I first read John Wyndham's distopic novel on my smarter friend Jordana's suggestion. I wasn't much of a science fiction reader then either. That would have been before 1995, because I also read it in Mr. Bartlett's grade nine English class. My copy is stamped "École publique Gabrielle Roy" which I means I must have ... adopted it before 1994.
I have read it a few times since as well. I have an old penguin edition, the kind with the orange spine. It's pocket-sized, it travels well. There is a scaley green alien on the cover which continues to bother me because there is no scaley green alien in the story.
Cover art aside, it holds up well. It read well 15 years ago 'cause if any one can relate to David the narrator, it's a teenager.
– he becomes aware that he is different from everyone else.
– his parents don't understand. Only his friends do.
– everyone else's parents are nicer than his own.
– the whole world is out to get him.
Now it reads like a slim, nicely paced salvation story, with war references.
Stray observations
I like the idea that if there was nuclear war the only people to survive would be Newfoundlanders and New Zealanders. However I would be inclined to argue that Newfoundlanders wouldn't have given up their seafaring tradition that easily, but then I guess I don't know the extent of the nuclear holocaust.
I'm rather madly keen to get Michael Lewis's The Big Short and Citizens of London
, by Lynne Olson, in case anyone (Mum? Dad?) is wondering what to get me for my birthday. Just saying.
