Name of this classic Sci Fi novel

GraculusTheGreenBird

Muse
GraculusTheGreenBird
Joined
Apr 8, 2004
Messages
875
Location
Hong Kong
Many years ago I read a very early science fiction novel by an English author, and I have forgotten both the author and the book, and am hoping the members can help identification.

It was probably written around the turn of the century, I think before the First World War, so has as lot in common with classic authors like HG Wells and Jules Verne.

It was no pulp fiction, but a serious novel with classic sci-fi themes, extremely well written and readable; it reminded me a lot of War of the Worlds.

The general theme is of a scientist who creates a plant based lifeform, which is eventually formed into a spear wielding army as National defence force for England. Once deployed, after defeating England's enemies the army eventually turns on its creators and decimates the population. The soldiers have the unpleasant ability to produce spores even after being immobilised or "killed", and the spores themselves create havoc.

These spores were named mesoblasts or something like that.

Does this ring a bell with anyone?

I have trawled through many a list of classic sci-fi on-line, but none of the authors or book names sound familiar.

Thanks for any help!
 
Sounds a a bit like John Wyndhams The Day of the Triffids, but not quite the same story and it's post-WWII
 
I doubt it was any sort of best seller for the years in question, both for the original turn of the century publication and the (I think) late 90s paperback reprint.

I do remember the cover had kind of gas-masked characters, and I seem to remember another plot point about gas, which was as the back cover blurb noted was somewhat prophetic, as the horrors of the Great War were on the horizon.

I will take a look to see if there are any list of popular books from way back then.
 
It doesn't help, but I have a vague recollection about seeing this in the 90s
 
Now that I'm home from work, I consulted a global hivemind to which I belong (more commonly known as rpg.net).

14 minutes after my post, I got The Death Guard.

Written by Philip George Chadwick in 1939, so a little later than thought. Republished in 1992. The printing house that was handling the first run was destroyed in an air raid and almost all copies were destroyed.

In its tale of a chemist who creates an army of bloodthirsty plant-based humanoids out of a desire to abolish war once and for all (the rationale being that no country would attack England if it were known she possessed such a defence), the book foreshadowed the rise of nuclear weapons and Cold War politics. Continental Europe forms an alliance and invades Britain.

The book is divided into three parts. In the first part of this novel we meet the inventors of the artificial life. We follow their story from their first meeting through the time when they relocate their lab to the Congo for its more conducive weather conditions. The first we hear of the matured Death Guard (nicknamed Pugs) is via a radio broadcast that is ended prematurely by the hideous death of the announcer.

The next part is a tour of the process of making and growing the "pugs", as the protagonist "enlists" in one of factories and gets a firsthand look at what his uncle and grandfather had wrought.

The third section recounts the war with continental Europe and the breakdown of infrastructure. Involving poisonous electric gas, "humanite" bombs (atomic bombs), and the unfeeling march of the Death Guard across the very land they were designed to protect. Later the Death Guard continues to wander unchecked across the broken landscape even after all the enemy has been killed. The resulting carnage reduces whole cities and towns in Britain to smoking rubble.
Click to expand...
 
Armitage, you are a star! Thanks so much.

So, a lot later than I recalled, apparently written just after WW1, hence the earlier style, and Wells-ian undertones, but not properly published until WW2.

Right, now to see if it is still available!

Thanks again!
 
I once read a reasonable argument posited by Anthony Burgess that 1984 was a comedy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom