The Day of the Triffids

By: John Wyndham

Narrated by: Kingsley Ben-Adir

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1951 John Wyndham published his novel The Day of the Triffids to moderate acclaim. Fifty-two years later, this horrifying story is a science-fiction classic, touted by The Times (London) as having 'all the reality of a vividly realised nightmare'.

Bill Masen, bandages over his wounded eyes, misses the most spectacular meteorite shower England has ever seen. Removing his bandages the next morning, he finds masses of sightless people wandering the city. He soon meets Josella, another lucky person who has retained her sight, and together they leave the city, aware that the safe, familiar world they knew a mere 24 hours before is gone forever.

But to survive in this post-apocalyptic world, one must survive the Triffids, strange plants that years before began appearing all over the world. The Triffids can grow to over seven feet tall, pull their roots from the ground to walk and kill a man with one quick lash of their poisonous stingers. With society in shambles, they are now poised to prey on humankind. Wyndham chillingly anticipates bio-warfare and mass destruction, 50 years before their realisation, in this prescient account of Cold War paranoia.

About the author: John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Benyon Harris was born in 1903, the son of a barrister. He tried a number of careers including farming, law, commercial art and advertising, and started writing short stories, intended for sale, in 1925. From 1930 to 1939 he wrote stories of various kinds under different names, almost exclusively for American publications, while also writing detective novels. During the war he was in the Civil Service and then the Army. In 1946 he went back to writing stories for publication in the USA and decided to try a modified form of science fiction, a form he called 'logical fantasy'.

©1951 John Wyndham (P)2021 Audible, Ltd

Classic Excellent

It has been decades since I’ve found such a fine example of my old, favorite sub-genre of apocalypse fiction. It ranks with Alas, Babylon and Earth Abides, Lucifer’s Hammer, Canticle for Leibowitz, and other classics. I wonder if much of this zombie nonsense was ripped off from this excellent source. I suppose it is all Greener than You Think, Albert Wiener! ;-)

Good story but outstanding narration

Enjoyed listening to this story, but it was the narration which really took it to another level. Kingsley Ben-Adir’s narration really is more voice acting than narration, and despite the many passages in the book with different characters speaking in turn, I could always tell who was who because each had a distinct “voice.” Disappointed to see that this talented narrator has done so few other audiobooks!

Nice read of human survival

What a great novel that has definitely influenced other novels along the way as well as survival movies about end of days

Compelling Start But Story Drags After Awhile

Less action oriented than expected. Instead, dwells on the philosophical aspects of the world ending as we know it.

A Sci-fi Masterpiece

I love The Day of the Triffids, it's a spectacularly timeless tale that is expertly narrated in this iteration. There are a number of versions of the story available, some of which have been (needlessly) edited down to omit some moments of context that I feel enrich the narrative. This version of the story, as far as I can tell, is an unabridged edition.

If you're a fan of sci-fi or horror (or even more specifically, zombie movies, which seem to have borrowed a whole lot from this novel to form the tropes of the genre), then I reckon you'll thoroughly enjoy The Day of the Triffids. The story is a slow burn at times but I feel that this gives the reader/listener the proper amount of time to immerse themselves in the moments of respite, which elevates the moments of terror.

Great early SciFi!

A very engaging if somewhat predictable story with some outstanding prose in parts. It was a little hard to differentiate the change of characters as the narrator/reader’s voice was very similar for all, but still a great and fun listen!

Apocalypse 101

This is not my favorite Wyndham book. Additionally, we have here one of the WORST narrators ever. (Don’t get me started on him; trying to write about the book.) I carried on as it became clear how special this book is. Here is a list.

Apocalypse
Alien(ish) menace
Survivors find each other and try to collect necessities
Run into various types, some join, many try to rob
Find a new place and start building new life
Unauthorized armed militia

Apocalypse 101. The first. How many novels/movies/tv shows have used these elements? Pretty much all of them. Expected, inevitable, in homage? I really appreciate Wyndham’s books, especially considering when they were written. I would suggest reading this one, rather than listening. Or listen to The Chrysalids instead.

Excellent story!

I have read and enjoyed this book before.
It was a real pleasure to listen to the audio book. The narrator made the story and dialogue come alive. I highly recommend this audio book!

Beautifully written and compelling

You feel the emotions of the characters because they come across as so in tune with their own emotions. All of the characters are strong and wise.
I thoroughly enjoyed the monologue and debate from the characters looking to establish a new order to their civilization.

Simply amazing

instantly became one of my favorite books. It felt like the first of its kind that laid the blueprint for modern zombie apocalypse stories/films. so easy to get through. The author is an amazing story teller, I had to get all his other books I was so hungry for more.