Scan barcode
mahtzahgay's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
And we danced, on the brink of an unknown future, to an echo from a vanished past.
Unlike The Chrysalids, John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids leaves much to be desired. While certainly a sci-fi horror classic, The Day of the Triffids starts with a bang, which quickly fizzles out into a lacklustre middle and end. The triffids themselves are rarely encountered, the book focusing on the more mundane interactions between Humans and their psyche. While this could make for an interesting exploration and premise, where Wyndham explores the psychological and social breakdown of Humanity and greater society, all it ends up as is a dull and overdone pessimistic piece about Humanity returning to hunter-gatherer society with extra traditional gender roles. The most interesting reading during the book is the few paragraphs we get about triffid behaviour, and the very brief two encounters with the creatures; these few-and-far-between encounters don't build tension or suspense, instead, they work to emphasise how weak the rest of the characters and writing is.
Ultimately, The Day of the Triffids is a disappointing read that does not live up to its hype.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Miscarriage
More...