The Kraken Wakes - by John Wyndham (Paperback)

About the Book

"What if aliens invaded and colonized Earth's oceans rather than its land? Britain, 1953: It begins with red dots appearing across the sky and crashing to the oceans' deeps. At first, many people believe that these aliens are interested in only what's down below. But when the polar ice-caps begin to melt, it becomes clear that these beings are not interested in sharing the Earth and that humankind might just be on the brink of extinction."--

Book Synopsis

An "ingenious, horrifying" (The Guardian) first contact story 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."

"Few books capture the obscure, elliptical way that threats move from the background to the foreground of reality like The Kraken Wakes. . . . Feels all too familiar in today's age of anti-vaxxer disinformation and QAnon conspiracists." --Alexandra Kleeman, from the Introduction

What if aliens invaded and colonized Earth's oceans rather than its land?

Britain, 1953: It begins with red dots appearing across the sky and crashing to the oceans' deeps. At first, many people believe that these aliens are interested in only what's down below. But when the polar ice-caps begin to melt, it becomes clear that these beings are not interested in sharing the Earth and that humankind might just be on the brink of extinction. . . .

Review Quotes

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

About the Author

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--unlike a lot of mid-century genre fiction authors--was alive to the impact of sexism, classism, and prejudice and his novels reflect his liberal politics.