The Day Of The Triffids
Ratings163
Average rating3.8
This was a really cool sci-fi novel from the 1950s about the collapse of society after (virtually) everyone is blinded by a comet. The blindness is just the first bit of bad news, there are also CARNIVOROUS, SLAPPING PLANTS.
It's so great.
The spiritual precursor to the zombie genre, and it happens to be better written than anything I've read in the genre.
I've had this book on a shelf for a very long time and finally got around to reading it. John Wyndham wrote “The Day of the Triffids” seventy years ago in 1951, but if he were alive and writing today, I don't think his story would be very different. Nothing about his post-apocalyptic vision of Britain seems out of place. The idea that large, chubby, venomous plants developed in secret somewhere in Russia might become the dominant species is only moderately more disturbing than some of the things that we humans are doing to ourselves. Wyndham suggests that a few humans would survive, but only be letting go of the past and changing behavior. What an optimist! I guess you had to be an optimist in post-war Britain. Nevertheless, the story is compelling, even when most of the characters are flat and little under-developed.
Согласна, что взгляды автора, мягко говоря, устарели, но сам сюжет увлекательный.
Дико напомнило “Ходячих мертвецов” и “The Last of Us”, только здесь вместо зараженных - дофига умные растения.
Мне нравится, что Уиндем не просто обрушивает на людей каких-то зеленых человечков из космоса, а размещает опасность на нашей планете, даже если предпосылки катастрофы связаны с инопланетными явлениями. Это и интереса больше вызывает, и заставляет испытывать бóльший ужас.
It started well, but then it devolved into a boring survival story tinged with political and sociological pedantry. The triffids barely feature in the story.
Starts strong and After that is a big let down. Sexist. I do not believe him the radio man can fligh a heli just becouse he is convitent - stupid and mysoginistic.
John Wyndham's writing, though somewhat dated, is every bit as important and unique as that produced by Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and other great Science Fiction writers of his time. I know of two of his classic novels that were reproduced in film, The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos (Village of the Damned), but the original written material is definitely superior. The Kraken Wakes and The Midwich Cuckoos are alien invasion tales that each take on this theme in as an unique, inventive a way as H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds. The Chrysalids is a post apocalyptic tale with themes every bit as compelling as Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and a couple of Wyndham's short stories could be additions to Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. In Trouble with Lichen Wyndham poses the questions and problems that would arise if a relatively rare natural substance was found that could radically increase life expectancy (years before Frank Herbert created the spice melange in Dune). John Wyndham's writings should be on every Science Fiction reader's reading list.
This review is for the audiobook version. I got this because I'd watched the movie decades ago; not that I really remember it other than a vague enjoying. For me, the audiobook will require a second listening to as I'd zoned out in a couple of spots due to being tired. Other than that, I did enjoy the story.
4.5 stars
I can't stress how good John Wyndham is at writing Fuck You endings. Just, masterful.
3.5 stars - I really loved the premise - it was a surprise to me what the book was actually about. I really enjoyed it. However the characters were just rather mehhh. Which is such a shame.
Dating from 1951, this classic apocalyptic survival tale had probably formed the basis of many other novels and movies. In reading it, it was very familiar, although I am unaware of having read it before. I have not seen the movie, although I have certainly seen snippets of the tv series - I have not watched the whole thing. I can only put it down to similarities in the plot to movies.
I won't outline the plot here - there are hundreds of reviews here to do that.
For a book from the early fifties, I was impressed how little the writing felt dated - it read well in a modern context, didn't make a fool of itself with technology and sidestepped well the issue of communication (by which telephones and radio were simply not working from day one).
Like other reviewers, I was surprised that the story didn't revolve around the triffids. They became significantly central towards the end, but were not the principle cause of the events taking place. The name of the novel alone conjures up a more startling involvement in the primary crisis.
An easy, quick and enjoyable diversionary read on a rainy day where I found myself with a little more spare time than normal!
Just short of five stars, but a solid 4 from me.