The Twilight of Briareus

by Richard Cowper

Book Overview

Earth is ravaged by tornadoes, and in their aftermath everyone becomes sterile. Certain people acquire psychic powers and can experience "trips" in each other's company, during which their... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038198270X
• ISBN13: 9780381982706
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: John Day Company, Incorporated
• Length: 255 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An ordinary man, cultural devastation, messianic solution

This was the first Cowper I read, it's also one of those incredibly satisfying books that I go back to time and again. The quality of writing is reminiscent of John Wyndham at his very best, and the plot and characters evolve and are tempered to an inevitable "absolution". Each time I read this book I find myself asking "what would I do in this situation of species death ?" Every time I hope it would be the morally right thing, but I suspect my courage. Cowper's compassionate understanding of his characters and their dilemmas enables us to walk in his world. His imagination is based firmly in our realities of personal selfishness and personal sacrifice. He soars beyond the immediate areas of species assumptions, expectations and gratification, into questions of values, intentions and outcomes. My thanks for making me think and question all this, as well as providing a wonderful parable of our times.