John Wyndham - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

AE35Unit · 10th July 2009, 06:03 PM

Any readers of this classic British SF author? I've read a few of his books(Day of the Triffids,The Kraken Wakes,The Midwich Cuckoos) and have the Outward Urge on my TBR pile. I don't think he was overly prolific novel wize but it seems he wrote a LOT of short stories! While he's classed as SF a lot of his works seem almost like fantasy,kind of a mix of Aldiss and Ballard or Bradbury. Aldiss criticized him for the ending of Triffids but I enjoyed it and didn't get what Aldiss meant. Kraken Wakes was hugely disappointing! It promised so much but delivered so little as he chose to write it like it was a journal and I found it quite boring! Midwich was good,if the ending was a little vague,and it was filmed as Village of the Damned in the 70s I think(never seen it in full)
What do others think of this author?

dask · 10th July 2009, 06:37 PM

Really liked THE MIDWICH CUCKOOS. Read a story in an old sf magazine under his John Beynon Harris byline, don't remember which one but enjoyed it too. Seems to be a solid, dependable writer.

AE35Unit · 10th July 2009, 06:51 PM

Hmmm funny,I didnt realise it when I made my post but I just noticed that this year marks the 40th anniversary of his death!
3 cheers for Mr Wyndham!

mosaix · 10th July 2009, 07:48 PM

Always had great respect for the guy. First read him when my English literature teacher recommended him in the early 60's.

Seems along time ago now.

He was the first writer who introduced me to the concept that science fiction doesn't have to be about science. He uses science to put his characters into situations that he couldn't otherwise and then see how they react.

Snowdog · 10th July 2009, 08:00 PM

Try The Chrysalids, it's my favourite after Day of the Triffids. I'm also not a fan of The Kraken Wakes.

I think The Outward Urge is a tremendous book, but the Star Wars generation may find it a bit prosaic. But it was written before we went to the moon and might yet be a closer account of our first few steps into space than many. I found it (and still find it) extremely moving.

For short stories, some of his best are collected in The Seeds of Time.

Fried Egg · 10th July 2009, 08:02 PM

I've only read "The Midwich Cuckoos" but really liked it. I have "The Chrysalids" to read next.

AE35Unit · 10th July 2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowdog

Try The Chrysalids, it's my favourite after Day of the Triffids. I'm also not a fan of The Kraken Wakes.

I think The Outward Urge is a tremendous book, but the Star Wars generation may find it a bit prosaic. But it was written before we went to the moon and might yet be a closer account of our first few steps into space than many. I found it (and still find it) extremely moving.

For short stories, some of his best are collected in The Seeds of Time.

Thanks for the recommendations! Will look out for those two. I used to have two collections of stories,one was called Consider Her Ways but they're long since lost.

Dave · 10th July 2009, 08:30 PM

I first read all his books in my early teens. 'The Chrysalids' is the only book I've read more than twice. I'd say that 'The Chrysalids', 'The Midwich Cuckoos' and 'The Day of the Triffids' were his best work. I also didn't think much of 'The Kraken Wakes' or 'Trouble with Lichen'. You missed some BBC programmes on earlier this year to celebrate the 40 years.

j. d. worthington · 10th July 2009, 08:35 PM

I'd have to agree with Dave and Snowdog (though I do think there is much to like in The Kraken, as a whole it simply doesn't hold up). The Chrysalids remains one of my favorite books, despite some wobbles about 3/4 of the way through (minor points, but things I find a bit irritating). I've ended up reading that one (my first Wyndham, by the way, read at age 12 originally) many times over now....

AE35Unit · 10th July 2009, 09:36 PM

Could you maybe elaborate on those Wobbles JD? If you feel that such elaboration would make a spoiler then PM me. By the time i've got round to reading it it won't matter!

WizardofOwls · 10th July 2009, 10:22 PM

I used to have a copy of Rebirth (AKA The Chrysalids) but I have somehow lost it.

I wont buy another copy until I can find one that has the cover I love- two people riding in a saddle basket on either side of a huge bird.

chrispenycate · 10th July 2009, 11:34 PM

The Outward Urge? Wasn't he collaborating with himself on that one (I believe he was also Lucas Parkes – ah Fantastic fiction says he wrote it as, not with, but I'm sure my copy was with.)

Met him in 1966 - oh, I already wrote that in another thread.

I might still have a copy of 'Jizzle' in my bookshelves; I know I picked up a copy second hand out of nostalgia.

blacknorth · 11th July 2009, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispenycate

The Outward Urge? Wasn't he collaborating with himself on that one (I believe he was also Lucas Parkes – ah Fantastic fiction says he wrote it as, not with, but I'm sure my copy was with.)

Most amusing, like Lester Del Rey and Eric Van Lihn... I think my copy says 'with' or 'and' - don't have to hand at the moment.

I love Wyndham's work, I think he's a great originator of startling images placed within a prose style which seems determined to arrest those images of their shock value, but which has the opposite effect over the course of a complete narrative.

Personal favourites are The Midwich Cuckoo's (filmed in 1960 as Village of the Damned), Chrysalids, Triffids, and some perfect short stories - Dumb Martian, for example.

