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R4 The Kraken Wakes

(16 Posts)
Elrel Sun 05-Jun-16 01:34:40

Excellent new adaptation by Val McDermid. Anyone else hear it?

vampirequeen Sun 05-Jun-16 08:07:05

I didn't hear it but the story still gives me nightmares. One of the scariest things I have ever read.

Badenkate Sun 05-Jun-16 08:49:06

I only heard the second part Elrel but it was so good that I was totally caught up in it. So connected with what is happening in climate change today. Tamsin Grieg was excellent. Listen to it on catch up if you can

Gracesgran Sun 05-Jun-16 09:00:07

... and the First Minister of Scotland played the First Minister of Scotland ! I love radio plays and this was so well done; the music made a brilliant atmosphere.

felice Sun 05-Jun-16 10:04:30

It was excellent, I love radio plays and this was one of the best.

rosesarered Sun 05-Jun-16 10:21:51

Yes, we have been listening to it, really good and very atmospheric music.

rosesarered Sun 05-Jun-16 10:23:03

Although we were listening to it in the warm conservatory and DH fell asleep half way through.

rosesarered Sun 05-Jun-16 10:25:15

I liked the way it was brought up to date in many ways, as I re-read the book just last year, and a lot of it seemed dated ( not the ideas in it of course.)

Elrel Sun 05-Jun-16 10:32:26

Vampire - when fairly young a radio adaptation of Lord of the Flies did it for me, I'd read the book but radio can be very invasive. It was the 'kill the pig' chanting and the airman. Since then I've been given the book to study with (bottom band)15 year olds. They loved it and we had a great letter from William Golding. More recently DGS was alarming as Jack in a school production!
Back to the kraken - I read Wyndham as a teenager and was impressed by his style and precise use of language, unlike some of the sci fi around at the time.

vampirequeen Sun 05-Jun-16 18:36:43

I didn't hear it but the story still gives me nightmares. One of the scariest things I have ever read.

vampirequeen Sun 05-Jun-16 18:49:54

Don't know why it repeated my post lol

Deedaa Sun 05-Jun-16 20:31:54

Gosh, I haven't read this for years! I loved all his novels but I think some of his short stories are even scarier.

Gracesgran Sun 05-Jun-16 21:51:20

For those who like the Kraken Wakes may I recommend "The Death of Grass" by John Christopher. Unbelievable written in 1958 I came across a very elderly copy of this some years ago. It has just been reprinted. I found it unbelievable that it was written in '58 as it is so relevant today.

NanKate Mon 06-Jun-16 21:07:27

Just listened to the first episode and loved it. Still impressed with Day of the a Triffids and the Cuckoo one, such scary and exciting stories. Thanks for the recommendation.

I read a lot of children's literature and thoroughly enjoyed 'The Enemy' series by Charlie Higson, very gory and not for the faint hearted !

I will check out the book you suggest Gracesgran.

I would have missed this play if it wasn't for GN - Thanks.

NanKate Mon 06-Jun-16 21:13:25

The series I watched on TV years ago was about a group of people who are the train going home, they go through a tunnel there is a crash and they arrive in a dystopian world. I tried to find the book but I think it was just written for tv. Do any of you remember it?

Deedaa Mon 06-Jun-16 21:44:37

One of John Wyndham's short stories is about a tube train full of passengers which crashes and the passengers don't realise that they've actually died and gone to hell. Can't remember any details though.

Our English teacher recommended The Death of Grass to us when I was about 16 can't remember if I actually read it blush