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A review by sambora
The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
John Wyndham doesn't miss.
I recently re-read The Day of the Triffids, which was up until that point the only Wyndham book I'd read, and I enjoyed going through it again so much that I thought it about damn time I visit his other works, and I am very glad I did!
The Midwich Cuckoos is the story of a quiet little English village whose inhabitants all pass out at the same time, and anyone who even momentarily steps foot across the border of the village also passes out.
After a while (a couple of days, if I'm remembering correctly) the people all simultaneously awake with no immediate ill-effects. The villagers start putting their lives back in order and they morn the few friends and family that died in the strange incident due to poorly-timed accidents and poor health.
It's isn't until a little while later that, as a community, they realise that all the women of child bearing age that were unconscious during the event, about 60 women in total, are now mysteriously pregnant.
This premise had me absolutely hooked, and the setting being so eerily similar to the small English village I myself grew up in only went to immerse me all the more.
The style, language, humour and tone in The Midwich Cuckoos were all quite similar to what was oh-so-crucial to my immense enjoyment of The Day of the Triffids, and it seems to me that it may all be a consistent trademark of most/all of Wyndham's writing, which suits me just fine.
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an easy to read, somewhat strangely comfy-cozy, British sci-fi mystery.
This isn't a horror story, but there are obviously sinister elements, and the themes of bodily-autonomy are superbly handled.
It really is very very well put together novel.
4.5 stars
I look forward to reading more of Wyndham's books soon, although I'm not yet sure which one to try next; The Kraken Wakes seems to be speaking to me at this early stage, but if any Wyndham fans have any recommendations then I'm open to them!
I recently re-read The Day of the Triffids, which was up until that point the only Wyndham book I'd read, and I enjoyed going through it again so much that I thought it about damn time I visit his other works, and I am very glad I did!
The Midwich Cuckoos is the story of a quiet little English village whose inhabitants all pass out at the same time, and anyone who even momentarily steps foot across the border of the village also passes out.
After a while (a couple of days, if I'm remembering correctly) the people all simultaneously awake with no immediate ill-effects. The villagers start putting their lives back in order and they morn the few friends and family that died in the strange incident due to poorly-timed accidents and poor health.
It's isn't until a little while later that, as a community, they realise that all the women of child bearing age that were unconscious during the event, about 60 women in total, are now mysteriously pregnant.
This premise had me absolutely hooked, and the setting being so eerily similar to the small English village I myself grew up in only went to immerse me all the more.
The style, language, humour and tone in The Midwich Cuckoos were all quite similar to what was oh-so-crucial to my immense enjoyment of The Day of the Triffids, and it seems to me that it may all be a consistent trademark of most/all of Wyndham's writing, which suits me just fine.
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an easy to read, somewhat strangely comfy-cozy, British sci-fi mystery.
This isn't a horror story, but there are obviously sinister elements, and the themes of bodily-autonomy are superbly handled.
It really is very very well put together novel.
4.5 stars
I look forward to reading more of Wyndham's books soon, although I'm not yet sure which one to try next; The Kraken Wakes seems to be speaking to me at this early stage, but if any Wyndham fans have any recommendations then I'm open to them!