bundy23's review
2.0
I'm not sure if the plot was more or less dull than the pompous writing that made it feel like it was published in 1850. This one was really hard to get through... and then you finally get to the end AND THERE'S NO SQUID!!!
ghostmuppet's review
2.0
I have read a couple of John Wyndham books in the past, and really enjoyed them. This did not capture me at all, and i was glad when i finished it. There are still a couple of titles i would still like to read, and this has not put me off reading them.
owenglasgow's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
heatherbirchall's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
professorfeathers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
georgegracegibson's review
2.0
Boooooring. I think I had to understand more sea terminology to really get into this book.
toniherrero's review
1.0
Con el gran recuerdo (aunque lejano, todo hay que decirlo) de "El dia dels trífids" (tanto de la serie británica de los 80 como del libro), me lancé a por esta otra obra de John Wyndham. El planteamiento de una invasión alienígena a partir de una especie de lluvia de meteoros me parecía muy atractivo. Otra cosa es el desarrollo que hace el autor a partir de esa idea. Para que os hagáis una idea he dejado el libro a medias cuando me faltaba una cuarta parte aproximadamente: estaba hastiado del ritmo lento de su trama y echaba de menos un poco de acción o, por lo menos, ver a los aliens, que solo se llegan a vislumbrar pasada la media parte. Total, que el libro me ha resultado aburrido a más no poder. Los personajes de Mike y Phyllis me han resultado harto cansinos (hasta el punto de desear que un bicho se los zampase) y de krakens nada de nada (por lo menos hasta donde he llegado) más allá de una escena con 'tanques marinos' que más bien da risa.
El autor busca aquí dar un enfoque social a la trama, centrarse en como reaccionaría la humanidad ante una eventualidad semejante. La idea es buena, pero creo que la ejecución es fallida: más allá de la hipótesis del doctor Alastair Bocker sobre los meteoros los únicos datos que barajamos son artículos periodísticos, reuniones y comités gubernamentales, elucubraciones domésticas de la susodicha pareja de cargantes reporteros,... En definitiva: mucho dato y poca chica. En este aspecto me gusta mucho más el enfoque que hace Karel Čapek en "La guerra de las salamandras", con sus recortes de periódico, sus artículos pseudo-científicos y su humor negro. Identifico "El kraken despierta" como un producto a medio camino de "La guerra de los mundos" y la citada "La guerra de las salamandras". El problema es que la obra de Wyndham se queda en terreno de nadie, en un páramo yermo carente de acción y de interés que puede llegar a derrotar al lector con un rotundo KO por aburrimiento. Una auténtica pena.
El autor busca aquí dar un enfoque social a la trama, centrarse en como reaccionaría la humanidad ante una eventualidad semejante. La idea es buena, pero creo que la ejecución es fallida: más allá de la hipótesis del doctor Alastair Bocker sobre los meteoros los únicos datos que barajamos son artículos periodísticos, reuniones y comités gubernamentales, elucubraciones domésticas de la susodicha pareja de cargantes reporteros,... En definitiva: mucho dato y poca chica. En este aspecto me gusta mucho más el enfoque que hace Karel Čapek en "La guerra de las salamandras", con sus recortes de periódico, sus artículos pseudo-científicos y su humor negro. Identifico "El kraken despierta" como un producto a medio camino de "La guerra de los mundos" y la citada "La guerra de las salamandras". El problema es que la obra de Wyndham se queda en terreno de nadie, en un páramo yermo carente de acción y de interés que puede llegar a derrotar al lector con un rotundo KO por aburrimiento. Una auténtica pena.
peachy__'s review against another edition
3.0
The Kraken Wakes is a very good piece of science fiction yet not half as good as The Day of The Triffids.
While this last one focused on human relations, identity and the modern hybris of science and technology, The Kraken Wakes, though the storytelling is similar, focuses more on xenophobia and specifically on the problem of mass communication and media. Especially on the lack of responsibility of the media and it's influence on the public opinion.
The first half of the book was quite boring and drawn-out.
It is classified as a horror yet nothing really horrifying was in it in my opinion there really is only one suspenseful moment in the whole book.
While this last one focused on human relations, identity and the modern hybris of science and technology, The Kraken Wakes, though the storytelling is similar, focuses more on xenophobia and specifically on the problem of mass communication and media. Especially on the lack of responsibility of the media and it's influence on the public opinion.
The first half of the book was quite boring and drawn-out.
It is classified as a horror yet nothing really horrifying was in it in my opinion there really is only one suspenseful moment in the whole book.
allisongiovanetti's review against another edition
3.0
"I suppose a book is still a book, even if no one but the writer and his wife ever reads it."
The Kraken Wakes is an amazingly original science fiction novel where large fire aliens inhabit the Earth's oceans. The novel itself was creative, but I don't think science fiction is my favorite genre.
The 50s writing style was so evocative of the script of those black-and-white horror movies like The Blob that you could totally see this book playing out on the big screen. For me, the writing style was very slow and made it hard to focus.
Avoid aliens.
The Kraken Wakes is an amazingly original science fiction novel where large fire aliens inhabit the Earth's oceans. The novel itself was creative, but I don't think science fiction is my favorite genre.
The 50s writing style was so evocative of the script of those black-and-white horror movies like The Blob that you could totally see this book playing out on the big screen. For me, the writing style was very slow and made it hard to focus.
Avoid aliens.