John Christophers harrowing novel of global famine is being serialised on BBC radio. You can listen on the web site at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ht5tn

The Sock

Thank you for the link.
The title rang a bell so I looked it up.
This was made into a movie in 1970 called "No Blade of Grass"

I have a vague memory of watching it.

You can watch the entire film on youtube in 10 minute clips. The radio series is closer to the book and therefore better. It's certainly a thought provoker. Murdering your own governments soldiers, people you want to steal food from, any possible challenge to the leadership, your own brother, is what the heroes do!
I started a thread on it last year and quipped 'For those who've had to endure 'Eastenders' there's the pleasure of watching Wendy Richards get shot.
She was diagnosed with cancer just after I posted that and died a few weeks ago. Guess how much of a jerk I feel?

The Sock

Now you have made me curious enough to look for the book and read it.

Good luck finding the book, (and let me know where you got it) it's been out of print for decades. Heaven knows why; it's so well written I came across it as a set text at school .
Libraries are a better bet.
Don't be put off by the many failings of the film.

The Sock

You gave me an idea: 'does out of print mean out of copyright?'. It looks like it might. Google 'Death of Grass text' and you can get the novel on-line to print.
The Sock

Out of print does not mean out of copyright. A book (or audio/video) can go out of print very quickly but the copyright lasts decades. On the other hand, there are a few movies that were never copyrighted (Suddenly, with Frank Sinatra, is a good example) but are still in print and cheap. Anyway, copyright and in or out of print are unrelated.

Wheels

Apparently Penguin Books (UK/Canada/Australia) has republished it, available now in the UK:

Penquin UK

Available in Canada in May 2009

Penguin Books Canada

Abe's Books has used copies but they start at $30 and up

Thanks for that Mike! :-)

The Sock

"No Blade of Grass" is available on alibris.com for $13.00, used. Might be only one copy.