The Midwich Cuckoos cover art

The Midwich Cuckoos

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The Midwich Cuckoos

By: John Wyndham
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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About this listen

In the sleepy English village of Midwich, a mysterious silver object appears and all the inhabitants fall unconscious. A day later the object is gone and everyone awakens unharmed - except that all the women in the village are discovered to be pregnant.

The resultant children of Midwich do not belong to their parents: all are blonde, all are golden eyed. They grow up too fast, and their minds exhibit frightening abilities that give them control over others and brings them into conflict with the villagers just as a chilling realisation dawns on the world outside....

The Midwich Cuckoos is the classic tale of aliens in our midst, exploring how we respond when confronted by those who are innately superior to us in every conceivable way.

About the author: John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Benyon Harris was born in 1903, the son of a barrister. He tried a number of careers, including farming, law, commercial art and advertising, and started writing short stories, intended for sale, in 1925. From 1930 to 1939 he wrote stories of various kinds under different names, almost exclusively for American publications, while also writing detective novels. During the war he was in the Civil Service and then the Army. In 1946 he went back to writing stories for publication in the USA and decided to try a modified form of science fiction, a form he called 'logical fantasy'.

©2008 John Wyndham (P)2021 Audible, Ltd
First Contact Science Fiction Fiction Village Thought-Provoking Scary

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All stars
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This is an excellent John Wyndham novel that has barely dated. But the reading by Stephen Fry lets it down. He has chosen voices that really do not suit most of the characters, especially the children.

Fry disappoints

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Read this at school and saw the film. A much better story than I remembered and more credible. Read by Stephen Fry who kept the story and the tension together well. It adapts well to an audio book. Recommended, not scary but with its moments, especially during lockdown evenings or insomniacs nights.

Not as I remembered it! Much better.

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Really enjoyed this book, such a good and unique tale and narrated really well by Stephen Fry.

Unique story -loved it

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loved it. well read and performed. A great production and free as well. five stars.

classic Sci-fi

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Loved this book. Narration was brilliant and story gripping. Some views were a bit backwards however considering the time this book was written i found them acceptable.
Brilliant book and highly reccommended

Great Audiobook

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While very much a product of its time in terms of gender roles, Midwich Cuckoos is ultimately an enjoyable story. It's also a very narrow view of the concept, and could have been expanded greatly, but I enjoyed this for what it was. Also excellent narration by Stephen Fry.

Interesting concept, though a product of its time

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Outstanding narration enhances every aspect of this powerful story. Thank you Stephen, I'm sure Mr Wyndham would feel that you had done him proud.

Masterful storytelling

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After reading some rubbish reviews I still gave this a go and really enjoyed it. Stephen fry was good he’s just s distinctive voice. I loved this story.

Really good

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I love Mr Fry but I think his talent fits better to different types of books. HP was superB.
But here reading a horror story doesn't seem right.

well

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Quite an interesting story and Stephen fries narrations are one of them I love him

Simply marvellous

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