The Kraken Wakes - John Wyndham

Published by Penguin Books: England, 1955.

This is a fun old-school science fiction novel with a deep-sea twist. After a series of unexplained phenomena around the world, humanity comes to realise that the ocean depths have been colonised by aliens who require the high atmospheric pressure of the depths to survive. Some scientists suggest just leaving the colonists be, but deadly interactions between the aliens and humanity gradually increase, until the colonists decide that humanity must be wiped out in order for them to live in peace.

The novel never actually introduces us to the aliens. We are instead told the story by a few survivors reminiscing on what has happened, and only know what humanity as a whole is privy to. It also ends in a fairly unresolved manner.

But for classic science fiction fans it is a lot of fun and an easy read.

Completed 21 May 2019.

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