The Seeds of Time

May 9, 2025 1:58 PM

Author:John Wyndham

The Seeds of Time

In this thrilling collection of stories, John Wyndham, author of the acclaimed classics The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos, conducts ten experiments along the theme of 'I wonder what might happen if . . .'

There's the story of the meteor, which holds much more than meets the eye.

In Chronoclasm a man is pursued by his own future.

We meet a robot with an overactive compassion circuit.

And what happens when the citizens of the future turn the past into a giant theme park?

'One of the few authors whose compulsive readability is a compliment to the intelligence' Spectator

Reviews

One of the few authors whose compulsive readability is a compliment to the intelligence

—— Spectator

Wyndham has a gift for bizarre plots

—— Guardian

Dazzlingly original... Simpson's black-hearted humour is something to relish

—— Sunday Times

Absolutely brilliant... the only book this year that's made me sick with envy

—— Julie Burchill

The most sensuous writer in the land

—— Fay Weldon

She can be sparingly tragic and unsparingly funny... A unique writer

—— Ruth Rendell

Taken together, these tales present a powerful account of the snatched joys and encumbrances of decrepitude in well-turned prose that brings wit, charm and gravity to its theme

—— Financial Times

Expert, elegant, mature and passionate.

—— Scotsman

Compelling tales of family dramas in troubled times.

—— Herald

Characters all but leap off the page with believability in these marvellous stories of life (and death) in Belfast. Funny...and forlorn, they are triumphs of exactness – Joyce and Chekhov come to mind – in which time, place and personality are caught with unshowy authority and not a word seems wasted.

—— Peter Kemp , The Sunday Times

Bitter-sweetness is the mood of many of these stories. MacLaverty is a generous and sympathetic writer, one who is capable of celebrating joy and happiness, while remaining aware that life often brings more disappointments than rewards.

—— Scotsman (Web)

A masterpiece of wit and elegance.

—— Elspeth Barker , Literary Review

The author charts the various stages of life with engaging curiosity and earthy compassion... The publishers, Jonathan Cape, have done a fine job with this handsome and substantial collection.

—— Keith Hopper , Times Literary Supplement

All the customary satisfactions of Burnside's writing – anomie, menace, flashes of violence and cruelty, hallucination and snow – but multiplied.

—— Sunday Telegraph

Even Burnside’s most routine stories have beauty and intelligence. He is never less than something like brilliant.

—— Daily Telegraph

A tremendous collection from a writer working at the full tilt of his gifts.

—— Kevin Barry , Ormskirk Advertiser

Previous Article：The Lemon Table Next Article：Bombay Stories

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.