Oryx and Crake

Writing in genre versus simply using the elements of a genre and having it be completely literary is a very tough question in which both sides can argue valid points. Personally, I believe that you cannot use the elements of a genre without making that book or story that genre. Oryx and Crake explore this in that it combines certain elements of science fiction, but also does not seem entirely like a science fiction book. I argue however that because it is written with the elements of science fiction, that makes it a science fiction book. I don't however believe that it is important to make this distinction and that the reader should make this based on how they felt the book was written.

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