I love 50's sci fi, I love apocalyptical stories, plus nature gets her revenge. What’s not to love? Again, London meets her demise, this time when the population is struck blind and “Audrey II” style plants of possible extraterrestrial origin start ganging up on the groping survivors. The book is thoughtful, readable, and only suffers a little from the shallow characterizations that I am beginning to suspect are symptomatic of the 50's themselves. The “heroine” is pert and heroic and wants babies; the “hero” works his tail off making sure she is safe. That pretty much defines and explains everything these two characters have to offer. It’s apocalyptical romance, which is why Brian Aldiss sniffingly referred to this tale as a “cozy catastrophe.”
Does Brian Aldiss not play well with other authors? Ian Watson said the two of them were enemies, which seems a weighty word. It also seems to me that the zombie movie 28 Days Later stole shamelessly from this story. Both protagonists wake up in a hospital to find a disaster has taken place; both are drafted by militant survivalists who hole up in country mansions.
Characters also reflect cultural expectations of their times. That’s important to remember.
Does Brian Aldiss not play well with other authors? Ian Watson said the two of them were enemies, which seems a weighty word. It also seems to me that the zombie movie 28 Days Later stole shamelessly from this story. Both protagonists wake up in a hospital to find a disaster has taken place; both are drafted by militant survivalists who hole up in country mansions.
Characters also reflect cultural expectations of their times. That’s important to remember.
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