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  • The Day of the Triffids

  • By: John Wyndham
  • Narrated by: Alex Jennings
  • Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (92 ratings)

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The Day of the Triffids

By: John Wyndham
Narrated by: Alex Jennings
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Publisher's Summary

Bill Masen wakes up one morning in his hospital bed. His eyes are completely bandaged after an eye operation so he is unable to see. He immediately notices how still and quiet everything is. Having taken off his bandages, he discovers that both inside the hospital and out, the majority of the population (who watched a display of startlingly bright comets in the night sky the previous evening) have all gone blind, and realises that there is a terrifying new enemy for humankind to contend with. This is his thrilling, chilling and enthralling story....

When Bill Masen leaves hospital and goes into the centre of London, he finds that looting is rife as people are grabbing anything from the shelves of shops that they think they might find useful - mainly food.

While surveying the scene he comes across an attractive young woman who also wasn't blinded, Josella. Together they return in her car to her parents' home, only to discover everyone at the house has been murdered by the Triffids. The Triffids are walking plants which carry a vicious and lethal sting. Bill used to have one in his back garden, but far from being completely harmless they have now developed and are threatening to take over the world. They are also strongly linked to the mysterious comet shower.

Bill has an advantage over other surviors in that his job had involved him researching the Triffids. In fact, it was a Triffid sting that was one of the reasons he had been in hospital on the night of the comets, and this incident saved him from blindness. Together, Josella and Bill, whose bond to each other is growing, join a group of people, many of whom are blind but some of whom can see, with plans to head into the country...and their true struggle begins.

©1951 CSA Word (P)2009 CSA Word

What listeners say about The Day of the Triffids

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Just wish an unabridged version was available...

What an absolute classic, thoroughly enjoyed it!
I just wish an unabridged version was available on Audible.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Tc

This is a favourite book, so I was very disappointed that it was an abridged recording.

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3 people found this helpful

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Brilliant

I was hooked on this story 5 minutes in. The story is fabulous and Alex Jennings is a very good narrator. I can imagine that stories like this one inspired many writers of more modern apocalypse-like stories. (It very much reminded me of Romero's Dawn of the Dead.)

One review complained that this story was dated and sexist in it's portrayal of women. I have to assume that the writer of said review didn't actually listen to the whole book. The female characters are strong, capable and very bold.

There isn't anything that I don't love about this story. Except maybe that it wasn't longer. I would happily have listened for many more hours.

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2 people found this helpful

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Always love thit book.

This book is wonder and I guess now is also a kind of period peice. Seem to be set in 1950 London and is one of the first serious Sci-Fi books

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A classic tale

As a avid plant lover, my husband recommended this book. It absolutely did not dissapoint and I highly recommend everyone listen to this story. Very well written and read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Excellent oration, classic story

A classic of the apocalypse genre. Relatable and fallible characters. Plausible and realistic societal collapse.

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Oldie but goodie

What a wonderful story. Just enough detail to engage your immigration. Loved it from start to finish.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Post-apocalyptic science fiction

"You don't seriously suggest they are talking when they make that rattling noise." Do you John Wyndham?

After reading John's book I felt a bit spooked. The wind picked up, the thunder rolled, and finally the pitter patter of rain sounded like Triffid's titter-tattling as they do. I wondered if somehow this apocalyptic Sci-Fi was about to take one paraphyletic leap out of Wyndam's novel and sting and snip away my reality. That's how this book made me feel. I can't explain it. I hardly understood it but I liked it.

Having been made to read this book many years ago for school - I was not impressed by it then, and cheatingly wrote the required book report for the teacher - you know how that goes: read the blurb, read a few paragraphs here and there, read a bit in the middle and the last chapter; generally read as little as possible then guess and write what the teacher wanted to hear. I'd hated that book (and reading in general). My how things change. Reading it again now as an adult has changed my whole perception. I will be reading it again :) Fun read.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Dated and sexist

The portrayal of women as useless nincompoops might’ve been all well and good back in the day, today though not so much.

“Oh Bill, whatever shall we do?!”

The women who do make efforts to be independent and make their own decisions are lampooned for pig-headedness.

And the ending is a cop-out.

Yawn, puke.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

the Narrator was great! really enjoyed the story and the characters. Woyld recommend this book

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