There's something strange going on in the sleepy village of Midwich (sleepy villages are never quite what you expect them to be, don't you agree?). For the narrator, Richard, and his wife Janet, he's only happy that his birthday happened to coincide with the curious event that took place on the 26th of September. John Wyndham's brilliant 1957 classic The Midwich Cuckoos not only is a remarkable science fiction tale but asks all sorts of questions on what is means to be human--what makes us human, what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom, about our laws and culpability and responsibilities and how our morals shape us and guide us, and the collective as opposed to individuality. It can be read on more than one level--simply as a story of dread verging on horror or if you are willing to dig just a little bit deeper it offers so very much more. Lots and lots to ponder here.
A celebration in London takes Richard and Janet away from Midwich for the night and when they try and return they are turned away by the local police telling them that both roads in and out of the village are blocked. As they're residents, however, they're told that literally no one can get into the village. How odd. The pair turn around intending to go back to the next nearest town but decide instead to park and set off across a field in order to sneak back into Midwich. Midwich is a woefully undramatic place to live. Nothing happens there at all. But when they try and walk back into the village proper, Janet first in line, seems to just drop and pass out. Richard stops and hesitates and no amount of urging will get her to stand back up. He thinks at first someone has shot her. And when he continues on, racing to help her . . . it all goes black.
Imagine an invisible dome placed over the village of Midwich. You can't see it or smell it or feel it, but cross some unknown barrier and it fells you. The police bring in the military and they try and demarcate just where this invisible line is by using parakeets. Sort of like the old trick for smelling gas down in the mines. Only when they pull the birds out, they spring back to life, no harm done. Luckily for Richard and Janet, they, too, are quickly pulled back outside whatever line that encompasses the village. And they, too, wake up as if nothing weird happened at all. Shortly thereafter whatever mysterious field that set down over Midwich seems to evaporate and life goes on as normal. With one small difference. Inexplicably all the women of Midwich, no matter age or marital status, if they are of child-bearing age, they have become pregnant!
The 26th comes to be known as "The Dayout". The day time stopped, something set down (at first popular thought is that it was a ploy by the Russians), something extraterrestrial, causing an artificial sleep and changed the face of Midwich. How each woman responds and the men in their lives if there is one, varies greatly. Some are embarrassed or despairing, others (initially at first) embrace the situation. It is decided communally, to not let word seep out into the rest of England, save for what the local police and military are aware of. The townspeople fear scientists arriving on their doorsteps to say nothing of the media and taking over their lives. They think they can just carry on and deal with the problem themselves.
"Problem" is something of an understatement. Janet has been exempted from the condition not having been in Midwich when whatever set down, well, set down and did whatever it did. The women all begin giving birth at about the same time. The babies seem normal--boys and girls, all very random. They share one feature, however, they seem to have golden eyes. When the mothers are all safely delivered of their babies, they just get on with the business of regular daily life. The women who were simply, and unfortunately, passing through Midwich or working there temporarily, try to return to wherever they came from. But something seems to "make" them turn around and return to Midwich. If not the mothers themselves, then some surrogate guardian--as long as the child is returned to the village.
And then things begin to get really weird. I want to tell you more, but I don't want to ruin it for you either. I want you to go and get this book and read it yourself. As storytelling goes, it is first rate. And if you think you are not a science fiction reader, don't worry. Just go get the book. Wyndham seems a really interesting writer. He dabbled in a number of different careers but eventually took to writing short stories, which seemed to be published exclusively in American publications, while also writing detective novels. He served in the army during WWII, then went back to writing but he began writing a "modified form of science fiction that he called 'logical fantasy'." It works. It's not exactly science fiction yet it is not really horror or mystery or just straightforward fiction. Whatever he called it, it works and it works really really well.
A couple of years ago I read and was suitably impressed by his last published work, Chocky. Now after reading one of his other 'lesser' known books, I think I need to read everything else and have been working on collecting the rest of his works. Itchy fingers has me wanting to pick up one of his other books now. I plan on reading everything I can get my hands on. I think he is best known for The Day of the Triffids and The Chrysalids. I will get to those eventually, but I feel like I am in good hands with any book by him I pick up, so there is no hurry.
Just a few other things to tease and/or tempt you. Chocky felt almost light hearted, but The Midwich Cuckoos is decidedly darker. I thought it quite progressive of Wyndham in his treatment of women and motherhood, as he was spot on in their realization and dread and concern over not being true mothers but hosts. He is never heavy handed but he poses all sorts of questions to his readers. A cuckoo, by the way, is a bird which is a determined survivor. They are known for their ruthless sense of survival--a natural instinct. The novel was adapted to film in 1960 under the title The Village of the Damned. This is a story that just flows, and you never really think about it as you are going, but on reflection when all is said and done I see how carefully this story has been crafted. Wyndham was a master and he certainly found his niche.
