A powerful post-apocalyptic allegory of persecution & intolerance the Penguin Modern Classics edition of John Wyndham's science fiction masterpiece The Day of the Triffids contains an introduction by M John Harrison Nuclear war has devastated the world bringing with it a host of genetic mutations In the bleak primitive society that has emerged from its ruins any sign of deviation no matter how small is ruthlessly rooted out & destroyed David lives in fear of discovery for he is part of a secret group of children who are able to communicate with each other by transferring thought-shapes into each other's minds As they grow older they feel increasingly isolated Then one of them marries a 'norm' with terrifying consequences John Wyndham (1903-1969) the son of a barrister tried a number of careers including farming law commercial art & advertising before writing short stories intended for sale in 1925 After serving in the Civil Service & the Army during the Second World War he decided to try writing a modified form of Science Fiction which he called 'logical fantasy' Among his most famous books are The Day of the Triffids (1951) The Kraken Wakes (1953) The Chrysalids (1955) The Midwich Cuckoos (1957 filmed twice as Village of the Damned) Trouble with Lichen (1960) & Chocky (1968) If you enjoyed The Chrysalids you might like Arthur Miller's The Crucible also available in Penguin Modern Classics' One of those few authors whose compulsive readability is a compliment to the intelligence' Spectator