"The Chrysalids" was the third novel that John Wyndham wrote under that name; he had previously written numerous, relatively uninteresting science fiction potboilers until shortly after the war he decided to use the forms of sf to produce more thoughtful and intelligent social novels. "The Chrysalids" is probably best read when you are an adolescent, as it deals with a number of young people who are persecuted in their post-apocalyptic society for being telepathic mutants, a fact which they have to hide in order to survive (it is easy to see this novel being popular with young gay readers). It probably owes its success to this theme - many young readers of science fiction probably feel as if they don't fit into society (I did) so a book that claims that these differences aren't just natural but may even be superior can only help. However Wyndham also provides a well-written, highly readable and absorbing novel, and I would recommend it to anyone, but especially to young readers who are only just starting to read science fiction.
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Oct 1st, 2000
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