Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by apechild
The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham
3.0
I love John Wyndham's books, this was the fourth I've read, and if I'm honest, it wasn't my favourite. Although it's brilliant and understated in the way it's told, it also makes it a little dry and slow, and in some ways, distanced as all we ever two is observe in the way the two main characters observe (they're journalists of a kind) rather than ever experience.
In a way, he is science fiction for people who don't normally read science fiction, because it is understated and very realistic in feeling. The clever thing with this is that you never ever see the "aliens" themselves, and their battle units feature quite infrequently through the book, if you consider how much time is devoted to people having discussions, and accounts of how all the theories and politics changed and developed over time. There is a lot in this book about a global disaster, and how this is dealt with, politics, conspiracy theories and media manipulation always coming far, far ahead of actually trying to deal with the problem. Which is very true in a lot of ways. This book is from the 50s, so there's a lot of the west blaming Russia and Russia blaming the west, whilst the aliens can crack on with business relatively undisturbed. And the time frame this is set over is also more realistic rather than a sudden boom and everything's over in under twenty four hours. There is something creepy and uncomfortable about little things happening over months and months and no one being quite sure where it's all leading, and certainly having no idea how bad things are going to get. An interesting one to think about as well in consideration of global warming and the melting of the polar icecaps!
In a way, he is science fiction for people who don't normally read science fiction, because it is understated and very realistic in feeling. The clever thing with this is that you never ever see the "aliens" themselves, and their battle units feature quite infrequently through the book, if you consider how much time is devoted to people having discussions, and accounts of how all the theories and politics changed and developed over time. There is a lot in this book about a global disaster, and how this is dealt with, politics, conspiracy theories and media manipulation always coming far, far ahead of actually trying to deal with the problem. Which is very true in a lot of ways. This book is from the 50s, so there's a lot of the west blaming Russia and Russia blaming the west, whilst the aliens can crack on with business relatively undisturbed. And the time frame this is set over is also more realistic rather than a sudden boom and everything's over in under twenty four hours. There is something creepy and uncomfortable about little things happening over months and months and no one being quite sure where it's all leading, and certainly having no idea how bad things are going to get. An interesting one to think about as well in consideration of global warming and the melting of the polar icecaps!