The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
Review by wyldraven
The Handmaid's Tale is probably the most frightening tale of dystopia I have ever read. Ms. Atwood tells the story of a post-apocalyptic future of the United States where the democratic government has fallen, and has been replaced by a theocracy. The nation is now known as The Republic of Gilead. Most women have no rights, and are treated as chattel. Very few women are still fertile. Those who are still fertile are enslaved and forced to bear children for the men in power. Severe negative population growth is the justification of this theocracy for the enslavement. Interestingly, only women were made infertile. Abortion has been outlawed in Gilead. Doctors who once performed them are executed. Women who once had abortions are now known as unWomen, and forced to perform menial labor.
Why is it frightening?
Much of what this books predicts is possible now, and we truly don't need an apocalyptic event to get us there. The current push to "return to Biblical law" seems to strongly mimic the beliefs of the leaders of Gilead.