The Chrysalids

The Chrysalids
BY JOHN WYNDHAM

(This book has lost of different covers, don't be deterred by some of the very strange covers)

This book is set post apocalypse in a world where you must be genetically perfect. If a child has an extra toe it will automatically result in the death of the baby, a pig with more hair than normal will be put down, and corn kernels from on plant that are not perfect will require burning the entire field. In this world, imperfection is becoming harder to detect with mental abilities arising which are almost impossible to detect.

When the main character David, develops telepathic powers at a young age, he is able to communicate with a group of other children his age. As they grow up, you follow their journey and the troubles which the encounter trying to hide it from there families and friends, knowing full well that if they are found out they will be killed.

When they are exposed David, together with a the rest of the group, all grown up now, are forced to flee for their lives. They are re-united with their friend Sophie, earlier banished to the Fringes- an unsafe area not fit for habitation because of radiation- for the 'disgusting' fault of having six toes instead of the normal five. David's younger sister, Petra, able to communicate her thoughts with a power and at a distance far beyond any of the other children discovers the presence of others like them in a distant community who mount a campaign to rescue the children from their persecutors.

John Wyndham has hit on many different topics in this novel which include religious fundamentalism, intolerance and narrow-mindedness. This book made me cry and made me happy at the same time. It made me think, really think.

Yet I found myself sympathising and understanding the community which prosecuted the children. Although they are vicious, they all made it through an apocalypse and have little knowledge of anything before it (our time) and have very few technologies. Fear can make monsters from the best of people and this novel captures that beautifully. Wyndham wrote so naturally, his thoughts of the characters and the dialogue are beautifully done.

This book is science fiction WHILE facing many different issues- both obvious for the characters and his underlining messages to do with intolerance which have worked there way into this novel.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, one of my favourite Science Fiction books! It's a really worthwhile read.
(It was recommended to me by my Dad :P)

Another quick point:
Isobelle Carmody stole this plot. I was shocked to discover that her series "Obernewtyn Chronicles" was startlingly close to this novel! In fact, it is almost exactly the same! Although I do like the Obernewtyn Chronicles, but I was quite annoyed when I figured out that she used a similar plot (Obernewtyn is set in a post apocalyptic world where perfection if key and people start to develop mental abilities etc.).

Other information:
Amazon
Wikipedia- John Wyndham
Wikipedia- The Chrysalids

Captain Libeka.