The Chrysalids & Survival

by Barbara Clegg (Adapter), Pat Hooker (Adapter), John Wyndham

Two classic tales from acclaimed British science fiction writer John Wyndham. In The Chrysalids, ten-year-old David is a happy, ordinary boy, untroubled except for occasional strange dreams about a mysterious city – until he befriends Sophie, who is unlike anybody he has met before: she has six toes. But, in the ultra-religious village of Waknut, all abnormality is abhorred as an offence against God, and he must keep her secret to himself. When he learns that he, too, is ‘deviant’, he realises that differences can be very dangerous indeed... Survival, set in the future, concerns the first auto-piloted space flight. When the ship meets with an accident, one of the passengers is killed and the others are cast adrift into space. They have enough supplies to last for three months – but the only woman on board, Alice Morgan, is pregnant, and needs extra rations. Then, food starts to go missing from the larder. What lengths will the passengers go to in order to survive? Stephen Garlick, Susan Sheridan, John Moffatt and Nicholas Courtney star in these two disturbing stories about the darker side of human nature. This CD release also includes a detailed sleeve note recounting the making of the radio adaptations, written by Andrew Pixley.

2 CDs. 1 hr 57 mins.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

2 pages, Audio CD

Published January 8, 2007

About the author

Barbara Diana Clegg was a British actress and scriptwriter for television and radio.

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for The Chrysalids & Survival by John Wyndham read by John Moffatt, Nicholas Courtney, Stephen Garlick and Susan Sheridan. This was an interesting post apocalyptic story. The perspective was original. The full cast narration was fun too.

[Anisha Inkspill · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5*)

John Wyndham's novel The Chrysalids and short story Survival adapted for audio drama.

I've heard of John Wyndham but I had no idea what to expect. I had heard of Chrysalids, thinking alien invasion, to discover that this this was far from this was a surprise to find it’s a disturbing story that criticises how eugenics incites prejudice and fear. At a guess I’d say this was written after World War II, the whole idea of cleansing society from any form of (what it regards as) ‘deformity’ leaves a big chill.

The audio production with its sound design was unsettling with its screechy sounds when David and friends are communicating telepathically but added to the building suspense. I did want more from the ending but at the same time I was pleased that this gave me an opportunity to get acquainted with John Wyndham's works. On a side-note, Survival's twist turned into a bit of a horror tale that I did not expect.

[Timothy Batson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chrysalids 👍🏻 Survival 👎🏻

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of this until I listened to the Great Courses on Utopian and Dystopian Literature. It is surprising how old this is, especially since it has a really similar feel to other juvenile and YA dystopias. The ending of Survival was particularly disturbing. Eek.

[Catherine Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this in early high school, and really enjoyed it. I listened to this dramatization to see if I still did. And I did - despite the late 70s dystopian sounds.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audiobook) Interesting old sci-fi short stories done in the old radio play way...which means, if you’re trying to listen to it while you’re getting ready for work, and trying not to wake anyone up, you’re screwed. They don’t just say they screamed...they actually scream. And the ear-shattering sound effects for the “mind meld” are used liberally, and the levels are higher than for the dialogue, so it’s super annoying, and hard to make out what they’re saying. Now, setting all that aside, it’s still worth a listen. Good stories, well told, and old radio plays are fun for the nostalgia and for the dated aspect of the production and the dramatics, which always makes me smile.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down. Nowhere near the level of DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, although that might not be fair to the original stories, since this is a full-cast audio drama adaptation rather than an audiobook narration. Judged on that scale... it's still a solid 2.5 stars, about the level of a midrange X MINUS ONE episode (or the equivalent BBC show). "Chrysalids" gets the edge over "Survival," but neither really impressed me like TRIFFIDS did.

[Karen JEC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting adaptation of two stories, a book and a play. I listened to this radio production and mostly enjoyed it but still not sure if I would recommend it... What a bleak way to end Survival.

Favourite Quotes:

"… They call it telepathy."
"Do they think it's deviational?"
"I don't know. Academically, God is able to read men's minds so the true image ought to be able to as well. But I wouldn’t like to rely on that argument in front of a tribunal."

[Al Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth a listen - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2019/06/...

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories and dramatic production. The sound effects where kind of distracting.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems like no matter what the dystopian future holds, people who are different and women are always the problem.

[Gary Mcfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short "book" but worth it.

[Magen - Inquiring Professional Dog Trainer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for The Great Courses course Utopia and Dystopia

[Peter Gehred · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid dystopia, with some of the flavor of Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

[Eithan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First try of Wyndham, can't say he showed himself here as super talented- both stories are just above average and on SiFi scale below but can try another thing

[Cory Hawksbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two stories are probably two of his best. This book is a quick read but worth it.

[Marlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

What weird and interesting stories these are. I think one might have been able to get more out of the actual book than this adaptation. On the other hand, it was intriguing and the sound effects were weird in a way that somehow fit to make the stories something else. Intriguing.