Except where explained otherwise, all listings are novels and novellas. The white mountainsthe city of gold and leadthe pool of firewhen the tripods came john christopher. Books by john christopher authors like john christopher what should i read next. Every kind of grass we need for food is being destroyed by a virus, resulting in carnage, anarchy and a rapid descent to barbarism.
The death of grass by john christopher overdrive rakuten. John christopher, the death of grass plot summary a postapocalyptic vision of the world pushed to the brink by famine, john christophers science fiction masterpiece the death of grass includes an introduction by robert macfarlane. The death of grass by john christopher first published by michael joseph 1956 published in penguin books 1958 reprinted 1963, 1970 prodrome as sometimes happens, death healed a family breach. Written in 1956 just as the postapocalyptic genre started to gain ground, created by the british author samuel youd under the pen name john christopher. The opening sentence of john christopher s 1956 novel would be benign were it not for that cautionary family. The death of grass john christopher robert macfarlane. At first the virus wiping out grass and crops is of little concern to john custance. The death of grass is not a feminist novel, but it can be read as one.
The death of grass by john christopher boomerang books. Matthew jones and ben taylorson discuss the death of grass and cornel wildes 1970 film adaption of the book, no blade of grass on closer to midnight. The death of grass by john christopherit was recently named among the top 10 out of print books in britain, says alfred hickling. This was the first book of john christophers that i had read, and i liked it because his vision of how the. If you enjoyed silent spring, you might like john christopher s the death of grass, also available in penguin modern classics. From decades sam youd the starting point for the death of grass was a novel by ward moore, greener than you think, in which the planet is swamped by a new variety of grass which grows everywhere and unstoppably, suffocating civilization in a blanket of green. Shelley death of grass is the uk version, the american version was titled no blade of. Download the death of grass john christopher robert macfarlane ebook the tripods collection. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the death of grass. Death of grass by christopher abebooks shop for books. The death of grass john christopher, robert macfarlane on. Download these highlights and all our programmes via the. Those regular postapocalyptic tropes i mentioned above were far from regular when author john christopher wrote the book 1956, and the chilling tension of the moral dilemmas are done as well here as anywhere ive seen.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Dec 29, 2016 i came to the understanding that all men are friends by convenience and enemies by choice. The death of grass penguin modern classics by christopher, john and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. John christopher, christopher samuel youd, british writer born april 16, 1922, knowsley, lancashire, eng. The book demands respect, and was very innovative for its time. Yesterday i finished the death of grass, which is widely regarded as john christopher s best work and has, regretably, been acclaimed as the finest science fiction novel of all time.
This was the first book of john christopher s that i had read, and i liked it because his vision of how the world would end, via crop failures and environmental problems, seemed to be much more realistic than some authors of the. Life goes on largely as it had in the preindustrial era, as all of humanity is subject to mental controls which prevent anyone from challenging the established order. When society breaks down, its going to be worse for you if youre a woman. Both books share similar post apocalyptic themes, but for some strange reason the death of grass has faded into obscurity, continually overshadowed by those carnivorous triffids. Books by john christopher authors like john christopher. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the death of grass. John christopher 19222012 was the pen name of samuel youd, a prolific writer of science fiction. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. The death of grass is john christopher s best known novel and probably the ultimate disaster story. John christopher, the death of grass plot summary a postapocalyptic vision of the world pushed to the brink by famine, john christopher s science fiction masterpiece the death of grass includes an introduction by robert macfarlane. The death of grass was the first of several of postapocalyptic novels written by christopher. The death of grass penguin modern classics english edition 02.
Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. The death of grass by john christopher librarything. The death of grass ebook by john christopher rakuten kobo. Sep 27, 2016 the death of grass christopher, john, macfarlane, robert on. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Well known for his young adult book the guardians, he won numerous awards for his work. John christophers second novel, the death of grass michael joseph, 1956 was. Terry pratchett robert jordan raymond e feist neil gaiman douglas adams robin hobb orson scott card lev grossman terry goodkind. The death of grass was first published in 1956, just five years after day of the triffids. He also wrote the tripods, which is a series of young adult books that imagine a postapocalyptic world.