AE35Unit · 11th July 2009, 12:47 AM

Chris,you met him? What was he like in person?

chrispenycate · 11th July 2009, 01:06 AM

Somewhat inebriated. Well, so was I. It was H G Well's hundredth birthday party, and we found ourselves on the same side in a – heated discussion?– with Kingsley Amis and Brian Aldiss opposing. I was just as definitive back then; we got a good audience.

But I liked the guy; had a lot of information at his fingertips, no need for notes.

10th July 2009, 06:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
AE35Unit ]==[]===© • Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Darlington Posts: 5,577	John Wyndham Any readers of this classic British SF author? I've read a few of his books(Day of the Triffids,The Kraken Wakes,The Midwich Cuckoos) and have the Outward Urge on my TBR pile. I don't think he was overly prolific novel wize but it seems he wrote a LOT of short stories! While he's classed as SF a lot of his works seem almost like fantasy,kind of a mix of Aldiss and Ballard or Bradbury. Aldiss criticized him for the ending of Triffids but I enjoyed it and didn't get what Aldiss meant. Kraken Wakes was hugely disappointing! It promised so much but delivered so little as he chose to write it like it was a journal and I found it quite boring! Midwich was good,if the ending was a little vague,and it was filmed as Village of the Damned in the 70s I think(never seen it in full) What do others think of this author?

10th July 2009, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
dask dark and stormy knight Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 2,045 Blog Entries: 22	Re: John Wyndham Really liked THE MIDWICH CUCKOOS. Read a story in an old sf magazine under his John Beynon Harris byline, don't remember which one but enjoyed it too. Seems to be a solid, dependable writer.

10th July 2009, 06:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
AE35Unit ]==[]===© • Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Darlington Posts: 5,577	Re: John Wyndham Hmmm funny,I didnt realise it when I made my post but I just noticed that this year marks the 40th anniversary of his death! 3 cheers for Mr Wyndham!

10th July 2009, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
mosaix Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Shropshire Posts: 4,124	Re: John Wyndham Always had great respect for the guy. First read him when my English literature teacher recommended him in the early 60's. Seems along time ago now. He was the first writer who introduced me to the concept that science fiction doesn't have to be about science. He uses science to put his characters into situations that he couldn't otherwise and then see how they react.

10th July 2009, 08:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Snowdog Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 622	Re: John Wyndham Try The Chrysalids, it's my favourite after Day of the Triffids. I'm also not a fan of The Kraken Wakes. I think The Outward Urge is a tremendous book, but the Star Wars generation may find it a bit prosaic. But it was written before we went to the moon and might yet be a closer account of our first few steps into space than many. I found it (and still find it) extremely moving. For short stories, some of his best are collected in The Seeds of Time.

10th July 2009, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fried Egg Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 2,897	Re: John Wyndham I've only read "The Midwich Cuckoos" but really liked it. I have "The Chrysalids" to read next.

10th July 2009, 08:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 13,772 Blog Entries: 1	Re: John Wyndham I first read all his books in my early teens. 'The Chrysalids' is the only book I've read more than twice. I'd say that 'The Chrysalids', 'The Midwich Cuckoos' and 'The Day of the Triffids' were his best work. I also didn't think much of 'The Kraken Wakes' or 'Trouble with Lichen'. You missed some BBC programmes on earlier this year to celebrate the 40 years.

10th July 2009, 08:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
j. d. worthington Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 13,183	Re: John Wyndham I'd have to agree with Dave and Snowdog (though I do think there is much to like in The Kraken, as a whole it simply doesn't hold up). The Chrysalids remains one of my favorite books, despite some wobbles about 3/4 of the way through (minor points, but things I find a bit irritating). I've ended up reading that one (my first Wyndham, by the way, read at age 12 originally) many times over now....

10th July 2009, 09:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
AE35Unit ]==[]===© • Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Darlington Posts: 5,577	Re: John Wyndham Could you maybe elaborate on those Wobbles JD? If you feel that such elaboration would make a spoiler then PM me. By the time i've got round to reading it it won't matter!

10th July 2009, 10:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
WizardofOwls King of Typos Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 252	Re: John Wyndham I used to have a copy of Rebirth (AKA The Chrysalids) but I have somehow lost it. I wont buy another copy until I can find one that has the cover I love- two people riding in a saddle basket on either side of a huge bird. Last edited by WizardofOwls; 10th July 2009 at 10:39 PM.

10th July 2009, 11:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
chrispenycate resident pedantissimo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,375 Blog Entries: 9	Re: John Wyndham The Outward Urge? Wasn't he collaborating with himself on that one (I believe he was also Lucas Parkes – ah Fantastic fiction says he wrote it as, not with, but I'm sure my copy was with.) Met him in 1966 - oh, I already wrote that in another thread. I might still have a copy of 'Jizzle' in my bookshelves; I know I picked up a copy second hand out of nostalgia.

11th July 2009, 12:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
AE35Unit ]==[]===© • Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Darlington Posts: 5,577	Re: John Wyndham Chris,you met him? What was he like in person?

11th July 2009, 01:06 AM	#15 (permalink)
chrispenycate resident pedantissimo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,375 Blog Entries: 9	Re: John Wyndham Somewhat inebriated. Well, so was I. It was H G Well's hundredth birthday party, and we found ourselves on the same side in a – heated discussion?– with Kingsley Amis and Brian Aldiss opposing. I was just as definitive back then; we got a good audience. But I liked the guy; had a lot of information at his fingertips, no need for notes.

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