Paolo Bacigalupi’s first novel

The Post-Apocalyptic City of Bangkok

The post-apocalyptic city of Bangkok serves as the backdrop for future sci-fi thriller Paolo Bacigalupi's debut book. The author creates a vivid image of a future world that is recovering from a collapse of the environment. The dystopian future depicted in The Windup Girl is rife with corruption, sexism, and bigotry. With a setting in southern Asia where the term "natural" no longer exists because the world now lives on genetically modified foods, the novel departs from the standard dystopian fiction, which is frequently a white or western affair. American calorie businesses, which are part of American multinationals, continue to dominate global trade. The central themes in this novel are climate change, food sustainability and the future of energy. These themes play out against a bleak backdrop of conflict between two Thai ministries; the ministry of trade and the ministry of environment. The importance of food as the fuel that powers mankind is clearly depicted by its scarcity as well as the struggle for the control of food resources.

What is Human?

What is human? This is a question that will constantly be on your mind as you read The Windup Girl. It is clear from the experiences of the protagonist that the answer to this is ‘anything along the lines of feeling, thinking, consuming or deleting.’ The characters in the book are diverse, they range from white or western to Thai, Chinese, and Japanese. The story is built around one particular character or ‘the windup girl.’ Her name is Emiko and she is an artificial being; the product of Japanese ingenuity. The Japanese have managed to figure out the mystery of creation and build new people who obey their owner’s every command. These genetically engineered wonders are multipurpose; they work in the fields, they fight our wars and some are merely toys for man’s vanity. Emiko falls in the latter category; however, she was abandoned by her master. Her kind is not only discriminated upon, but it is also illegal to be a windup in Thailand. Emiko is clearly a machine designed to satisfy the vanities of her audience. In addition, she tends to overheat due to the lack of skin pores. She, however, has human feelings and she eats, thinks and excretes like a normal human. Basically, only her physical shortcomings distinguish her from the humans she wants to be like.

A Chilling World Ruled by Calorie Companies

The world that the author depicts is a chilling one that is terrorized by American calorie companies. Bio-terrorism is the order of the day; just another capitalist’s tool in the pursuit of big money. Calorie companies such as AgriGen, Redstar, and PurCal design destructive viruses that wipe out world crops forcing countries to purchase virus-resistant crops from the same companies. In addition, these companies have agents such as Mr. Anderson to stimulate demand for their ‘genehacked’ seeds. Global warming has led to environmental collapse and the depletion of carbon fuel sources. It is an age where mutant pests, plagues, and illnesses are part of the human lives. It is a sad time to be alive indeed. The whole story plays out like a scene from a vivid nightmare, the kind of nightmare that makes you not want to close your eyes ever again.

The Three Themes

The novel manages to accomplish three things. First, Paolo Bacigalupi succeeds to re-examine humanity or what makes us human. Is it our physical appearance? Is it the meat suit that covers our bones? Or is there a more innate aspect that defines us such as our personality, our feelings, and thoughts. These are just some of the questions that the author poses to the reader in this novel. Second, Paolo also paints a vivid picture of the dangers associated with unchecked capitalism. Multinational companies run the world in this post-apocalyptic novel by employing ruthless tactics including private armies and hit men to stimulate demand for their products. The world is plagued by multiple catastrophes ranging from plagues, mutant pests, and illnesses like never before. These catastrophes are the direct result of rogue capitalists. I believe that the author blames the greed of a few individuals as the source of the world’s problems. The consequences are evident; wars are everywhere, countries have closed their borders and xenophobia is very high as can be deduced by the expulsion of the Chinese from Thailand.

The Impact of Climate Change

Last but not least, the theme of climate change is a constant and prominent feature throughout the novels. Quotes such as ‘it is difficult not to be aware of those high walls and the pressure of the water beyond’ (Bacigalupi 8) Rising sea levels have put man on the defensive, he has built high walls to keep the water out but it seems like a temporary reprieve to an omnipresent danger. This puts the effects of climate change in perspective, Mother Nature has turned against us and is no longer the source of livelihood for man. Rather, man now lives in constant fear of nature hiding behind high walls that could give in at any time. The message is simple, the environment is the chief source of sustenance and the effects of its degradation are detrimental in the long run. It is the source of our food; food does not seem that important until you meet the characters in the book who are willing to go any lengths to get food. In this book, the term ‘our daily bread’ develops a whole new meaning. Food is no longer taken for granted; instead, it is a vital source of energy for humans.

The Bleak Portrayal of the Future

There are several lessons that can be derived from this bleak portrayal of the future. Bangkok stands in defiance against capitalism and the effects of climate change. It represents mankind’s last hope in a dying world. However, the city is a ticking time bomb. It is a city teeming with corruption, racism, sexism, and many forms of discrimination. Despite the fact that humanity is facing a looming catastrophe, the city is still locked in class struggle and power jostling. It would be expected that at such a time we would set aside our differences and face a common enemy. Everyone is a schemer, Mr. Anderson is hell-bent on finding Thai’s last seed bank. His manager, Hock Seng is also plotting how to steal from him. The good guys such as Captain Jaidee Rojjanasukchai stand no chance and are killed when they become a problem. Thailand disintegrates into civil war and Bangkok is flooded. These two occurrences represent a sort of cleansing; a purge that rids Thailand of its corrupt leaders. It signifies a new beginning for man.

The Character of Emiko

The most prominent character in the book is Emiko, a cyborg. The Emiko character in the acts as a plot device in the search for humanity and the rebirth of society in the novel. According to the dictionary, a cyborg is a machine. Its thoughts and feelings are not its own but rather the product of a program. Emiko merely is an instrument through which humanity is explored. She is a cyborg that eats, thinks, and feels. This means that the only thing that disqualifies her from being human is her physical appearance and her blind obedience to human orders. As the story progresses, however, we see her begin to gain some consciousness. She realizes that she doesn’t have to obey humans and that she is even capable of murder. The fact that she feels humiliated by the regent is evidence of a conscience. It is also proven by the fact that she feels regret or guilt after she kills the regent and several others in the dying chapters speaks volumes as to her humanity. The author is trying to suggest that what makes us human has nothing to do with our physical appearance. Rather, humanity is a function of the emotions and thoughts that arise from the conscience; the one thing that distinguishes us from machines and other living creatures. This is what the character of Emiko serves to remind us.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Windup Girl is an attempt by the author to use dystopian fiction to address deeper underlying issues. Humanity, climate change, and capitalism are the main themes in Paolo Bacigalupi’s work. The author succeeds in getting his message out through a variety of vivid descriptions and well-thought-out themes that leave the reader immersed in critical thought.

Work cited

Bacigalupi, Paolo. The Windup Girl. Night Shade Books, 2009.