While john christopher s novels take place against a backdrop of cataclysmic world events they are all focused on people. John christopher, william gaminara, audible studios. Apr 02, 2009 john christopher 19222012 was the pen name of samuel youd, a prolific writer of science fiction. His novels were popular during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the death of grass 1956, the world in winter 1962, and wrinkle in the skin 1965, all works depicting ordinary people struggling in the midst of apocalyptic catastrophes. The death of grass christopher, john, macfarlane, robert on. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The death of grass kindle edition by christopher, john, macfarlane, robert. Take grass away and the world quickly starves to death. By john christopher first published 1956 recommended reading by a friend who preps. The death of grass ebook written by john christopher. The death of grass paperback or softback by christopher, john and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The death of grass by john christopher farm lane books. Christopher, john pseudonym of christopher samuel youd.
The death of grass 1957 by samuel youd writing as john. John christopher effectively captures human blindness to threatening changes. Buy the death of grass by john christopher 9780141190174 from boomerang books, australias online independent bookstore. This is a welcome addition to penguins lengthening list of the genres which contain classics. Publication date 20090302 topics bbc radio drama language english. The death of grass by john christopherit was recently named among the top 10 outofprint books in britain, says alfred hickling. Download these highlights and all our programmes via the iplayer radio app. The death of grass by john christopher penguin books. Christopher tells the story of david and john, two brothers. The death of grass is a classic postapocalyptic tale of a world without grass. Mar 08, 2008 ccc recommended several books by john christopher and as a result, i have read six of his novels within the last month.
The death of grass published in the united states both in book form, and serialized in the saturday evening post, as no blade of grass is a 1956 postapocalyptic science fiction novel written by the english author sam youd under the pen name john christopher. About the book john christophers the death of grass. While john christopher 19222012 was born as sam youd, he chose to write his science fiction books under multiple pseudonyms. Traveling through time was just the beginning now simon and brad have to survive a reimagined early america in the second book of the alternative history fireball trilogy, from critically acclaimed tripods author john christopher. Sam youd, known professionally as christopher samuel youd, was a british author, best known for his science fiction writings under the pseudonym john christopher, including the novel the death of grass and the young adult novel series the tripods. When hilda custance was widowed in the early summer of 1933, she wrote, for the first time since her marriage thirteen years before. The plot concerns a virus that kills off all forms of grass, including rice and wheat. His novels were popular during the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the death of grass 1956, the world in winter 1962, and wrinkle in the skin 1965, all. Filmed in 1970 as no blade of grass, which is the title of the u. He wrote science fiction short stories as john christopher from 1951 and his first book under that name was a science fiction novel, year of the comet, published by michael joseph in 1955. I came to the understanding that all men are friends by convenience and enemies by choice. Like some of john christopher s other novels, the dialogue and attitudes are dated. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In the first book of john christopher s classic series, it is the year 2100, and the world is controlled by the machines called tripods.
Christopher is no cormac mccarthy, but the death of grass is a compelling novel about the human condition and in an age where we are increasingly concerned about the end of oil, it is as relevant as it was 50 years ago. John christopher project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Those that do include silent springlinda lear, author of rachel carson. A rapidly mutating virus wipes out all of earths grasses, including grain crops. Explore books by john christopher with our selection at. Published as the death of grass and no blade of grass. Themes of friendship, family, the state, globalisation and escape. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device. I hope that john christopher will now begin to receive the recognition he deserves. Carsons books brought ecology into popular consciousnessdaily telegraph very few books change the course of history. Dramatisation of the science fiction novel by john christopher, narrated by david mitchell. A fictional book exploring survival skills for postdisaster landscapes ravaged by global environmental catastrophe, atomic warfare, famine and resultant social anarchy.
At first the virus wiping out grass and crops is of little concern to john. The death of grass by john christopher, 9780141190174, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. The death of grass by john christopher and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The death of grass by john christopher, paperback barnes.
The death of grass 1956 has been praised highly by trusted sources on the blogosphere, and so when i learned that penguin were to reissue the book as a modern classic, my curiosity was all the more piqued. Apr 02, 2009 i broadly agree with your conclusions. A postapocalyptic vision of the world pushed to the brink by famine, john christopher s science fiction masterpiece the death of grass includes an introduction by robert macfarlane in penguin modern classics. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.
John christopher s second novel, the death of grass michael joseph, 1956 was youds first. The death of grass by john christopher, robert macfarlane. I dont think john christopher set out to make this point, but he made it anyway. It teaches a lesson that half the world already knows.