ginbott's review against another edition
3.0
First published in 1955, this science fiction novel, written by John Wyndham, may very well be one of the first of the religious post-apocalyptical stories many readers encountered. The story is set several thousand years in the future, in Waknuk, an agricultural, somewhat primitive settlement, in the now more habitable Labrador region. The people who survived what is known as the ‘Tribulation’ have established a fiercely fundamentalist Christian society.
Whispers and rumours continue to mention the ‘Old People’, the advanced society – much like our own – that was destroyed during this ‘Tribulation’ by God to punish them for their sins. As a result, this post-tribulation society has made it their first and foremost responsibility to ensure the purity of all inhabitants. Mutation or deviance of any kind in plants, animals and humans has to be dealt with swiftly in order to keep the work of the Devil out and only allow those elements that are in God’s image to flourish. Clearly this has lead to disturbing practices.
It is in this place that we meet David, our narrator. The novel covers a period of around 7 years and we first meet David when he is a precocious and contemplative 10 year-old. David belongs to the Strorm family, and his father Joseph Strorm is one of the most extreme fundamentalists in Waknuk. However, David’s ability to observe his surroundings allows for a more nuanced perspective of the doctrines that he has grown up with.
Rather than taking these rules, quite literally, as gospel, David is faces with several revelations that lead him to question the doubt-free surroundings he was brought up in. As the novel reaches its climax David discovers that the world is a much bigger place than he could have imagined filled with all sorts of people who may or may not reflect God’s true image.
While the novel raises interesting theories and gives the reader some food for thought, the nature of the Christian fundamentalism is hammered home in such as way that while Wyndham is trying to show the flawed nature of these kinds of dogmatic beliefs he himself becomes rather preachy in the process.
Additionally, the characters never fully come to life – for this reader at least – they remain one-dimensional, telling rather than showing their emotional plights, and this leads to a less than strong investment in their fate. The novel has plenty of elements to keep a reader engaged, but it never fully engrosses and this imagined future remains a fairly simple sci-fi story rather than a disturbing and thought-provoking examination of the nature of fundamentalist faith in a post-apocalyptical environment.
Whispers and rumours continue to mention the ‘Old People’, the advanced society – much like our own – that was destroyed during this ‘Tribulation’ by God to punish them for their sins. As a result, this post-tribulation society has made it their first and foremost responsibility to ensure the purity of all inhabitants. Mutation or deviance of any kind in plants, animals and humans has to be dealt with swiftly in order to keep the work of the Devil out and only allow those elements that are in God’s image to flourish. Clearly this has lead to disturbing practices.
It is in this place that we meet David, our narrator. The novel covers a period of around 7 years and we first meet David when he is a precocious and contemplative 10 year-old. David belongs to the Strorm family, and his father Joseph Strorm is one of the most extreme fundamentalists in Waknuk. However, David’s ability to observe his surroundings allows for a more nuanced perspective of the doctrines that he has grown up with.
Rather than taking these rules, quite literally, as gospel, David is faces with several revelations that lead him to question the doubt-free surroundings he was brought up in. As the novel reaches its climax David discovers that the world is a much bigger place than he could have imagined filled with all sorts of people who may or may not reflect God’s true image.
While the novel raises interesting theories and gives the reader some food for thought, the nature of the Christian fundamentalism is hammered home in such as way that while Wyndham is trying to show the flawed nature of these kinds of dogmatic beliefs he himself becomes rather preachy in the process.
Additionally, the characters never fully come to life – for this reader at least – they remain one-dimensional, telling rather than showing their emotional plights, and this leads to a less than strong investment in their fate. The novel has plenty of elements to keep a reader engaged, but it never fully engrosses and this imagined future remains a fairly simple sci-fi story rather than a disturbing and thought-provoking examination of the nature of fundamentalist faith in a post-apocalyptical environment.
ipb1's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Wyndham's novels and stories as a teen, and re-reading this decades later I enjoyed this just as much again. Oh sure it isn't of the highest literary order, but if you read him as a slightly chronologically belated 'Golden Age SF' writer you can suspend disbelief, go with the flow, and just enjoy.
liv_reads_pp's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
cdhotwing's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
at806's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Xenophobia, Genocide, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Hate crime, and Gun violence
Moderate: Torture
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Honestly had a great time, want a sequel though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Ableism, Death, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
djcobrand's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay. I vaguely remember reading it in high school and having some fond memories reading it so wanted to read it again. One thing I DONT remember is the crap tonne of grammatical mistakes through! Or maybe that was just the edition I read.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent dystopian, post-apocalyptic novel written in crystalline prose. Young David is beginning to question the fundamentalist society he lives in, where "normalcy" is the only valid state of being, and where any deviations from God's image are purged, whether a malformed potato or a child with an extra toe. David himself is secretly a telepath and hence a "blasphemy". His innate decency and struggle with his pious upbringing is skilfully depicted, and there is something very genuine and touching about this 50s sci-fi tale that's rare these days.
Had I read this as a pre-teen obsessed with being normal, I imagine it would have made a deep impression on me. At twelve I was already convinced I had to be some kind of mutant. The book would probably have given me nightmares and made me compulsively count my fingers and toes. At the very least, I would have experimented with telepathy. Luckily, now that I'm all grown up, I was able to enjoy reading this with only the slightest shudder.
I also like the cover of this Penguin edition, though the green mantis-like monster has nothing to do with the plot. Would have been pretty awesome if it did.
Had I read this as a pre-teen obsessed with being normal, I imagine it would have made a deep impression on me. At twelve I was already convinced I had to be some kind of mutant. The book would probably have given me nightmares and made me compulsively count my fingers and toes. At the very least, I would have experimented with telepathy. Luckily, now that I'm all grown up, I was able to enjoy reading this with only the slightest shudder.
I also like the cover of this Penguin edition, though the green mantis-like monster has nothing to do with the plot. Would have been pretty awesome if it did.
amelo109's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0