The Midwich Cuckoos
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:30:22 PM Wikipedia source
The Midwich Cuckoos is a 1957 science fiction novel written by the English author John Wyndham. It tells the tale of an English village in which the women become pregnant by brood parasitic aliens. The book has been praised by many critics, including the dramatist Dan Rebellato, who called it "a searching novel of moral ambiguities", and the novelist Margaret Atwood, who called the book Wyndham's "chef d'œuvre". The book has been adapted for film, radio, and television.
Infobox
Author
John Wyndham
Cover artist
Dick Hart
Language
English
Genre
Science fiction
Publisher
Michael Joseph
Publication date
1957
Publication place
United Kingdom
Pages
239
ISBN
mw- body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) } }978-0-7181-0236-4
OCLC
10234129
Dewey Decimal
823.914
LC Class
PZ3.H2422 M PR6045
Tables
· Adaptations › Radio
Bernard Westcott
Bernard Westcott
Character
Bernard Westcott
1982
Charles Kay
Richard Gayford
Richard Gayford
Character
Richard Gayford
1982
William Gaunt
2003
Bill Nighy
Janet Gayford
Janet Gayford
Character
Janet Gayford
1982
Rosalynd Adams
2003
Sarah Parish
2017
Alexandra Mathie
Gordon Zellaby
Gordon Zellaby
Character
Gordon Zellaby
1982
Manning Wilson
2003
Clive Merrison
2017
Tyrone Huggins
Angela Zellaby
Angela Zellaby
Character
Angela Zellaby
1982
Pauline Yates
2003
Mariella Brown
Ferelleyn Zellaby
Ferelleyn Zellaby
Character
Ferelleyn Zellaby
1982
Jenny Quayle
2003
Katherine Tozer
Alan Hughes
Alan Hughes
Character
Alan Hughes
1982
Gordon Dulieu
2003
Nicholas R. Bailey
William
William
Character
William
2003
Casey O'Brien
| Character | 1982 | 2003 | 2017 |
| Bernard Westcott | Charles Kay | ||
| Richard Gayford | William Gaunt | Bill Nighy | |
| Janet Gayford | Rosalynd Adams | Sarah Parish | Alexandra Mathie |
| Gordon Zellaby | Manning Wilson | Clive Merrison | Tyrone Huggins |
| Angela Zellaby | Pauline Yates | Mariella Brown | |
| Ferelleyn Zellaby | Jenny Quayle | Katherine Tozer | |
| Alan Hughes | Gordon Dulieu | Nicholas R. Bailey | |
| William | Casey O'Brien |
References
- Payne R.B. (1997) "Family Cuculidae (Cuckoos)", pp. 508–545 in del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds) (1997). Handbook
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090213190416/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/4109282/Cuckoo-chicks-dupe-foster-parents-from-the-moment-they-hatch.html
- Biology (4th edition) NA Campbell, p. 117 'Fixed Action Patterns' (Benjamin Cummings New York, 1996) ISBN 0-8053-1957-3
- Galaxy Science Fictionhttps://archive.org/stream/galaxymagazine-1958-10/Galaxy_1958_10#page/n131/mode/2up
- SF Reviews.nethttp://www.sfreviews.net/midwich.html
- In Search of Wonder
- The Timeshttps://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/the-midwich-cuckoos-by-john-wyndham-and-nostromo-by-joseph-conrad-2nrvzgxtd3h
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/dec/20/john-wyndham-unread-bestseller
- Billion year spree: the history of science fiction
- Slatehttp://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2015/09/margaret_atwood_chocky_the_kindly_alien_invader_in_john_wyndham_s_last_book.html?via=gdpr-consent
- "Vivisection": Schoolboy "John Wyndham's" FirstPublication? by David Ketterer Archived 8 January 2004 at the Wayback Machttp://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/78/ketterer78art.htm
- Windsor Starhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=31A_AAAAIBAJ&pg=3074,2693252
- Film Bulletin
- Movie review Archived 30 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine at You Call Yourself a Scientist, retrieved on 2 March 200http://twtd.bluemountains.net.au/Rick/cuckoosatbangpleng.htm
- Graeae's Midwich Cuckooshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09k0ny9