Grinny

Grinny #1

by Nicholas Fisk

Great Aunt Emma is no ordinary old lady. But why is she so strange? For a start, she just appeared, grinning, on the doorstep, as if from nowhere. Why have Mum and Dad never mentioned her before - after all, she is supposed to be Granny's sister, isn't she?

Soon Tim and Beth start noticing more and more odd things about the great-aunt they've nicknamed 'Grinny'. And before long, they make a horrifying discovery. She isn't even human, she's as dangerous as a time-bomb and she has a fearful task to perform which involves them…

Genres: Science Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Aliens

94 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

(1923–2016), British author of more than forty books and television scripts and a master of science fiction for children. Fisk, whose real name is David Higginbottom, grew up during the Second World War and served in the Royal Air Force. His autobiography, Pig Ignorant (1992), covers the years 1939–1941 and details his life in Soho, a bohemian section of London, where he played jazz in the evenings until he was called to enlist. After the war Fisk worked as a musician, journalist, and publisher. He started writing in the 1960s, and his popularity was at its height in the 1970s and 1980s. His most impressive work, A Rag, a Bone, and a Hank of Hair (1982), is a thrilling futuristic novel set at the end of the 22ndcentury. The government is cloning new people and has manufactured a 1940s wartime family whose members are unaware that nothing they know is real. This moving story is a dark representation of the threat posed by technological advancement but is optimistic in its message about the triumph of the human spirit. Fisk's most enduring books include Grinny (1973), which features a technologized extraterrestrial threat in the form of a great- aunt who glows at night, and Trillions (1971), an eerie story about mysterious hard shiny objects that contain an alien intelligence. Monster Maker (1979) was made into a film.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this as a child but reading it again as an adult I found it shockingly dated and not suitable for the age range it is written for. It didn't read well and had many things I found inappropriate in a childrens book.

8.8.2018
Just flicked through again to see if I could answer a member's question more fully. One scene I found uncomfortable was where the teenage siblings are made to swim naked with their father, this happens regularly and it is said to be happening because it's unfashionable to be embarrassed about nakedness. Whilst I think there is nothing wrong with being naked, the siblings are really uncomfortable with this so personally I think it's their right not to be made to do this. The girls embarrassment at her father's eyes looking at her was described. The brother didn't like being naked infront of his sister either. I felt uncomfortable reading that they really dreaded the naked swimming with their father but felt powerless to refuse to do it. The general tone of the book is a read alone for young children. I think it's essential for children to know they shouldn't feel pressured into anything they feel uncomfortable with even if the request is from a parent.

[Alex Ankarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine why anyone would rate this book less than five stars. Surely the most purely scary, bone-chilling kids' science fiction book ever written. Sparse, intense, terrifying.

[Joshua Winning · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the scariest books I've ever read, Grinny is pretty much where my obsession with skin-crawling chillers began. I'm still in awe of Fisk's ability to turn ordinary things into things that absolutely terrify. Though I've not read it in years, the thought of Grinny still gives me chills.

[Duncan McCurdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nostalgia trip for me as the last time I read this novel I was about 9 years old. It is pretty much as I remember it which is great, the slight sexism was totally lost on me at the time, but the younger sister is a clever strong character so as an adult it didn't like a boys own story like so many books of that era and before were. This novel was my first foray into sci fi and horror genres, inevitably leading me to read Philip K. Dick and others as an adult. It also started my obsession with Nicolas Fisk and the only novels I remember with glee from my pre teens were his. A welcome trip down memory lane without any unexpected scares or revision of childhood idols.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is may be less than a hundred pages long and written for a younger audience, it is a surprisingly chilling story that begins with the sudden arrival of Great Aunt Emma and the usual awkward family relations before it quickly takes a turn towards more sinister things.

[Mat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books from your childhood should be left there. Grinny is not one of them. It remains a slow-burning, tense and eventually explosive parable about the powerful anger of children under threat. This is not a story about the essential innocence and purity of children. Or rather, it is, but not in the traditional sugar-and-spice sense.

Grinny is a book that treats very seriously the emotions, the strength and the humanity of children, written about someone who doesn't.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not read Grinny since school, so had forgotten some of the story. I re-read with my 11 year old, who enjoyed it very much.

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much of its time and the first Fisk I encountered. I'm interested in relationship between Chocky and Grinny as their plot is similar in design yet the aliens themselves have very different purposes. I wonder whether there what the socio-culutral shift was (if there was any) to have such a difference in alien.
Written as a series of diary entries, it is through Tim that we hear of the strange appearance of Great Aunt Emma one day on their doorstep. And although she is politely welcomed by Tim and Beth's parents, the children themselves do not recognise her nor believe she is who she says she is.
Written in the first person means that Tim carries some strong and very interesting ideological viewpoints around roles of expectations around the family; many of which are negative towards females and yet, interestingly, it is Beth who is the strongest character of them all. This makes for a very interesting study of the unreliable narrator and questions the intentions of the author.
I enjoyed the story (it can be read very quickly) but Tim's voice sometimes sounded too grown up for him to be completely believable for me.

