The Midwich Cuckoos

The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham is a 1957 science fiction novel about an alien invasion. The book supposedly deals with a struggle between aliens and humans. But really it's about a struggle between men and women.

The novel is split into two parts. Wyndham uses Part One, which takes up over half of the novel, to describe forced impregnation. He subtly manages to explore subjects like sex, rape, and abortion. Part Two begins to dive into the question of what should be done about the children.

Its a bit dated now. The viewpoints are almost all male and full of patronising sexism. But the most enjoyable parts are the moral ambiguities and philosophical discussions; what the presence of the children means and how the villagers should deal with them? Full of misdirection, subtext, irony and ambiguity; it's definitely worth a read.