Companion reads: I meant to add this to my post, but better late than never. One of the short stories that came in my short story advent calendar would make a perfect companion read, Laura Trunkey's "Circumstances of Hatred". Let's just say it is about Nazis who show up in modern Canada. If you can get your hands on the story, it would be a perfect read to go with the Wyndham. You might also like H.G. Wells's The Island of Dr. Moreau.
And then things get really weird -- as if things weren't weird enough already! :) Glad you liked the book so much. You are going to turn into an SF fan yet!
Posted by: Stefanie | January 18, 2017 at 11:21 AM
I remember reading this at school, you've made me want to pick it up again.
Posted by: Joanne | January 18, 2017 at 12:03 PM
Lovely review...it's a good one isn't it! I love it when you find a new good author and you know ou have some treats in store. Trouble with Lichen is fun too ...I find it hard to pick a favourite..they all are very memorable and really re-readable.
Posted by: Val | January 18, 2017 at 01:18 PM
Ok this definitely sounds weird and quirky and I am intrigued! I've been hearing a lot about Chocky lately too and think this is an author to check out. Great review, Danielle!
Posted by: iliana | January 18, 2017 at 02:53 PM
I remember seeing the movie many years ago, didn't realize it was based on a book.
Posted by: Janet | January 18, 2017 at 05:40 PM
Definitely would like to read this--quirky and weird can be good!
Posted by: Kathy | January 18, 2017 at 07:28 PM
I think Midwich Cuckoos was one of two books that scared me when I was a child and first read it. The other was the Island of Dr Moreau by H G Wells. It would be interesting to see what my reaction would be to it as an adult.
P.S. I've just put my list of books read in 2016 on my Rambles blog.
http://scriptorsenex.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/books-i-read-in-2016.html
Posted by: John Edwards | January 18, 2017 at 11:31 PM
Trailers for the movie Day of the Triffids scared the stuffing out of me when i was a kid, have never watched it but want to read the book. Somewhere i remember hearing that the deal with cuckoos is they lay their eggs in other species nests thus forcing the other birds to raise the young cuckoss. The cukcoos destroy/kill the original birds' eggs/chicks.
Posted by: gina in alabama | January 19, 2017 at 07:23 AM
Isn't that the truth. You should see what came next.... ;) Have you read John Wyndham? Or maybe Bookman has? He seems like an author you would like! Yes, I am easing into sci fi--I love this sort of story--if you can think of other sci fi titles along the same lines, do share!
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:50 PM
It is very much worth a reread. I will certainly be hanging on to my copy.
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:50 PM
Yes, I was surprised by how much I liked it, but then I had a taste of his writing with Chocky a while back so it was only a matter of time. Can't wait to read more by him and I do have Trouble with Lichen--as a matter of fact it was a contender when I was trying to decide which book to read by him next. They do seem like they would stick in your mind--I shall be thinking about this one for some time I think!
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:52 PM
Chocky was a NYRB release in 2014 so it was recently reissued and maybe people are picking it up to read and write about. You should give him a try, I think you would like him very much, too!
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:53 PM
I am curious about the movie now, but I liked the book so much I am not sure I want to try the movie. Did you see the original one from the 60s? It was remade not so very long ago.
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:54 PM
Quirky can be very good. He certainly is a very memorable storyteller and if this is his version of weird, I am all for it!
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:55 PM
I can see how it would! Not sure I would have managed it when I was young, but it is perfect now--lots there to think about. I also read Island of Dr Moreau and it came to mind as I was reading this one actually. It would make a good companion read as a matter of fact. Thanks for the link--I shall be checking it out!
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:56 PM
I have yet to read (or watch the movie) Day of the Triffids, but I shall certainly be picking it up now. I was freaked out by Invasion of the Body Snatchers which I think is similar in theme. Your definition of cuckoo totally fits those Children in the book! I was looking for a good definition of it when I was writing my post and only came up with my description above, but yours is much better! I had no idea cuckoos were so evil!
Posted by: Danielle | January 19, 2017 at 02:59 PM
Saw the original, didn't know they made a remake.
Posted by: Janet | January 19, 2017 at 06:00 PM
Oh, I love how the SSAC Short Story Advent Calendar pops up in your posts: what a great reading experience, hmm? I'm sorry it's done and still enjoying the interviews now, as if the event was running for a second month!
The Day of the Triffids mini-series scared the snot out of my as a kid, but I will work up the nerve to read him eventually. Heheh Glad to hear that you've enjoyed the two you've read so much!
Posted by: Buried In Print | January 20, 2017 at 11:08 AM
Remakes are rarely better than the original--I didn't look at the trailer for it (but I did for the original)--very creepy.
Posted by: Danielle | January 20, 2017 at 03:25 PM
I *still* have to read that last story. Already I am getting behind in my planned 2017 short story reading. Sigh. I think they need to do one for Lent now! ;)
I will have to read Day of the Triffids this year and I bet it will, even as an adult, creep me out. I think the book has been made into a movie several times. I fear this will be a dystopian reading sort of year by chance and maybe by necessity.
Posted by: Danielle | January 20, 2017 at 03:27 PM