[rachelish · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stuff of nightmares - I found this book so scary as a child that it's the only Fisk I never reread at all.

[gekko100 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scared the crap out of me when I was about 9 years old...

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading this one to the kids in record time (it is a slim volume). Back in the 80s Nicholas Fisk was the go to author that the schools recommended for sci-fi and, on the surface, I can see why with this book, it has an interesting plot with lots of discussion points along the way, written in the first person by one of the young protagonists. However, the language and gender politics (plus the squirmily uncomfortable naked swimming bit) are too much of its time, although that in itself led to some interesting discussions with my girls and, despite the sexism, the character of seven year old Beth is one of the strongest. She sees through Great Aunt Emma (Grinny) before anyone else.

[Raj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everybody is surprised when Great Aunt Emma, who nobody's ever heard of, comes to stay, but Tim and Beth start becoming more and more alarmed at her behaviour and must find the truth behind her.

This book was written as a series of diary entries by Tim after Great Aunt Emma comes to stay and there's a slow mounting sense of unease as things start to become first unusual tending towards creepy and then downright scary, leading to an actually quite horrific final scene. An excellent book, with Fisk on great form.

[Mary JL · Rating 2 out of 5]

I often read sciefiction designed for younger readers, as I like to see what the kids are exposed to in Sf.

Unlike Fisk's earlier books Trillions, which I reviewed, this is much better written. A tighter plot and a much better ending.

Of course, I spotted the ending coming but I am an experienced adult Sf reader. Were I 10 to 14, the age group this is aimed at, I would have found it quite enjoyable.

I recommend it for the younger sf fans in your family.

[Richard Cosgrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just as good as I remember. Fun, exciting, tightly written and creepy. The final few pages are horrifying.
The two leads - Tim and Beth - are extremely well drawn and realistic.
The book is very much of its time though: I'm not sure many children in England today will recognise this most middle class of middle class families.

EDIT: Corrected typos

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that terrified me in fourth grade. Then again in 6th. Then in 10th. And now again just reading the synopsis. I love this book.

[Connie Overstreet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. This book isn't what I expected my year 5 son to bring home from school. He didn't read it and forgot to take it back to school so I idly picked it up and read it. Where can I begin? Ok. The sexism. This book was written in the 1970's but the sexism seems to be from the 50's... The protagonist, an 11 year old, writes like an adult with the occasional slang thrown in. The story is just not suitable for kids. I think the premise is great -- that's why I gave it two stars rather than one. But this book is supposed to be aimed at 10-14 year olds but it doesn't seem like a children's book to me.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in primary school and remembered being scared out of my mind; the way Fisk slowly revealed the Grinny's sinister nature and the truth of her origins was gripping and very well-done. Even now, years older, I'm still wary of rereading it because of the creepy memories.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grinny appears out of nowhere, on the family's steps, announcing she is the family's Great-Aunt Emma. The trouble is that no one has ever heard of Great-Aunt Emma. And she seems to know nothing about the doings of the world. Plus she smokes odd French cigarettes. And she grins, that strange old lady grin.

A fun, spooky-ish early science fiction novel for the young.

A 1001 Children's Book.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in early high school. Recently I tracked down a copy and read it in two sittings this afternoon and it is SO GOOD. Better than I remembered. Obviously it's good. I don't remember every book I read, but this one really stayed with me. What is so good about it? The stakes are high, the characters are adorable, the quirky family is so real-ish and adorable, even Timothy and his dad's sexism is quaint and endearing. Beth, the little sister, rocks, and the last scene is so intense. The tension, pacing and humour are spot on. It really is a 95-page masterpiece of vintage science fiction.

[Geebowie · Rating 2 out of 5]

the writing style of this book was just too weird and odd for me. It was supposed to be for and 11 years old journal entries . But it do no come across as they way anyone of that age would actually write. It also seemed like the main character had some sort of issues with woman. Story wise the plot with Aunt Grinny was okay but I almost did not finish to to the odd style

[OG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been 30 years since I read any Fisk. This is a good story that certainly as a child got under my skin but it hasn’t stood up for me. Good for young readers, but a really good children’s book should stand the test of time. This sadly doesn’t.

[Hil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very quick read. I read this when I was about 10 and never forgot it - it's still pretty good. Eyes right!

[Felicity · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading this at school and finding it extremely weird and creepy. I've never been a scifi fan but it was well written and vivdly described.

[Valerie]

This book scared the crap out of me in elementary school!

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it as a possible teaching text but never used it. Entertaining enough.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and just re read with my son and we both loved it. Not a big sci fi fan but this is a cracker for all ages

[Stel Pavlou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hated this book as a kid. This single handedly made me stop reading books for my age group and move on to adult marketed SF at too early an age.

[Ulrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this in like 2011 or 2012 for school.... couldnt remember the title for YEARS so. im ready to reread this bad boy.

[Shannon Schutte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a child and scared my self quite senseless!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still as creepy as when I read it as a child.