THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS

While this 1951 sci-fi novel may have been written as an allegory of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, it fits into the contemporary post-apocalyptic genre as well. First, a glow generated by a meteor shower leaves almost everyone blind, and then the triffids—tall, poisonous plants—move in. Graeme Malcolm creates the atmosphere of a classic “Twilight Zone” or Chiller Theatre production. The protagonist is Bill Massen, who has not lost his sight because his eyes were patched due to a prior injury. Malcolm portrays Massen as a man who is continually facing events that make little sense. Malcolm’s tone of steady perseverance contributes to the realism of the plot. J.E.M. 2011 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]