The Day of the Triffids

John Wyndham's writing, though somewhat dated, is every bit as important and unique as that produced by Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and other great Science Fiction writers of his time. I know of two of his classic novels that were reproduced in film, The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos (Village of the Damned), but the original written material is definitely superior. The Kraken Wakes and The Midwich Cuckoos are alien invasion tales that each take on this theme in as an unique, inventive a way as H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds. The Chrysalids is a post apocalyptic tale with themes every bit as compelling as Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and a couple of Wyndham's short stories could be additions to Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. In Trouble with Lichen Wyndham poses the questions and problems that would arise if a relatively rare natural substance was found that could radically increase life expectancy (years before Frank Herbert created the spice melange in Dune). John Wyndham's writings should be on every Science Fiction reader's reading list.