The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham

The Day of the Triffids had always been one of those 1950s sci-fi books or B-movies I'd never paid much attention to, mixing it up with The Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The War of the Worlds. I was surprised to see Penguin Modern Classics descend from their literary high horse and include it in their clothbound collection. In the introduction to this edition, Barry Langford fumbles to explain why Triffids should be set apart from similar sci-fi titles and regarded as a modern classic in its own right. The plot begins with strange green flashes in the sky, described as a celestial phenomenon caused by meteor particles. The next day, the majority of the world wakes up blind. Protagonist Bill Masen is spared, having being in a London hospital with his eyes covered by bandages. The ensuing apocalypse is not so much characterised by triffids as what happens to communities when their sight is collectively removed. Those who manage to retain their sight become much sought after hostages to help the blind population find food.

And what are the triffids? They are genetically engineered, giant plants that produce a valuable oil extract for commercial purposes. The plants have whip-like stings that kill their victims with poison, and they can also walk about on stubby legs. With the humans of the world losing what Wyndam believes to be their primary evolutionary advantage, the triffids begin to emerge as dominant organisms. It is a grounded and somewhat believable end of the world story, as far as they go, lacking much of the dramatic flair that normally characterises the genre. There are no desperate sieges, gun fights, or heroic sacrifices, and even the role of the triffids is downplayed. Characters are uninspired, with the blonde heroine, Josella Playton, being amongst the most repugnant in her role as romantic accessory. The book does has its charms, but the ending felt rushed and anti-climactic. I was looking forward to more human conflict as society fractured. Reading about the gradual destruction of London (a city I loathe) was immensely satisfying however.

Rating: 3/5