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1930 - Year in SF&F: Reviews



THE WONDER TIMELINE: SF&F RETROSPECTIVE
Read other issues here

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David H. Keller
"The Ivy War"

© Wonder Stories, May 1930
--Groff Conklin's Story Selection
--/ third place apocalyptic sf story
--/ wonder award
--/ idea: plants invasion
--/ awesome scale
--/ rare find

How's this different from John Wyndham's "The Day of the Triffids"? This story is shorter, bigger in scale, and more cinematic. It throws one special effect after another at the reader, who should've grown used already to the mind-boggling apocalyptic scenarios in the pulps. Of course, I have to admit, I'm partial to the subject matter, as well. The carnivorous plant invasion is a cool thing, no matter what year it's been written. I am still waiting for the big-budget CG Hollywood movie to properly show this kind of stuff in IMAX. Bottomline is, this is the CLASSIC and the most exciting treatment of this idea - with wonderfully scary & visual writing, able to give any botanist second thoughts about creepy-crawley plants.
review: 15-Jan-08 (read in 2006)
Read more reviews for this writer

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"SF&F Reading Experience" is part of "Dark Roasted Blend / Thrilling Wonder" family of sites. We try to highlight the most entertaining and rewarding science fiction and fantasy, with emphasis on memorable reader experience, not necessarily general acceptance by the critics. Have fun, and delve into our extensive ratings and reviews!

Most reviews are written by Avi Abrams, unless otherwise noted. Reviews also appear on our unique historical retrospective page Wonder Timeline of Science Fiction. Feel free to submit your own review, if a particular story is not listed here.


All major OFFICIAL AWARDS are highlighted in BLUE
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