- Novelist says it is 'delicious' to be first contributor to the Future Library, which will compile 100 texts for publication in 2114
People in the comments both here and on the Guardian website seem critical, but I think this is a fantastically fun idea. Sure, you can say it's egotistical, or that it's 'not how history's supposed to work' but if they keep finding critically acclaimed or well-liked authors like Atwood to go along with this, it could be a huge deal - imagine today's readers getting to look forward to a huge compilation of last century's great novelists' unseen works for publication today. And sure where's the harm in a bit of egotism? These authors will now get to fantasise about being part of a collection looked forward to for a whole century. Not that Atwood's work won't survive that long anyway - as has been pointed out, The Handmaid's Tale is already nearing its 30th anniversary!
If you want dry wit from Atwood, "Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth" as read by her in the CBC Massey Lectures is gold.