Wednesday 3 February 2021

Those horrible Triffids.


My schoolboy copy of John Wyndham's 'The Day of the Triffids' is dated 1958; I must have bought it second-hand; not for the 3/6d as written on the top.


The book was serialised recently on Radio 4 extra, and I was quite surprised to hear that much of the latter part took place in my old stomping-ground in West Sussex.

I'd read the book several years before my people moved to West Chiltington, so the names of nearby villages were unknown to me at the time. Now hearing the names Pulborough and Storrington made me want to read it again. 

The Triffids can almost be seen as an early comparative version of Covid-19. The devastating results of their liberation not that much different to today's pandemic; there are so  many comparisons.

I've bypassed two other books that I'd intended to read, and will probably finish 'Triffids' before this evening. It's a foul day, perfect for reading a cheery 1950's novel.

28 comments:

  1. I once stayed in "The old post office in Fittleworth. It's years ago but I remember it being a beautiful part of the country. If memory serves, is it close to Pulborough?

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    1. I know Fittleworth well, it was only a few miles from Pulborough; a very nice village.

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  2. I bet the pages of that novel are quite brown. Did you spill tea on them?

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    1. I don't think those pages have seen the light of day for over 50 years.

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  3. We read that at Grammar School too but I'm a tad younger than you so it must have been on the curriculum for several years.
    It was the first Sci-fi I'd ever read and frightened me for months!

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    1. I don't think it was on our curriculum, just a book I picked-up at a s/h book store. Yes, it wasn't the most pleasant reading.

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  4. "Not that much different to today's pandemic; there are so many comparisons."
    Yes they are both stories.

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    1. Gotta love those who know so much better than the experts!

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    2. Who do you think I am? Col. Tom died of Covid caught in hospital but at over a hundred his days were numbered.

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  5. It's an interesting Triffid and COVID comparison and I see your point.

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    1. It was a long-shot, but I kept seeing comparisons.

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  6. I remember the book and the movie, and if I remember correctly it was pretty scary.

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    1. The book wasn't scary, but a film maker could certainly have made the most of it.

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  7. As my sister lives in Horsham, we know many of the villages in West Sussex & our niece lived in Storrington. It’s a lovely part of the country. I think I saw the film of Day of the Triffids years ago ! XXXX

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    1. It is a nice area. I think my people should have stayed there rather than retire to Shropshire.

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  8. Replies
    1. Well, at least it was cheery being out of the rain.

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  9. I read the book at school and loved it. I have since seen two film versions and a serialised version. Love a good sci fi.

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    1. I think it's probably best read as a schoolboy/girl. I remember it being far more exciting when I was young.

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  10. Whenever I think of Pulborough it conjures up images of flooded fields by the bridge.

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    1. I believe they built on those flood plains... I do hope they did some serious drainage.

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  11. John Wyndham - one of my favourite authors. I found The Midwich Cuckoos just as scary as the Triffids.

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    1. I think The Midwich Cuckoos is my favourite. Very spooky.

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  12. Have you read The Kraken Wakes - the next book he wrote? Still remember reading both those books many years ago - they made a real impact.

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    1. No, and I don't think I will. I'm not very keen on his style of writing. He's a good story-teller, but he goes off at tangents all the time, and I find that annoying.

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  13. Replies
    1. I expect you were not alone, I'm almost surprised at myself reading right through to 'The End'

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