Book Review: The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but you have to admit, a beautiful and evocative cover can do a lot to build up your expectations about the contents. And Paulo Bacigalupi's Nebula award-winning book gives you exactly what it promises on the cover: slums and high towers in Krung Thep (Bangkok), where the end of the petroleum age means long-distance travel is now by clipper ship or dirigible, and power is generated by manually-wound "kink-springs," which is where the giant mutant elephants come in.

( My review of The Windup Girl )

My verdict: this is one that deserves the buzz. It's an impressive debut novel, and a can't-miss for anyone who likes dystopian sci-fi.

Book Review: The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but you have to admit, a beautiful and evocative cover can do a lot to build up your expectations about the contents. And Paulo Bacigalupi's Nebula award-winning book gives you exactly what it promises on the cover: slums and high towers in Krung Thep (Bangkok), where the end of the petroleum age means long-distance travel is now by clipper ship or dirigible, and power is generated by manually-wound "kink-springs," which is where the giant mutant elephants come in.

( My review of The Windup Girl )

My verdict: this is one that deserves the buzz. It's an impressive debut novel, and a can't-miss for anyone who likes dystopian sci-fi.