of the storyline. This, in a way is one of the best examples of show, don't tell, a writing exercise that I remember from creative writing courses. What is even better (or sobering, depending on how you look at it), this world makes sense. I can see major corporations putting profit ahead of common sense, and I can see the world going to hell in much more vivid detail now. Furthermore, Bacugalupi posits the power struggle between various departments of government, each with their own agendas and motives, both at odds with one another, which trails up through to the very end of the book.

There's a strong look at morality and ethics when it comes to bioengineering and the eventual fate of the species, and how our role fits within a society such as what we see in the future. Emiko, a Windup, is shunned, hated, in reaction to what she was, and what she represented: something highly unnatural. By the same token, there are holes in that sort of feeling, as one character confronts towards the end of the novel. One thing that particularly stuck in my mind was how much of evolution is an unnatural, random occurrence, verses how much of it is conscious decisions that any sort of creature makes that better enhances their chances of survival? In this world, survival is predicated on the work of gene rippers and scientists who remain just a couple of steps against plagues - it is noted that the windups are built for a purpose, and that they are immune to most problems in the world because of their unique design. Like the clashes in the Thailand government, there is a larger struggle at stake, survival, with both sides making valid arguments for their continued existence. In a sense, this story is a look at how the human race might choose to survive, and enter a new stage of development. To me, this is a very profound element to the story.

When all is said and done, there is one big theme that goes through and through with this book: survival. Each element of the book deals with this very issue, from the ultimate survival of the human race in a hostile world, to the immediate survival of several characters who are neck deep in political and economic conspiracy to the various branches of government who want to see their vision of the future for their country to survive the coming turmoil.

What truly stands out for this book is the rich detail and fantastic prose. I've purposely taken my time with this book so that I could absorb as much as I could. What Bacugalupi puts together is a superior story, one of the best science fiction novels that I have read in a long time, one that takes the best from well thought out characters, plausible economics and science and a complicated story.

(Originally posted to my blog)

This is book #57 in my quest to read every Hugo-winning novel (it's the 2010 winner), and it's probably going to make it into my list of top-ten favorite Hugos. I absolutely LOVED it! As a near-future dystopian commentary on current world affairs with a hefty dose of smart sci-fi (it's apparently a masterwork in the Biopunk subgenre), it scratches the same itch as other all-time favorite books (e.g., World War Z, Red Mars) with the same vibe. Here are my thoughts:

*Brief Synopsis: About two hundred years in the future, the efforts of corporate conglomerates specializing in genetically-engineered food ("Calorie Companies", based in Des Moines) result in terrifying diseases that wipe out the global food supply. Coupled with the effects of global warming, these blights cause a "Contraction" that topple multiple world governments (e.g., the U.S., the EU, and the PRC) and re-establish an age of protectionism in surviving nations. Set entirely in a futuristic Bangkok enriched by a secret seedbank and besieged by rising sea levels constantly threatening to drown the city, this novel details the warring interests of Thailand's ascendant Trade Ministry (and the Calorie Companies desire to break down protectionist barriers) and its less popular Environment Ministry. Anderson Lake, a Calorie Company agent posing as a foreign businessman, wants to leverage his company's militarized resources to access Thailand's seedbank. Hock Seng, Lake's secretary and victim of a Malaysian genocide against the ethnic Chinese diaspora, wants to get back on his feet and reclaim his shipping empire. Captain Jaidee Rojjanasukchai unswervingly pursues his white-knight quest to uphold trade barriers that hold foreign diseases at bay. Kanya Chirathivat, Jaidee's lieutenant, navigates her split loyalties between both powerful ministries. And in their midst a Japanese-manufactured genetically-altered woman named Emiko ("The Windup Girl") seeks to avoid the Environment Ministry (intent on "mulching" her) and break free of her master-pleasing conditioning to find a place where she can live free.

