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Summary: Amazing story on the inherent fear of the unknown and new
Review: In a future society that survived a worldwide nuclear war, people rejected technology, hoping to banish the cause of the near destruction of their world. As some changes resulting from the latter catastrophe became apparent on some members of their society, a new witch hunt began, as well as a struggle for survival... This story exposes some flaws of human behavior that had devastating consequences in history. The arrogance of Man and his lack of self criticism always lead to self destruction, as in 'The Chrysalids', and are obvious in the post nuclear society depicted there. Thus, they did not recognize that the banishment of technology only eliminates the symptom, and not the true illness, which abides deep within us. All in all, 'The Chrysalids' is a superb story that reveals the imperfect nature of Man and emphasizes the need for a renewal of humanity.
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Summary: Very good book...
Review: I've read that book in English and it was a bit difficult for me, because I am from Slovakia and I know Slovak language best and English less.It was interresting for me, good story and idea.As I read it I felt such a wonderful kind of tension inside of my soul. As I've read it I've thought about a life too. It seems to be that nothing has changed and nothing will. People are same all the time - in the past and in the future. Only what matters is love inside of human, not laws, not orders made by some unwise and ignorant people... People long for peace, David, Petra, Sophie... too. Some of them has found what they looked for, some of them didn't. It's sad but such is a story... Nothing stays for always at the same place, everything changes...
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Summary: Pure and Timeless Magic
Review: I've read it first when I was 14, borrowed from a friend, and its impression on me was so great that I NEVER forgot about it. Twenty six years later, found, bought and read it again, and the pleasure was even greater... It's SURELY a masterpiece... Surely I would qualify it as one of the 10 best books I've read in my life. Few books I've read have this magic interspersed within (regardless of your age...). DON'T MISS IT
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Summary: brilliant post-apocalyptic novel by master of the genre
Review: Most Americans, if they've heard of John Wyndham at all, may remember him for "The Day of the Triffids" or "The Midwich Cuckoos", two of his more famous novels which were made into vapid movies. And while I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either of these books to any discerning science fiction or literature fan, in my opinion, "The Chrysalids" surpasses them easily in originality, message, and relevance. It's also a completely absorbing read from beginning to end. The story opens with a young boy named David who is growing up in a world so ravaged by nuclear holocaust that it is scarcely recognizable as our own. Although the apocalypse has passed into ancient history, the scars remain, specifically in the proliferation of genetic mutations which David's people regard as omens of evil. So ingrained is this aversion that mutation is regarded as sacrilege, an obscenity which can only pollute and must be destroyed or excised mercilessly. So thoroughly indoctrinated is David that it never occurs to him that he himself might be a mutant. Although he is seemingly normal from the outside, David is able to communicate with a select group of others in the form of telepathic thought-shapes. As he matures, he realizes that his difference could be lethal to him. He and his fellow mutants grow up bonded by a conspiracy of self-preservation which almost succeeds...until he discovers that his sister shares his gift, with a power exponentially greater than his own, one which proves impossible to hide.
On the surface, "The Chrysalids" is no more than a finely wrought, suspensefully rendered tale of an alternate society in a post-apocalyptic world. But if you scratch the surface, you'll find the most scathingly effective condemnation of organized religion in all of science fiction. This is not a novel preaching tolerance; it is an undeniable statement of the folly of accepting the dictates of superstition and paranoia - also known as religion - over the reasoning evidence of one's own mind. The message is subtle, but inescapable and incontrovertible. This book stays with the reader long after it's been returned to the shelf
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Summary: Interesting Perception, Boring Talk
Review: I read this book for my tenth grade Advanced Placement English class, and must say that it is so weird. The story itself brings controversy with our fascination with nuclear energy and weapons. The book tells a tale of what our societies could become if we don't watch it. However, I also found that the characterization wasn't very well done. I found David's personality to be quite unexplored, curious for a first-person point of view. Also, Rosalind is his COUSIN. Ew. That alone could cause a genetic mutation. Besides, being able to send thought-shapes - legally, in the "Repentances" definition of man, how is it possible that they are in violation? But yes, the ending was awful too. Let's kill everyone and leave half of the people in the crappy land when we jet off to New Zealand in our fancy space-age flying machine. Mhm. Greaaaaat, Wyndham. Great.
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Summary: Paul Kantner Liked It
Review: I haven't read this book in a long time but I remember being amazed to find the lyrics to Jefferson Airplane's "Crown of Creation" almost word for word in the middle of the book. The reviewers giving it one star must not like old sci-fi.
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Summary: Way Ahead of Its Time
Review: This book has fascinated me since I first read it as a teenager. Unlike some other reviewers, I loved the fact that Wyhdham left it to his readers to imagine what kind of disaster might have befallen a society to cause it to differentiate so thoroughly between what is "deviant" versus what is "the norm," that alliance to "the norm" becomes a fundamentalist religion. In one brilliant passage, a sailor describes a visit to a strange land overrun with "deviant" life. The passage includes just enough information about the environment to convey the discrepancy between the sailor's perspective, distorted by ignorance and indoctrination, and what the reader, from his knowledge of the world, knows to be true.
I've re-read the book several times, and for me it never loses its freshness, originality and relevancy. Recurrent themes in the book include truth versus knowledge, and culture's influence on what is acceptable and what is aberrant. Written in 1955, this book was way ahead of its time, and is as current today as it was 50 years ago. It is a true classic.
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Summary: "Rebirth" = "The Chrysalids".
Review: "Rebirth" is in fact the very same book as "The Chrysalids". Someone must have figured the new title would sell better. Either way, it's an excellent book. Reminds me A LOT of "A Night of Watching", the story of Denmark under the Nazis. That was true, this is fiction, but human nature - good and bad - doesn't change, and is realistically and lovingly portrayed here. Real villians, real heroes. I always hoped they would go back for the girls. Yes, we need a sequel!
Definitely recommended. Read it soon.
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Summary: I love this book.
Review: Well, ok, I am writing this to balance out the reviews of the morons that gave it 1 star, so I'll try to make it short.
I read it when I was 10 and I loved it because of the concept of telepahy and then I read it again 19 years later and I loved it because of the way it demonstrates intolerance, ignorance and religious fanaticizm.
Read It!!!
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Summary: worst book ever
Review: I HAD TO READ THIS BOOK FOR GRADE 9 ENGLISH AND I HATED IT SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH.
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