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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 Genetic Engineering Science Fiction Fiction
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I’ve just gotta say it…this book is wonderful! I’m a little shocked that a book written in 1955 can feel so fresh and relevant. I’ve read John Wyndhams other books (Day of the Triffids, Midwich Cuckoos, Trouble with Lichen etc) and those ones feel a little dated. But The Chrysalids was a complete surprise. A wonderful story and absolutely beautifully narrated, it’s definitely going on my Favourite Book list. I love everything about it…thanks so much Audible for putting it in the Plus Catalogue.

Wow! Fabulous

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I remember this from the BBC Radio play decades ago. I was struck how much of it had stuck with me all those years. A prophetic writer

I remember this from the BBC radio play

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Well read, classic story, still frightening in its concept.
I really enjoyed it well done.

Great story

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At almost 70 years from first publish date, this story is as fresh as anything written today.
Throughly captivating , excellent for family listening ( @10years and above).
The characters are relatable and vivid.
Loved every minute.

Excellent story telling from start to finish

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Despite this being written in the mid 1900s, its themes are pretty relevant still. This is by no means a subtle novel. It also is not trying to be subtle, and does well at doing this.

Still relevant

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I read this at school as a teenager and loved the story. I sometimes find North American narrators jarring to my Australian ear but this narrator has a really nice accent and voice.

Love the story and great narration

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My second Wyndham. I love how he thinks and creates his characters, it's so well thought through and the ending - so hopeful. I loved it.

So creative - ahead of the time.

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This book is going straight to the top of my favourites it’s that fantastic. It was written a long time ago but it feels as if it could’ve been written yesterday. It’s so hard to describe & other reviewers do a much better job than I do. All ill add is that It’s got an amazing kind of fantasy world morality to it that makes you think deeply about the way you view cultures & the people in them without being at all preachy or contrived.

The narrator is equally as brilliant & does a phenomenal job at conveying every emotion whilst still being even keeled. I can’t think of a single thing he could’ve done better. I will not only be checking out other books by this author, I’ll also be on the look out for other books read by this narrator.

10/10 on all front!

One of the best stories I’ve ever heard.

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I read The Chysalids (and most of John Wyndham's works) in my mid-20s (MANY years ago). But I'd forgotten the story ... until chapter 3. WOW! I've recommended this audiobook to my book club and many others for its writing, narration and production. 5 stars all round!

WOW!

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Narrator very good. Story futuristic which can still be relevant today.
I enjoyed the audible versipn...read the print copy many many years ago.

Good classic

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