*Unbelievable Worldbuilding: Bacigalupi's glimpse into the 23rd century is so fleshed-out that it's almost tangible. Offhand references to obviously world-changing events abound, like the destruction of Finland's seedbank, the drowning of New York and other global capitals, territory disputes between Southeast Asian nations, the religiously-inspired genocide of the ethnic Chinese, the rise of a "Grahamite"/luddite Christianity, the laboratory creation of new species like "chesires" that wiped out domestic cat populations, and so much more. And this is to say nothing of the highly-involved internecine conflicts taking place within Bangkok itself, with power players including the Palace, the Environment & Trade Ministries, foreign companies, and local crime rulers such as "The Dung Lord." And the rich cultural and religious underpinnings of the book are also strong; there's a particularly cool emphasis on ghosts "phii" that haunt Bangkok's streets, and I love the temples and shrines at the heart of the Environment Ministry's power. I simply couldn't get over the layers upon layers of the book--its world building is absolutely top-tier.

*Strong Intrigue & Palace Politics: I touched on this a little already, but the backroom deals, coup attempts, power plays, hidden weapons caches, sabotage operations, etc. all came together very nicely. The strong political element, combined with the biotech underpinnings, made the book kind of came across as a mix between "Jurassic Park", "Gattaca", and "Game of Thrones." The multiple falls from grace and subsequent resurgence of "face" (especially for Jaidee and the Environment Ministry) keep the plot unpredictable right up to the very last chapter (and, no spoilers here, but what a last chapter it is)!! ("The symbol for the Environment Ministry is the eye of a tortoise, for the long view--the understanding that nothing comes cheap or quickly without a hidden cost.")

*Great Sci-Fi Elements: Along with the politics, this book has science fiction at its core. I get where the word "biopunk" comes from after having read it. Some great elements include: -The world fell because of greedy corporations' genetic tampering that limited each batch of grain to a single use before more would need to be purchased. -Geneticists create entirely new creatures like the aforementioned "chesires", mammoth-like "megodonts", engineered pollinators, and (of course) "windup" humans themselves. -The Contraction's overuse of fossil fuels led toan interesting shift to manual labor (e.g., human-operated radios, computers, elevators, and fans; megodont-powered factory equipment; "kinkspring" generators that store up joules of energy; a return to sailing ships, etc.) -The raging diseases wiped out much of the world's genetic diversity, causing Anderson to marvel over the resurrection of previously-extinct specimens like Thailand's Ngaw fruit. ("Anderson briefly wishes that he could... express his rage at (Expansion humanity) directly, tossing them off his balcony the way they undoubtedly tossed aside fruit that was even the slightest bit bruised. ... (They) had no idea that they (stood) in the front of the treasure of the ages, that they inhabit(ed) the (Garden of) Eden."

*Tight Cast of Central Characters: Bacigalupi avoids the trap of character saturation that so many far-reaching political sci-fi stories fall into. Rather, he presents all fifty chapters through the eyes of his five principal characters (Anderson, Jaidee, Hock Seng, Kanya, and Emiko) and thus gives us a small cast of characters to really care about. All five of them are compelling in their own way; Jaidee and Kanya are both strong hero figures, though I think Anderson's layered intrigues make him particularly cool. It's hard to deny, though, that the egocentric and diabolical Gibbons is probably the most compelling character in the whole book--his appearances are brief but lastingly chilling. ("A fierce intellect. A man who reached the pinnacle of his field. A jealous and competitive man. A man who found his competition too lacking, and so switched sides and joined the Thai Kingdom for the stimulation it might provide. ... We rest in the hands of a fickle god. He plays on our behalf only for entertainment, and he will close his eyes and sleep if we fail to engage his intellect.")

I positively LOVED this book. I highlighted MUCH more of it than I can possibly represent here, effectively discovering that I enjoyed it cover-to-cover. It's a masterpiece of science fiction; I'll read it again and recommend it to many!

The Windup Girl is a captivating story of humanity's struggles in a genetically engineered and corporatized post-oil future.

I am reluctant to write a review of a novel that has hundreds of reviews on Amazon, but I have enjoyed Bacigalupi's "The Windup Girl" so much that I compelled to write. I am also mildly dismayed by the critical reviews of this book; even the harshest reviewers concede praise, but ultimately miss the point, wanting this novel to be something that it isn't (and I'm glad it's not.) This novel challenges the reader not just to imagine, but to think critically about what could happen when humans aren't the center of the universe.

