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The Chrysalids
- Narrated by: Noah Reid
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
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The Chrysalids
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Summary
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'.
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What listeners say about The Chrysalids
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- NICK D.
- 21-12-21
Timeless Genius
I loved the story. John Whyndham defies pigeon holing into any genre. It combines thriller with sociology and science fiction - like his other books.
Noah Reid was an excellent storyteller delivering all of the characters with a sense of freshness and individuality.
Highly recommend for all ages and sexes.
This could have been a series. Maybe it should be a Netflix series…
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Bel
- 30-12-21
A story to remember
I read the Day of the Tryffids many years ago, and loved it. When I came across The Chrysalids a few days ago, I thought it sounded interesting -- and it was! A great story which kept me listening, so I finished it really fast. Would have loved to have a sequel, but alas, that is not to be. The narration by Noah Reid was excellent.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tam
- 12-09-22
loved it
it's not a very long book but a very good read (listen). Well read and clearly the inspiration for several more recent books of this millennium
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Pen Name
- 07-02-23
One of my favourite Wyndham stories
This is beautifully read and very gripping - I have listened to the whole book in 24 hours. I have read the book many times but not for quite a long time - it’s a real pleasure to hear it read so well
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Zoe
- 24-03-23
Great dystopian piece
Imagine a world some great time after a nuclear war and you’ll be some way to imagining the world out protagonists live in. A world where any deviation from the prescribed norm is sterilised and cast out. Where babies have to be assessed and mothers can lose child after child for having a too long arm, an extra finger. Then imagine you find yourself different from those around you, you look the same on the outside but you can do something no one else can. This is a story of growing up in a hard world and learning that you’re world isn’t safe for you. Of love and protection, of fear, escape and a hope for the future that comes from far away. John Wyndham never disappoints and here he weaves one of my favourite stories. Beautifully written and well crafted a must read for any fan of dystopian fiction.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-09-23
Mixed feelings
Excellent story. I've read this many times since I was a teenager. However, the narrator was terrible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Riff
- 06-02-22
Excellent - still relevant today
One of the chilling aspects of much of John Wyndham's books are their timelessness.
This book in particular is a reminder of how close we are to the brink, and that fundamentalists, of any stripe, can seize power at any moment. This is a tale not just of science fiction but an allegory of how those who are outsiders, who are marginalized can be turned into the other, the scapegoat, the infidel.
In itself it is an excellent story, entertaining in its own right, but also a tale of morality and a parable. Highly recommended.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Rebecca
- 01-05-22
Brilliant
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!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- D. V. Cole
- 29-05-22
Marvellous story
A prophetic vision of what might happen if idiots press their red buttons. A sobering vision too, but heartening as well. Clever writing.
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- Stephen
- 20-08-22
Well worth a listen, mind blowing story
This is a story I've known about for a long time and never got round to. A story from a long time ago still relevant today.
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