In 1951 John Wyndham published his novel The Day of the Triffids to moderate acclaim. Fifty-two years later, this horrifying story is a science fiction classic, touted by The Times (London) as having “all the reality of a vividly realized nightmare.” Bill Masen, bandages over his wounded eyes, misses the most spectacular meteorite shower England has ever seen. Removing his bandages the next morning, he finds masses of sightless people wandering the city. He soon meets Josella, another lucky person who has retained her sight, and together they leave the city, aware that the safe, familiar world they knew a mere twenty-four hours before is gone forever. But to survive in this post-apocalyptic world, one must survive the Triffids, strange plants that years before began appearing all over the world. The Triffids can grow to over seven feet tall, pull their roots from the ground to walk, and kill a man with one quick lash of their poisonous stingers. With society in shambles, they are now poised to prey on humankind. Wyndham chillingly anticipates bio-warfare and mass destruction, fifty years before their realization, in this prescient account of Cold War paranoia.
The Day of the Triffids Series
This series delves into the dark secrets of nature and human hubris in the face of global catastrophe. When humanity is suddenly struck blind, seemingly harmless plants transform into terrifying predators. The survival of civilization hangs in the balance as the remaining humans must confront not only a new, terrifying world but also their own mistakes. It serves as a chilling eco-dystopian warning about the reckless exploitation of our planet.
Recommended Reading Order
The Night of the Triffids
- 416 pages
- 15 hours of reading
In this sequel to the Day of the Triffids, 25 years have elapsed. Bill Mason's son David wakes one morning to discover that the world has been mysteriously plunged into darkness. Once more the triffid has the advantage.