John Wyndham's The Secret People

John Wyndham is one of my favorite writers from the British school of SF which also includes Arthur C. Clarke, John Christopher and J. G. Ballard. The thing about Wyndham that many don't realize is that he re-invented himself several times.

The first was his earliest days as John Beynon Harris when he wrote some of the best early Pulp stories between 1931-1934. Having conquered stories he wrote novels as John Benyon and these include classics like The Secret People (1935). Also known as Sub-Sahara because it takes place in the Sahara Desert, where a rocket plane crashes and discovers a hidden race living beneath the desert. A Stowaway to Mars was published in 1936. This would be the last novel he wrote under that name.

After this period he became a writer of more sophisticated short stories as John Wyndham. These includes stories like "Consider Her Ways"(1956). He also wrote as two people during this time The Outward Urge (1959) by John Wyndham and Lucas Parkes. (Lucas and Parkes were his two of his middle names.)

His last incarnation is perhaps his best known when he wrote the classic novels such as The Day of the Triffids(1951), The Chrysalids (1955), The Midwich Cuckoos(1957) and Chocky (1968). His influence in this field is second only to the master from which he learned, H. G. Wells.

I have to admit a preference for Wyndham's earliest and his latest works as my favorites. The middle period while technically better than the first lack the old sense of wonder. His later works are the culmination of all he had written before. The Day of the Triffids ranks in my top five favs for monster novels. And that's saying something.

GW

G. W. Thomas has been published since 1987. He has appeared in over 400 publications including Writer's Digest, The Writer and Black October Magazine. His website is www.gwthomas.org