cross-posted from: https://literature.cafe/post/2164461

I have been keeping an eye on this series over in !BannedBooks@literature.cafe and was intending to link the discussions for SF titles that I saw. The Handmaid’s Tale is definitely an SF title that has seen it’s share of fans and detractors. It has been banned or attempted to be banned in many jurisdictions including Western ones.

What is the communities thoughts on this book, does it unfairly extend Christian philosophy into questionable territory or does it not go far enough? Is it pornography, and if so, why? Let’s hear your thoughts.

Bonus video: Margaret Atwood using a flamethrower on the unburnable edition of the book.

  • cabhan@discuss.tchncs.de
    1·
    1 year ago

    I never really thought of it as science fiction (see her MaddAdam series for something more SF-y), but I love the book and think it does a great job of extrapolating from various political trends into where parts of the “western world” could end up going.

    I’m also not surprised it’s a candidate for being banned, either from people who think it paints religion or conservativsm in a negative light, or people who think it might make anyone under 18 uncomfortable. Is it appropriate for 5 year olds? Probably not. 16 year olds? Seems reasonable to me.

  • Occamsrazer@lemdro.idEnglish
    12·
    1 year ago

    The main problem with this book is in how it is applied by various people to Christianity in general (as opposed to a fringe cult), or used as an analogy of events today. It might apply in some cases, but those are so rare and unusual (back woods polygamist cults and the like), that they really don’t deserve to be discussed in context of current politics.