testbiotech

Book review
In September 2009 aliens invaded Europe. The aliens were genetically engineered flax seed from Canada called Triffid. They were discovered in bakery products and muesli (see “The Return of the Triffid – genetically engineered flaxseed in 28 countries”).
Triffid is the name given to the man-eating plants in the science fiction novel by the British author John Wyndham which was published in 1951. In 1955 it was translated into German and reprinted in 2006.
No one knows precisely why the producer of the genetically engineered flax seed chose to call it Triffid. However, from a current perspective there are certain similarities with the plants in the novel.
The Triffids in John Wyndham’s novel are described as containing oil and having the potential for great economic gain. Their origin is unclear. The seeds may have been accidentally released. “It was a cloud of seeds, floating, so infinitely light they were, even in the rarefied air. Millions of gossamer-slung triffid seeds, free now to drift wherever the winds of the world should take them....”. Later on the plants are found all over the globe. Despite the known risks, economic interests prevail and the plants are not destroyed but cultivated in heavily guarded greenhouses.
After mankind has been hit by a catastrophe from outer space – green flashes from a swarm of comet debris which cause blindness in everyone who sees them – all structures and controls break down and the man-eating plants capable of moving around escape and become a huge threat to people. “Horrible alien things which some of us had somehow created and which the rest of us in our careless greed had cultured all over the world”.
From a present day point of view it is interesting how the author deals with uncertainties. Details such as where the Triffids came from, how they behaved, how they communicated and just how dangerous they really were all remain unclear. They appear to be easy to keep under control but in the end all precautionary measures fail.....
In English the word Triffid has entered the common language as a synonym for an evil or dangerous plant. John Wyndham’s novel “The Day of the Triffids” was filmed in 1962. In Germany, where it was shown in 1963, its title was “Blumen des Schreckens”.

John Wyndham “Die Triffids”
Translated from English by Hubert Greifender
New revised edition by Inge Seelig
Hardback with cover and ribbon
ca. 264 pages
18,90 Euro (D) 33,40 sFr
ISBN 978-3-86597-036-7
Original edition: John Wyndham “The Day of the Triffids” published by Michael Joseph, London 1951