Rating: 
Summary: A Classic Book
Review: Definately not one to miss. A great story with an interesting plot. My favorite aspect of the work is its treatment of biological principles. Aside from the other-wordly nature of the story, biologically most of the ideas are pretty sound.
Rating:
Summary: Attack of the killer plants (and then some)
Review: First published in 1951, this classic science-fiction novel was unique for its time (although undoubtedly inspired by "War of the Worlds"). The story follows the plight of the world's few remaining survivors after three (possibly) coincidental cataclysmic events of uncertain origins: the genetic development of mobile, carnivorous plants; the blinding of the earth's inhabitants by what may or may not have been a meteor shower; and the sudden onset of a mysterious and fatal disease. Most of the world's inhabitants are sightless and unable to defend themselves against the marauding plants, and even those with vision succumb to the plague. End-of-the-world scenarios have of course been done to death, especially in B-movies, but "Day of the Triffids" has withstood the test of time--not because of its plot, but because it anticipated many other works and because the writing and themes are a cut above your typical pulp fiction. Nearly every episode in the book has been replicated in dozens of science fiction and horror movies and novels. Filmgoers who have seen "Resident Evil" or "28 Days Later" will recognize the opening scene, in which Wiliam Masen wakes up in a hospital room, unaware that the world as he knows it has come to a devastating end. Other scenes recall the "Night of the Living Dead" series and similar films, and the descriptions of the survivors' efforts to rebuild society clearly influenced many later works of dystopian fiction. Wyndham adopts a minimalist "noir" style for the first sections, using a surreal first-person perspective to convey the confusion, fear, and isolation afflicting William Masen while he tries to figure out what has happened. When the focus of the book changes from the lone individual to bands of the living, the author shifts to a more expansive and analytic prose that fleshes out the book's social and political commentary. It is the exploration of these themes that makes the book so fascinating. As various groups of survivors unite together, they adopt different modes of government: a communalism that tries to rescue as many people as possible, a fundamentalism entrenched in its devotion to outdated moral codes, a militarism that quickly degenerates to totalitarianism, and a rationalism relying on the survival of the fittest to guarantee as many new offspring as possible. Each of these myopic systems suffers from a slavishness to one goal at the expense of any other: preventing as many deaths as possible, preserving morality, maintaining law and order, and insuring the survival of the species. Following the traditions of the best dystopian fiction, Wyndham uses his story to examine the faults with our present world and its communist, theocratic, authoritarian, and Darwinian societies. The ending of the book is just open-ended and ambiguous enough to have allowed for a sequel, by Wyndham wasn't the type to write or authorize one (although Simon Clark published "The Night of the Triffids" two years ago). This closing ambiguity seems appropriate: in the real world, there are never as many solutions as there are problems.
Rating:
Summary: Attack of the killer plants (and then some)
Review: First published in 1951, this classic science-fiction novel was unique for its time (although undoubtedly inspired by "War of the Worlds"). The story follows the plight of the world's few remaining survivors after three (possibly) coincidental cataclysmic events of uncertain origins: the genetic development of mobile, carnivorous plants; the blinding of the earth's inhabitants by what may or may not have been a meteor shower; and the sudden onset of a mysterious and fatal disease. Most of the world's inhabitants are sightless and unable to defend themselves against the marauding plants, and even those with vision succumb to the plague. End-of-the-world scenarios have of course been done to death, especially in B-movies, but "Day of the Triffids" has withstood the test of time--not because of its plot, but because it anticipated many other works and because the writing and themes are a cut above your typical pulp fiction. Nearly every episode in the book has been replicated in dozens of science fiction and horror movies and novels. Filmgoers who have seen "Resident Evil" or "28 Days Later" will recognize the opening scene, in which Wiliam Masen wakes up in a hospital room, unaware that the world as he knows it has come to a devastating end. Other scenes recall the "Night of the Living Dead" series and similar films, and the descriptions of the survivors' efforts to rebuild society clearly influenced many later works of dystopian fiction. Wyndham adopts a minimalist "noir" style for the first sections, using a surreal first-person perspective to convey the confusion, fear, and isolation afflicting William Masen while he tries to figure out what has happened. When the focus of the book changes from the lone individual to bands of the living, the author shifts to a more expansive and analytic prose that fleshes out the book's social and political commentary. It is the exploration of these themes that makes the book so fascinating. As various groups of survivors unite together, they adopt different modes of government: a communalism that tries to rescue as many people as possible, a fundamentalism entrenched in its devotion to outdated moral codes, a militarism that quickly degenerates to totalitarianism, and a rationalism relying on the survival of the fittest to guarantee as many new offspring as possible. Each of these myopic systems suffers from a slavishness to one goal at the expense of any other: preventing as many deaths as possible, preserving morality, maintaining law and order, and insuring the survival of the species. Following the traditions of the best dystopian fiction, Wyndham uses his story to examine the faults with our present world and its communist, theocratic, authoritarian, and Darwinian societies. The ending of the book is just open-ended and ambiguous enough to have allowed for a sequel, by Wyndham wasn't the type to write or authorize one (although Simon Clark published "The Night of the Triffids" two years ago). This closing ambiguity seems appropriate: in the real world, there are never as many solutions as there are problems.
Rating: 
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: Great book, really makes you think. Set in England, it has a very english feel and style to it. Wyndham writes "future fiction" rather than science fiction. There's not much science in this book and what occurs in the book does not require a great leap for the mind to imagine it might happen one day. That's what I like about Wyndham's novels, they are so accessable to all types, not just the sci fi geeks. Every turn that the protagonists take makes sense and you are left thinking - "That's exactly what I would do" or "what would I do in that situation". I think anyone who studied sociology or has an interest in it, would enjoy this book, as several issues are raised.
Rating:
Summary: Forget the laughable movie - this is a great book
Review: I am fortunate that I had not seen the movie before picking up this book--it would have persuaded me not to buy it. Day of the Triffids is a fantatstic science fiction story written in the 1950s but is hardly outdated. The main reason that the story stays current is that the main issues in this book are not about technology (like a lot of scifi) but deal with human psychology and cultural issues following a mass catastrophe. (I would like to ask Margaret Atwood if she was influenced by some of Wyndham's ideas about gender issues discussed in this book before she wrote the Handmaid's Tale...there are some definate similarities concerning the post-apocolyptic role of women). If you live in London, this book is especially good. Everyday I walk past the various parks and university areas that the triffids run over in the book. The story really comes to life when you walk past Russell Square and imagine triffids swaying in the wind.
Rating:
Summary: life-changing!
Review: I couldn't believe I would like this book when my dad recommended it to me. But I had to read something anyway for my English-class and man was my first impression wrong! This book changed my life! I was wondering all the time what I would do in that situation and kept on fantasising about that after finishing the book. It also got me really into the (post-)apocalyptic novels and the other books of Wyndham. Still, this one is my all-time favourite. A book that comes close is 'Lucifer' by Pournelle & Niven. But it's also nice to read the follow-up: 'the night of the triffids'. I hope some day someone will write yet another book about triffids.
Rating: 
Summary: A typical message.
Review: I enjoyed the Midwich Cuckoos more, and reading both books is redundancy. The basic message behind this is Man Is Heading For Destruction and How To Survive In a World Of Few Survivors. If you've read enough of that, don't read this. On the pro-side, the style of writing is Wyndham's usual flowing one so the book gets finished quicker.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful and interesting as you'd expect... and scary too!
Review: I fell in love with Wyndham after "The Kraken Wakes"--his novels, just saturated with intelligent, thought-provoking, sometimes humorous and sometimes scary ideas reminds me of Aldous Huxley. "Triffids" is another fantastic piece of 'Science Fiction'. Wyndham once again takes us through yet another variation of The End Of The World As We Know It, and this one is very very eerie indeed. The desolation, the tribalness of the survivors, and the sheer loneliness and isolation pressing down on his hero, William Masen, as he wanders through the wreckage of London in search of his post-apocalypse friend, are very effective. So two are the matter-of-fact and chilling suicides of the blind survivors he comes across--one blind doctor tells Masen to lead him to his office, asks kindly in which direction the window is, and proceeds to jump through it without another word. Unfortunately it's just not as accomplished as 'Kraken Wakes'. And since I read 'Kraken' first, I have to give this one less star. I don't know if its just less believeable, or that Wyndham touches on a few of the same themes (and even locations!) in both novels that rubs off some of the magic, but there you have it. However, that's only a comparative comment. This book is fantastic. Everyone should read it.
Rating:
Summary: A 2 generation pleaser
Review: I first read The Chrysalids when I was 10 years old. It captivated me, and I have read it many times again over the years. Recently I introduced my 13 year old daughter to this book. By the end of the first chapter she was equally enthralled. This is a kid who usually refuses to read anything consisting of more than 3 paragraphs. Thank you John Wyndham...
Rating:
Summary: day of the triffids
Review: I first saw the movie Day of the Triffids With Howard Keel and was interested in reading the book. I found that the book was very interesting and thought provocing as it has the elements many of which can be found being put forward in scientific circles today. Man tinkering around with genetics that may one day engulf and possibly overshadow mankind itself by mistake or mutation. I found the book to be one that once I started I had to finnish to see the outcome. The book puts man against the triffids but the handicap gives the plants an advantage over most of mankind. The few people that have retained thier sight have their hands full staying alive. This book makes the one who reads it actually become one of the charactors either main or background. This book is exciting reading. Mr.Wyndham was truly a writer before his time
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