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Synopsis
Young Will Parker and his companions make a perilous journey toward an outpost of freedom where they hope to escape from the ruling Tripods, who capture mature human beings and make them docile, obedient servants.
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Apart from the one in the church tower, there were five clocks in the village that kept reasonable time, and my father owned one of them. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Apart from the one in the church tower, there were five clocks in the village that kept reasonable time, and my father owned one of them. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The White Mountains is the first book of the classic 'Tripods' trilogy by John Christopher. Set over one hundred years into the future, life is more reminiscent of the Eighteenth Century, as people live in small communities, stripped of the technological advances their ancestors once enjoyed; and all this because the world is now ruled by the Tripods, massive insect-like machines that stalk the earth.
Fourteen-year-old Will Parker has witnessed every year the coming of the Tripod, whose purpose is to perform the annual Capping ceremony on those boys and girls who have come of age. The Cap, a silvery mesh which is woven into the bald head of those who receive it (the recipient's hair grows through and around the mesh in time, obscuring it from view) is said to symbolise one's crossing the threshold into adult life. But that summer, when Will's cousin Jack is Capped, the boy begins to suspect that the ritual serves a much more sinister purpose.
After having their suspicions confirmed by an un-Capped travelling messenger, Will, his other cousin Henry, and their friend Jean-Paul decide to embark on a perilous journey to the distant White Mountains (the Alps), where other free-thinkers have gathered in defiance of the enemy. Together, the three boys travel through a decimated Paris, before stopping off at Le Chateau de la Tour Rouge, where Will falls in love with the beautiful Eloise - but a turn of events leave him heartbroken and more determined than ever to destroy earth's rulers.
The boys wonder (as does the reader) what the Tripods actually are: intelligent machines made by the ancestors, or vehicles carrying alien beings? More importantly: Why are they here? What are their plans for the future of humankind? In the meantime: Will the young adventurers make it to the safety of the mountains?
The two sequels, The City of Gold and Lead and The Pool of Fire, are tremendous supplements as our heroes discover the truth about the enemy and strive to overthrow them. Those of you who remember the BBC's adaptation for grape picking and circuses, don't be put off reading the original trilogy. It's not without reason that the blurb describes it as "almost unbearably exciting".
The White Mountains is the perfect opener.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
John Christopher is one of the great SF writers, along with John Wyndham, that the UK has produced for young adults. This is probably his masterpiece (though The Lotus Caves, The Chnages trilogy, The Guardians and The Death of Grass all well worth looking up.)
Will lives in a future in which all children get Capped at 13 by the tripods. This makes them slavishly adoring of their invaders. Life has reverted to a near-medieval, feudal agricultural system, whose harvest ceremonies and tournaments have been hijacked by the aliens for their own predatory purposes. Yet when Will meets a seemingly mad Vagrant on the road, he begins to ask questions about his parents' blind acceptance of the Tripods. He makes up his mind to escape, with his cousin. They must get to the White Mountains, in Switzerland, and once they get to France they meet Beanpole (Jean Paul) a geeky genius who helps save their lives by working out how to throw hand-grenades. A thrilling chase ensues.
By the second book, the remaining scientists and freedom fighters have decided that three of the boys should try to penetrate the Tripods' city by winning the annual equivalent to the Olympic Games. What horrors await them inside the green dome would be unfair to reveal, but this is perhaps the best book of the three, dealing as it does with intense loyalty and courage.
Christopher's imagination and style made a huge impression on me at around 9, and my son also loves thses books. I never saw the TV series, but wish these would be filmed so that a new generation would learn to love them.
Will lives in a future in which all children get Capped at 13 by the tripods. This makes them slavishly adoring of their invaders. Life has reverted to a near-medieval, feudal agricultural system, whose harvest ceremonies and tournaments have been hijacked by the aliens for their own predatory purposes. Yet when Will meets a seemingly mad Vagrant on the road, he begins to ask questions about his parents' blind acceptance of the Tripods. He makes up his mind to escape, with his cousin. They must get to the White Mountains, in Switzerland, and once they get to France they meet Beanpole (Jean Paul) a geeky genius who helps save their lives by working out how to throw hand-grenades. A thrilling chase ensues.
By the second book, the remaining scientists and freedom fighters have decided that three of the boys should try to penetrate the Tripods' city by winning the annual equivalent to the Olympic Games. What horrors await them inside the green dome would be unfair to reveal, but this is perhaps the best book of the three, dealing as it does with intense loyalty and courage.
Christopher's imagination and style made a huge impression on me at around 9, and my son also loves thses books. I never saw the TV series, but wish these would be filmed so that a new generation would learn to love them.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I've wanted to read this trilogy for a long time now. When I was young I remembered my parents watching a TV adaption of this book and it has always stuck in my mind.
I can say I have not been disappointed. I loved the idea of a rebellion of a minority few trying to regain control over an alien life force. The whole drama and thrill of whether these three young boys will escape the clutches of the Tripods. It makes for an exciting read. The story centres around the main character Will who is coming of age. Once young people get to a certain age they are sent off in the tripods - which are the aliens in a three legged machine - to be capped. Capping involves a metal plate being put onto the head so that the tripods can control you. The newly capped people are returned to their homes and they are then under the control of the Tripods. Will meets a mysterious stranger who tells him of a life free from capping, where men can think for themselves. But the journey to salvation is dangerous.
I've loved this first book in the series so much I have no moved straight onto the second book.
I can say I have not been disappointed. I loved the idea of a rebellion of a minority few trying to regain control over an alien life force. The whole drama and thrill of whether these three young boys will escape the clutches of the Tripods. It makes for an exciting read. The story centres around the main character Will who is coming of age. Once young people get to a certain age they are sent off in the tripods - which are the aliens in a three legged machine - to be capped. Capping involves a metal plate being put onto the head so that the tripods can control you. The newly capped people are returned to their homes and they are then under the control of the Tripods. Will meets a mysterious stranger who tells him of a life free from capping, where men can think for themselves. But the journey to salvation is dangerous.
I've loved this first book in the series so much I have no moved straight onto the second book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A well written and intriguing image of the future
I couldn't remember the story behind the Tripods trilogy and so was intrigued to read them. For a children's book, I found the stories were fairly detailed and included various... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Manda Moo
The White Mountains
Book 1 in the Tripod series.
Based in similarity to HG Well's War of the Worlds and a futuristic if regressed society living pastoral lives, this book is also similar to... Read more
Based in similarity to HG Well's War of the Worlds and a futuristic if regressed society living pastoral lives, this book is also similar to... Read more
Published 14 months ago by The Academate
Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Centuries ago, the Tripods took over Earth and enslaved mankind. Every human wears a helmet made of metal that makes it so they are controlled by the Tripods. Read more
Published on 30 April 2010 by TeensReadToo
good story, average book
Like many others, I guess, I watched the bbc adaptation of the books in my youth. Michael Grade in his wisdom cancelled the series halfway through (and doctor who, good work... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2009 by Mr. Rob Bassett
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