Opinion upon Wyndham

[ray gower]

Wyndhams books would be excellent. Except for one small problem- The last thirty pages are missing.

Like a rollercoaster, you start at the bottom slowly climbing the slope, then roll helterskelter through pages of excitement, Only to find there is a garbbled three line paragraph and ...
Nothing. That is it!

Whether he ran out of time, or simply got bored, I don't know but his best known works are like that 'Day of the Trifids', 'Kraken Wakes'.

Chocy he did complete, but it was a terrible book to read.

I'm told that Day of the Trifids is on the schools required reading list. How do they explain there is supposed to be an end to a story using this as an example?

 

[Dave]

I think you overstate the argument, but there is some truth there. You could easily add 'The Midwitch Cuckoos' to your list.

I've read all his works at some point, though I can't remember all of it any more.

I prefer 'The Chrysalids' and I think that has a beginning, middle and very good end to it, even if it isn't a surprise.

 

[ray gower]

Don't think I ever read Midwitch Cuckoos, at least not all of it.

I do recall Chrysalids, the outcome was pretty well done and dusted before halfway. But yes, there was an end and it carried well.

 

[Iron Harbinger]

Im in a play of Chrysalids, and am playin sum guy called John Strorm. Being as i havnet got teh script yet, i hav no idea about the character. Thought sum1 on here might be able to help out ther.

:alienooh: :dead: :evil: :dead: :alienooh:

 

[rde]

I know what you mean about abrupt endings; Bob Shaw was a ******* for it as well. Any cynical person would remember that in the good old days most books (especially Panther and a few other imprints) always had exactly 192 pages. I often wondered how far kerning would take you towards that; perhaps a little of the old 'and then they won' syndrome was at work.

I must also confess to liking Choky. However, I only read it after watching the rather excellent TV series based thereon, so my opinion my have been coloured somewhat.

 

[Dave]

Re: Character from 'The Chrysalids'.

Originally posted by Iron Harbinger
Im in a play of Chrysalids, and am playin sum guy called John Strorm. Being as i havnet got teh script yet, i hav no idea about the character. Thought sum1 on here might be able to help out ther.

:alienooh: :dead: :evil: :dead: :alienooh:

Joseph Strorm is the father of the main character, David. He obeys the strict rules, that root out and destroy genetic deviations from the cruelly rigid norm, as offences and abominations, exactly to the letter of the law. He is the largest landowner and a magistrate. His house is full of references to texts about offences and blashemies.

Why don't you read it, it's only 200 pages long.

 

[Iron Harbinger]

I will read it when they give me the script on Wednesday. Thanks Dave!

:alienooh: :dead: :evil: :dead: :alienooh:

 

[BAYLOR]

Ive read Day of the Triffids years ago and rather liked it and his post apocalyptic novel Rebirth

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I've long enjoyed his work, there is something about the British psyche that "enjoys" a good apocalypse...