Dueling Review: The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (Dual Review with DSB)

Title: The Windup Girl Author: Paolo Bacigalupi Format: TC Available Formats: TC, Audio Download Page Count: 359 Genre: Science Fiction Publisher: Night Shade Books Pub. Date: September 15, 2009 ISBN-13: 9781597801577 Series: Stand Alone

Dual Review With:
I was very lucky to get the chance to work with Rebecca of Dirty Sexy Books (DSB) on this review. I've been following her blog for awhile now pretty faithfully. Rebecca reads a wide variety of books from science fiction to romance to fantasy and always has some interesting things to say about them. Also, she's petty amusing. Recently Rebecca and I have been stumbling upon a lot of the same books (which obviously means we both have amazing taste) and when she suggested doing a dual-review, my response was an enthusiastic "yes". Thank you, Rebecca, for putting up with me long enough to do this review.

How does one read this review?
It's much easier than it looks! The format is sort of like a debate (hence, either look at it as a dual review, or a dueling review). Rebecca gives her impressions, I follow with my impressions, she responds to my thoughts, and then I wrap it up by giving the last word. Above each section will be the blog name of the speaker.


Dirty Sexy BooksThe Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi was intriguing, and to a certain degree it was entertaining, but unfortunately it wasn’t really all that enjoyable. I’ve developed a serious taste for these science fiction stories set on a resource-ravaged Earth in our great-great-grandchildren’s future, but I need a protagonist who I can glom onto. The Windup Girl is told from multiple points of view (too many in my opinion), and there’s no central character that holds the story together. That is its biggest flaw in my opinion.

I can see how the critics will lap this up like a kitten at a bowl of cream, and purr loudly the whole time. It’s a gritty, impeccably detailed vision, and the characters scrabble around like rats on a sinking ship. For sensitive readers it may be too realistic, because there are some disturbing scenes in a ghetto brothel. Frankly the whole book is disturbing because Mr. Bacigalupi offers only the barest glimmer of hope. We’ll be wracked by Ebola-like diseases, the agricultural firms will tinker with our food to stay ahead of the super pests, and we’ll revert to a primitive, non-electric way of life.

I can’t recommend this to anyone except a die-hard sci-fi fan who LOVES post-apocalyptic stories. For readers who want adventure, romance, and action, this book is a disappointment.

Book Love AffairRebecca mentions those critics who will lap up The Windup Girl like a kitten with cream? I was definitely purring. A lot.

Then again, I’ve always been more than okay with visions of a ravaged future in my fiction. Similarly, I’m perfectly fine with a dreary, gritty tone and a good portion of misanthropy. Bacigalupi definitely offers all of this in spades. However, the negative vision is created with an incredibly deft hand. The world of The Windup Girl is immense, detailed, and has a large cast of important characters. I found that even though I wasn’t overly attached to any of the characters (with the exception of Jaidee and Emiko), each offered a unique view into Bacigalupi’s world and themes.

After all, The Windup Girl is an exploration of themes and issues rather than a tale of plot or character. Sure, some of the characters are interesting and have great story lines, but the story is generally about something greater than the character—often speaking about the myriad problems of ecology, society, and corporate interests. Yet, I want to contradict myself a little. I couldn’t read Emiko’s story and not be hit by the greater implications of her life and existence (as a “windup girl” enslaved and used for sexual entertainment--repeatedly humiliated and raped--because she was genetically engineered rather than born) without becoming emotionally involved.

I will concede that The Windup Girl is not a book that a casual science fiction fan should curl up with for a fun read. I’d also want to warn anyone away who’s not okay with a dark story or low attention span. Not only is the story of The Windup Girl a little slow to build, but there’s also a lot to keep track of while reading. At the same time, this is exactly why I enjoyed the story—and why I think the critics and science fiction fans will love The Windup Girl.

DSBI'm sitting here smiling because I just knew you were going to like this one, TJ. The Windup Girl is tailor-made for cerebral sci-fi fans, and I fully admit that I can be rather infantile when it comes to entertainment. Sure, I'll swallow down the important themes regarding environmentalism, capitalism, and nationalism, but that's a bitter pill when there's no substance to sweeten the dose. This book felt like a banquet of side dishes, but the main meat was missing, and I'm not a vegetarian.

When I get going like this, it's easy to assume that I didn't like anything. That's not true. I loved the world-building, I loved the science, and I even loved the hot, sweaty, dirty city, but after setting this fabulous stage Mr. Bacigalupi neglected to cast a lead.

As I write this I'm trying to think of another story that utilizes multiple points of view without giving anyone precedence. I've seen films where an ensemble cast works, but I'm not sure this technique can shine in a novel format. Okay, I'll hush now and let you get a word in edgewise, TJ.

BLAPerhaps I’ve become too predictable, but I think you’re right, Rebecca, when you say that a “cerebral” fan will like The Windup Girl. For a reader looking for entertainment, the ensemble POV would probably not work (although I can point a few novels that try similar things and do manage to entertain, such as A Song of Ice and Fire). Of course, whether Bacigalupi succeeds with the no-lead cast is up for debate. Like I said before, it worked for me because the story has so many points of views that need to be expressed. The novel is based in Thailand, but really involves the entire world, so I was glad Bacigalupi included the Thai view (Jaidee and Kanya), the yellow card/Chinese/refugee view (Hock Seng), the windup view (Emiko), and the western view (Anderson). Every time one character looked ready to take the lead or become a protagonist that could be supported, Bacigalupi rips the rug out from under the reader and shows another side to the story.

If I had to complain about The Windup Girl I’d have to mention the rough pacing. The story lunges forward at odd times and doesn’t really pick up until over a hundred pages into the story. Also, there are elements of the novel that pop up as incredibly important later that could have used more focus previously in the story. As an example, for a book called The Windup Girl, Emiko figures in very minimally until the end. Also, Gi Bu Sen--who becomes one of the most important ideas and elements—has only a handful of lines and scenes.

Additionally, I highly recommend reading Bacigalupi’s short story “Yellow Card Man” before reading The Windup Girl. The short story is available in the book Pump Six and Other Stories or in the December 2006 issue of magazine Asimov’s Science Fiction. “Yellow Card Man” adds some interesting background and development to the character Hock Seng and to the culture and plight of the “yellow cards” that isn’t addressed as fully in The Windup Girl.

All around, though, I’m incredibly impressed with Bacigalupi’s work and would recommend The Windup Girl to any science fiction fan looking for a dark, cerebral story. I know I’ll be looking forward to seeing what Bacigalupi does next.

(And you thought I was the one who couldn’t get a world in edge-wise!)

BLA Rating: 9 out of 10
DSB Rating: Like a Date With a Nice Guy

Book Love Affair purchased this book through Amazon.