Book Review: The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

Book Review: The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Alien Invasion
Bob's Thoughts: "A Classic Old School Science Fiction Tale, with a twist."
Grade: A
Out of Print, Check Abebooks
100 Books 100 Posts (#7)








John Wyndham may just be the master of the Post Apocalyptic novel. His novel, The Day of the Triffids, is considered by myself, and many others to be one of the top Post Apocalyptic novels of all times. Ever since reading that, I have wanted to get my hands on his other Apocalyptic tale, which isn't easy since it is out of print. I finally scores a copy, and devoured it quickly.

The Kraken Wakes is a different type of alien invasion book. There aren't any lizard men approaching in Faster than Light Space Cruisers, shooting men with laser beams, and stealing out bodies for food. In fact, the invasion itself is murky at best, and the aliens themselves are never understood, which makes the tale even creepier, and more effective.

Wyndham tells the tale in three stages from the perceptive of Cold World era Britain. Wyndham uses cold war paranoia in a sardonic way, to add humor and perspective to the novel. It starts off with weird red spheres fallen from the sky into the deepest part of the oceans, which is blamed on the Russians. As more "spheres" fall, missions are sent out to examine what they may be. Many of these missions end up being destroyed mysteriously, of course, blamed on the Russians and their super secret mini-subs.

Wyndham doles out the action sporadically. We would have a few tragedies, which would get people up in arms, then a lull, which would settle people back down. The few scientist who postulate the possibility of unworldly origins to the terrors in the deep are scoffed at and blacklisted. That of course, is until weird sea tanks begin coming to land, and snatching people.

The Kraken Wakes was definitely ahead of it's time in the many issues it explored. The basic tale is about two vastly different, yet seemingly intelligent species vying for control of the planet, and the differing techniques they use. While the book doesn't give you a good glimpse of the invaders, it uses the invaders to give us a decent look at ourselves.