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The Kraken Wakes

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The Kraken Wakes

By: John Wyndham
Narrated by: John Sackville
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About this listen

Ships are sinking for no apparent reason, carrying hundreds to a dark underwater grave. Strange fireballs race through the sky above the deepest trenches of the oceans. Something is about to show itself, something terrible and alien, a force capable of causing global catastrophe.

©1953 John Wyndham (P)2022 Audible, Ltd Genetic Engineering Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Space Exploration Fiction Interstellar Scary

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All stars
Most relevant
its like he read 20 thou leagues under the sea and war of the worlds then wrote this....its all over the place..
alas he is not in tbe same ball park

its a muddle

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I really enjoyed listening to this book, the story was “of its time” and the narration really carried me into the plot and interest into how the story would end. Definitely recommend.

Superb story and narration

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Oddly prescient of Global Warming and rising sea levels - thought about in 1953?! I particularly liked the anonymity of the enemy. Less menacing than the Triffids but still with that John Wyndham vein of logic/ruthlessness couched in philosophy and reason. Very minor markers of the times - racism/paternalism, coal and whaling.

An Invisible Menace

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This is a good performance of one of John Wyndham's most enjoyable books. If 'cosy crime' is a genre, is 'cosy apocalypse'? If so, The Kraken Wakes would be a prime example. This is an alien invasion story with echoes of our contemporary climate crisis, making it feel relevant in the 21st century. There's so much to enjoy about it - the wholesome central relationship; the slow build; the remarkable third act... and this version is well narrated.

Apocalyptic fantasy

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Wyndham had a suoerb mind for making a "what if?" story credible. Combined with a flair for narrative & dialogue this makes for a superb story. The narrator is masterful and evokes a 1950s feel without the story feeling outdated - far better than Stephen Fry at this genre.

Outstanding imagination

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