Yes it was a bit dated but I enjoyed reading for the period piece it is and as a commentary on how a breakdown for humanity would develop and how quickly.

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At the Christmas Chelmsford B/C meet

Well, I read this at least 25 years ago, along with all the other Wyndham's. I don't think it was my favourite but I'm keen to read them all again, having signed up for The Chrysalids bookring (MoleKilby). So thank you to Booktwitcher for assisting my mission!

This is one of the (many, many) books on my Christmas reading list :-)

I LOVED reading this book! I even dreamed about how Bill was going to get out of his pickle in Hampstead!

Although it's a small format paperback of only 270 pages, it's densely packed, fairly small type and margins - so not as quick a read as it looks.

I realised early on that I couldn't remember anything much about the story - and that my memory has been swayed by the TV series. Didn't they end up in a lighthouse in the John Duttine series? And were able to kill the triffids with seawater? Hopefully someone will tell me if I'm confusing triffids with another bad guy :-)

But the book has everything; bit of science-fiction, the triffid story line, huge moral dilemma, love interest, and of course the human survival story line.

I was interested that Wyndham doesn't date the story. As far as I could tell, it could be anytime after 1945, the only date he mentions. Being written in 1950/51, it's obviously not going to be full of mobile phones and the internet, so, with hindsight not available to Wyndham, it's placed before the 1980s. Having said that, I didn't feel it was terribly dated, due to the good story telling.

Now looking forward to reading more in my John Wyndham year!

”…All the same, I couldn’t just sponge on the girl who had the flat. I did have to have some money, so I wrote the book.” I did not think I’d heard quite aright. “You made a book?” I suggested. “I wrote the book.” She glanced at me, and smiled. “I must look awfully dumb – that’s just the way they all used to look at me when I told them I was writing a book. Mind you, it wasn’t a very good book – I mean, not like Aldous or Charles or people of that kind, but it worked.” I refrained from inquiring which of many possible Charles’s this referred to….

Memory jogger for Pakasanelly: Bill Masen, Josella Playton

NB: I can't remember if someone else at the Chelmsford meet showed an interest in this book - will take to the meeting to find out!

Picked up Chelmsford Bookcrossing Meet on Tuesday 9th Jan 2007.

Last time I read this was in my teens, ie the late sixties. And I have to say I have enjoyed it just as much as I did then. Remarkably, it has not obviously dated and remains totally believable. First rate science fiction.

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1930 13th Feb 2007 Tuesday Riverside Inn, Victoria Rd, Chelmsford at Bookcrossing Meet.

RELEASE NOTES:

No takers in Chelmsford, off to Sudbury's inaugural BC meeting!

A book I have wanted to read for some time so it will accompany me on my holiday.