If you think the new book, to be called 'The Testament', will be parallel with the TV series, you'll be slightly disappointed.
- Nov 29, 2018
AceShowbiz - After waiting for more than 3 decades, fans are finally getting a book sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale". Author Margaret Atwood took to Twitter on Wednesday, November 28 to announce that she's working on the sequel of the 1985 dystopian novel that inspires HBO's hit series of the same name.
"Yes indeed to those who asked: I’m writing a sequel to The #HandmaidsTale," she tweeted alongside a video. She revealed in the video that she got the inspiration for the continuation, to be called "The Testaments", from the fans. "Everything you've ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything!" she wrote in the video.
But if you think it will be parallel with the TV series, you'll be slightly disappointed. Atwood shared that "the other inspiration is the world we've been living in," explaining that the new book would take place in the modern America.
"#TheTestaments is set 15 years after Offreds final scene and is narrated by three female characters," the Canadian author shared. The upcoming novel is set to hit the shelves in September 2019.
Yes indeed to those who asked: I’m writing a sequel to The #HandmaidsTale. #TheTestaments is set 15 years after Offred’s final scene and is narrated by three female characters. It will be published in Sept 2019. More details: https://t.co/e1umh5FwpXpic.twitter.com/pePp0zpuif
— Margaret E. Atwood (@MargaretAtwood) November 28, 2018
She said in a statement that she wanted to explore the eerie parallels between her imagined dystopia and our current political climate. It remains to be seen though, whether it will somehow involved President Donald Trump.
The press release, however, noted that "The Handmaid's Tale" had become "a symbol of the movement against him, standing for female empowerment and resistance in the face of misogyny and the rolling back of women's rights around the world."
Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" has been adapted for TV. The second season of the TV version went over the climax of the original story. Starring Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne a.k.a. Offred, the series was named Best Television Series at Golden Globe Awards and Outstanding Series at Emmy Awards. The show also earned Moss a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress category.
