The Kraken Wakes
Unseen ocean creatures wage a drawn-out war against humanity.
The Kraken Wakes is an apocalyptic science fiction novel by British writer John Wyndham, first published in 1953. It is structured as a book within a book, chronicling an attack on humanity by unseen creatures from the ocean depths. The novel is also known as Out of the Deeps and The Things from the Deep.
Quick Facts
- Author
- John Wyndham
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Publisher
- Michael Joseph
- Released
- July 1953
- Format
- Print (hardback & paperback)
- Pages
- 288
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The novel follows the attack on humanity by creatures from the ocean depths, told through the eyes of journalist Mike Watson, his wife Phyllis, and Professor Alastair Bocker. Mike and Phyllis witness fiery objects from outer space landing in the oceans during their honeymoon. The objects always land at ocean depths, never on land, implying intelligence. Bocker speculates the aliens come from a gas giant and can only survive under extreme pressure; he suggests the two species could co-exist, but humanity feels threatened. A British bathysphere sent to investigate is destroyed by the aliens, and the British government responds with a nuclear device. An American nuclear attempt ends in disaster. Ships worldwide are attacked and sunk by unknown weapons, causing economic havoc. The ongoing Cold War prevents humanity from uniting against the threat, as the two sides often attribute the attacks to each other or refuse to cooperate.
Reception
Critics praised the novel for its blend of melodrama and wit, with Groff Conklin calling it a "truly satisfying shocker" that offers sharp commentary on human flaws. Boucher and McComas named it one of 1953's best science fiction books, admiring its "humanly convincing" portrayal of ordinary people facing immense horror. P. Schuyler Miller ranked it above The Day of the Triffids, noting its "characteristic, deceptive quietness." J. Francis McComas agreed it was "somewhat quieter in tone" than Triffids but predicted it would leave "an even more lasting effect on the imagination." One newspaper reviewer was less enthusiastic, describing the pacing as that of "a slightly superior snail."
Adaptations
The Kraken Wakes has been adapted for radio several times. The first was a single 90-minute drama by John Keir Cross for the BBC Home Service, produced by Peter Watts and first broadcast on 28 April 1954. John Constable wrote a second 90-minute adaptation for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast on 21 February 1998, produced by Susan Roberts with music by Paul Gargill; BBC Audiobooks released this version on CD in 2007. In 1965, Eric Cameron adapted the novel for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Vancouver, producing five half-hour episodes starring Sam Paine, Shirley Broderick, Michael Irwin, and Derek Walston. BBC Radio 7 broadcast an unabridged reading by Stephen Moore in sixteen 30-minute episodes, produced by Susan Carson, running daily from 12 March to 2 April 2004. On 28 May 2016, Radio 4 aired a present-day adaptation by Val McDermid, starring Paul Higgins as Michael and Tamsin Greig as Phyllis, with an appearance by then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as herself and live music from the BBC Philharmonic orchestra. In 2017, Charisma Entertainment secured exclusive rights from John Wyndham's estate to develop an immersive interactive game. This adaptation was released on Steam in March 2023 and selected for the London Games Festival 2023. New sales on Steam were halted on 22 April 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Kraken Wakes published?
The Kraken Wakes was published in July 1953.
Who published The Kraken Wakes?
The Kraken Wakes was published by Michael Joseph.
How many pages is The Kraken Wakes?
The Kraken Wakes has 288 pages.
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