A rediscovered, outstandingly prescient crime novel written in the lead-up to World War II, by one of the twentieth century's most brilliant-and neglected-science fiction and horror writers, whom Stephen King called "the best writer of science fiction that England has ever produced."
"Genuinely creepy . . . Wyndham really was a terrific storyteller."-Jo Walton
England, 1935: Phyllida Shiffer's marriage has just ended in divorce. She heads home, expecting to be welcomed with open arms by her father, a brilliant (if slightly distracted) scientist. But her father's house is locked up; he is nowhere to be found; and there are suspicious men who seem to think that Phyllida herself might hold the key to her father's latest scientific discovery. . . .
A rediscovered, outstandingly prescient crime novel written in the lead-up to World War II, by one of the twentieth century's most brilliant-and neglected-science fiction and horror writers, whom Stephen King called "the best writer of science fiction that England has ever produced."
"Genuinely creepy . . . Wyndham really was a terrific storyteller."-Jo Walton
England, 1935: Phyllida Shiffer's marriage has just ended in divorce. She heads home, expecting to be welcomed with open arms by her father, a brilliant (if slightly distracted) scientist. But her father's house is locked up; he is nowhere to be found; and there are suspicious men who seem to think that Phyllida herself might hold the key to her father's latest scientific discovery. . . .
John Wyndham (1903–1969) is considered a pioneer of science fiction and horror, though he preferred to think of himself as a “logical fantasist.” He began writing science fiction and detective stories in the 1920s, but shifted to science fiction post-WWII, focusing on themes of disaster, invasion, and first contact. His best-known works include The Day of the Triffids (1951) and The Midwich Cuckoos (1957). A pacifist and socialist, Wyndham was alive to the impact of sexism, classism, and prejudice and his novels reflect his liberal politics.
Praise for John Wyndham
“The best writer of science fiction that England has ever
produced.”—Stephen King
“Wyndham was a true English visionary, a William Blake with a
science doctorate.”—David Mitchell
“[Wyndham] did more than any other British writer since H. G. Wells
to make science fiction popular. . . . His plots, however
fantastic, were characterized by inventiveness, clarity and a
profound sympathy for mankind.”—The New York Times
“[John Wyndham] singlehandedly invented a whole pile of sub-genres
of science fiction. It’s as if . . . he was plugged in to the
world’s subconscious fears and articulated them one by one in
short, amazingly readable novels.”—Jo Walton
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