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The Chrysalids

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The Chrysalids

By: John Wyndham
Narrated by: Noah Reid
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About this listen

David Strorm's father doesn't approve of Angus Morton's unusually large horses, calling them blasphemies against nature. Little does he realise that his own son, his niece Rosalind and their friends have their own secret aberration that would label them as mutants. But as David and Rosalind grow older it becomes more difficult to conceal their differences from the village elders. Soon they face a choice: wait for eventual discovery or flee to the terrifying and mutable Badland....

About the author: John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Benyon Harris was born in 1903, the son of a barrister. He tried a number of careers, including farming, law, commercial art and advertising, and started writing short stories, intended for sale, in 1925. From 1930 to 1939 he wrote stories of various kinds under different names, almost exclusively for American publications, while also writing detective novels. During the war he was in the Civil Service and then the Army. In 1946 he went back to writing stories for publication in the USA and decided to try a modified form of science fiction, a form he called 'logical fantasy'.

©1955 John Wyndham (P)2021 Audible, Ltd Fiction Genetic Engineering Science Fiction Scary
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I'd read Chocky, another of Wyndham's novels, twice before listening to this (after being utterly absorbed by the kids TV series as a child) and loved it. The Chrysalids doesn't disappoint either. It's hard to believe it was originally published in 1955! It has a timeless quality to it.

It's a captivating story, with universal themes, such as the controlling nature of religion, and a wonderful speculation of the futurist capabilities of man.

Well worth a listen/read...Then if you've not already read Chocky, pop it on your list!

Brilliant

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The narrator really brought the story to life. Created a great sense of suspense.

Excellent listen

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This still reads well in the twenty first century: a tense, gripping tale that zips along.

Classic, haunting sci-fi

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This has all the elements that make a good sci fi story. It is a shame there is not a sequel

Classic Wyndham and perhaps his best novel

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I didn't know of this John Wyndam book and throughly enjoyed it. The themes feel very relevant, thought provoking and chilling. Neil Reids narration is excellent, one of best I've listened to.

Exceptional

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