First, this novel completely and utterly captures my imagination. It succeeds on so many levels, most notably a deep thread of moral concern set in against an otherworldly backdrop of a future Thailand where safe calories are hard to come by. The characters are beset by an oppressive environment of tropical heat, genetically-engineered plagues, threatening government officials, greedy corporations and even a rogue mad scientist of genetic engineering. The eponymous character, a genetically engineered quasi-human, is an admixture of subservience and fierce will; she is pivotal to the plot development even though much of the novel does not concern her directly. Bacigalupi's anxiety-provoking prose paints a fantastically vibrant world; each paragraph seems to be written to capture the jaded audiences of modern movies. You can pick this book up and read just about any paragraph and be instantly sucked into the world.

The plot of "The Windup Girl" is good, but admittedly it's not great. To be great, Bacigalupi would have to have written a Victor Hugo-esque confluence of plot elements near the end, resulting in nothing less than a spectacular triumph of a novel. With "The Windup Girl" it doesn't matter that the plot isn't stellar. There is plenty happening in a large story arc that involves every one of the highly memorable characters. The plot is moved forward by each of the character's experiences, which are woven into a big picture that has a few broad heaves back and forth, but nothing stunning. In fact, some of the most potentially shocking plot developments are not dwelled upon, and I think this is done on purpose by the author. For example, readers have complained about a descriptive sex scene and in their next breath complained about a lack of description of the ensuing mass murder scene. It's pretty clear the author wants to emphasize some elements over others. Another multiple Hugo and Nebula-award winning author is known for doing this exact same thing, so if the sparse description of violence doesn't fit present cultural norms that accept violence over sex, the reader might consider this further with some critical thinking.

The primary characters are spectacularly formed the moment they hit the page; but as their stories progress, there is merely minor character development going on; the characters desperately try to cling onto their lives and their souls. In a pressure cooker of a world, they are battling their doubts and weaknesses without undergoing massive character development. Honestly this gives the book a great sense of realism; it's almost as if the characters are pawns in a grand sweep of evolution. What Bacigalupi's characters may lack in personal development is more than made up for by the variety of their background cultures, personalities and motivations. Some are driven by greed, others by fear or doubts. The Windup Girl herself simply tries to stay alive from one day to the next, and that's before things get bad. The renegade scientist, Gibson, is a fantastic character sketch of an exquisitely amoral genius. His conversation with Kanya is highly reminiscent of the conversations between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling from "Silence of the Lambs." Ironically, the greatest hints of humanity in the novel come from the non-human, including not just Emiko, the primary windup, but also the pitiful death of a Megodont and the arresting realizations of a secondary windup girl before her corporate master. In this regard, the novel greatly resembles the movie "Blade Runner."

In the end, "The Windup Girl" is a thinking person's novel set in a richly imagined dystopian future. The dizzying array of religious and cultural symbols along with the biological and technical inventions and the implications of how they got there and what they mean for the present and the future are amazing. The circumstances surrounding the plot developments are something the reader will have to use her imagination to devise. In short, the reader is spared hundreds of pages of being hand-held through the obvious requirements and inevitable consequences around the plot. The second half of the book is much lighter on detail than the first. This could be the result of hurried writing, overzealous editor demands, or perhaps the author held back details, especially concerning Kanya's character, that could be fleshed out in a sequel. Regardless, "The Windup Girl" is a novel of ideas with the main character coming face-to-face with her maker and struggling against unique, yet all-too-familiar, bonds that hold back humanity.

Great science fiction. No space ships. No swords. Just brilliant creativity. Intriguing plot that never ends. Superb characters. Minor characters explored in-depth. Major characters rich with flaws and humanity. Delightful violence. This book, without ridicule or adulation, delves respectfully into the thinking and worship of the devout. It imagines a future that becomes terrifyingly more plausible with each passing day. It explores racism and bigotry with a light touch and deft hand, showing how it feels for both the haters and the hated. It seamlessly ties in sex with the plot and without preaching depicts how sexual abuse brings out the worst in even the gentlest among us. It is a wonderful to read on a phone with eKindle because search engines are just a tap away to learn the meaning of the Thai phrases. And by all means do look them up. This book paints pictures, plays sounds, brews aromas and constructs a world that the reader can see, hear, smell and touch. Each word matters. Highlight, annotate, take notes. Enjoy the rich texture of this book. It will leave you smiling like a cheshire cat.