Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam masterfully concludes her dystopian trilogy with rich character development and dark humor. The novel's intricate plot and inventive language are praised, though some critics find its pacing uneven and secondary storylines occasionally overshadowing main narratives. Overall, it’s a compelling, thought-provoking read.

Readers who revel in dystopian and speculative fiction, such as in George Orwell's 1984 or Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, will find Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam captivating. The novel's intricate blend of science fiction, environmentalism, and social critique appeals to those who appreciate complex narratives and philosophical themes.

MaddAddam follows the intertwined lives of Toby and Zeb as they navigate post-apocalyptic survival alongside the bioengineered Crakers and face threats from both the environment and violent Painballers. The survivors work to protect their camp and negotiate peace with genetically altered animals while expanding the Craker mythology. Sensitive topics depicted include violence and sexual assault.

Mysterious / Contemplative / Dark / Fantastical / Bittersweet

- MaddAddam is the third book in Margaret Atwood’s acclaimed dystopian series known as the "MaddAddam Trilogy," which includes Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood.
- The novel's title, MaddAddam, is a palindrome, meaning it reads the same forward and backward, reflecting the intricate and cyclical nature of the narrative.
- Atwood came up with several key ideas for the MaddAddam Trilogy while participating in bird-watching, highlighting her fascination with environmental themes and organisms.

**Toby**  
Toby is the primary protagonist and narrator, with a strong, kind, and authoritative presence, originally from the pleeblands, who finds a home with the God's Gardeners and learns about herbal medicine and survival.

**Zeb**  
Zeb is a resilient and mysterious leader with a complex past, known for his humor and bravery, having lived with the God's Gardeners and later assuming a role of leadership among the survivors.

**Ren**  
Ren is a caring and talented trapeze dancer and sex worker who grew up in both the compounds and with the God's Gardeners, maintaining a strong bond with her friend Amanda.

**Amanda**  
Amanda is a strong and protective pleebrat who lived with the God's Gardeners and experiences significant trauma but remains a steadfast friend to Ren.

**Jimmy/Snowman/Snowman-the-Jimmy**  
Jimmy is the protagonist from the first book and plays a crucial but often unconscious role, known for surviving due to his friendship with Crake and taking on the responsibility of caring for the Crakers.

**Blackbeard**  
Blackbeard is a young and inquisitive Craker who learns to write from Toby and becomes a bridge between Crakers and humans, eventually taking over the role of storyteller.

**Swift Fox**  
Swift Fox is a confident and attractive former geneticist whose bold personality and interactions with Zeb and others adds to the group's dynamics.

**Adam/Adam One**  
Adam is the founder of the God's Gardeners, known for his wisdom and leadership, with a mysterious and protective relationship with Zeb.

**Katrina Wu/WooWoo**  
Katrina Wu is connected to the sex work industry and is a significant figure for Adam, being the founder of Scales and Tails.

**The Rev**  
The Rev is the abusive father figure to Adam and Zeb, known for his role as a corrupt preacher and leader of the Church of PetrOleum.

**Rebecca**  
Rebecca is known for her culinary skills with the God's Gardeners and the survivors, having served as both a protector and provider.

**Lotis Blue/Wakulla Price**  
Lotis Blue, also known as Wakulla Price, is a supportive member of the MaddAddamites with connections to Jimmy's past and is known for her friendship with Ren and Amanda.

**Glenn/Crake**  
Crake is an influential figure who, though deceased, remains central to the plot for creating the Crakers and the events leading up to the survivors' situation.

**Oryx**  
Oryx is a mysterious figure linked to Crake and Jimmy and holds an iconic status among the Crakers as a part of their creation mythology.

**Ivory Bill**  
Ivory Bill is a MaddAddamite characterized by his intellectual discussions on genetics and environment, and his interactions with other survivors.

Margaret Atwood

Adult

Novel

MaddAddam Trilogy

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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content

Overview

Get ready to explore MaddAddam and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

MaddAddam Summary and Study Guide

Background

MaddAddam Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Egg”-Part 3: “Cobb House” 

Part 1, Chapter 1-Part 3, Chapter 9

MaddAddam Part 1, Chapter 1-Part 3, Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “Bearlift”-Part 6: “Zeb in the Dark”

Part 4, Chapter 10-Part 6, Chapter 25

MaddAddam Part 4, Chapter 10-Part 6, Chapter 25 Summary & Analysis

Part 7: “Snowman’s Progress”-Part 9: “Bone Cave”

Part 7, Chapter 26-Part 9, Chapter 40

MaddAddam Part 7, Chapter 26-Part 9, Chapter 40 Summary & Analysis

Part 10: “Vector”-Part 12: “The Train to CryoJeenyus”

Part 10, Chapter 41-Part 12, Chapter 58

MaddAddam Part 10, Chapter 41-Part 12, Chapter 58 Summary & Analysis

Part 13: “Eggshell”-Part 15: “Book”

Part 13, Chapter 59-Part 15, Chapter 67

MaddAddam Part 13, Chapter 59-Part 15, Chapter 67 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

MaddAddam Character Analysis

theme

Themes

MaddAddam Themes

Symbols & Motifs

MaddAddam Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

MaddAddam Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

MaddAddam Essay Topics

MaddAddam

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read MaddAddam?

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