Author(s): John Wyndham

Sci-fi & Fantasy

The most famous catastrophe novel of the twentieth century, published as a Penguin Essential for the first time.'When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere.'When a freak cosmic event renders most of the Earth's population blind, Bill Masen - one of the lucky few to keep his sight - finds himself trapped in a London jammed with sightless mobs who prey on those who can still see. But another menace stalks blind and sighted alike. With nobody to stop them the Triffids - walking carnivorous plants with lethal stingers - rise up as humanity stumbles and falls . . .

CONSTANT READER STAFF REVIEW: CAELLI

This is the sci-fi book that every non- sci-fi fan should read.

Bill Masen wakes one morning following a hospital stay to find he is one of the only sighted people left in a world gone blind – and while London slowly descends into chaos, Bill notices that the newly-discovered triffid plants everyone is raving about are suddenly behaving very strangely…

Though it was written in the 1950s, the story feels as fresh and timely as ever (maybe even MORE so now than when it was written) and the language flows easily and is thoroughly readable.

Wyndham uses the story to explore questions of ethics, personal morality and what makes a society, all in the context of a civilisation under collapse.

It’s a little terrifying, very entertaining, and extremely thought-provoking. I feel like everyone should read this book.