Reading 1001 discussion

1. What scientific, supernatural, and/or psychological explanations are offered to Matthew’s parents to explain Chocky? Which ones do they find most tenable and why?

2. What does Chocky turn out to be and what is her goal? Is she something to be feared or welcomed?

3. Chocky’s critique of Earth’s unsustainable energy resources was written in the late 1960s. How relevant do her observations remain? What do you make of her solution to humanity’s “finite sun-based economy?"

4. What do you make of the book's ending? Do you find it optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?

5. This was Wyndham’s final book, published after an eight-year hiatus and only shortly before his death in 1969. How does it compare to his other books? The creepy kids of The Midwich Cuckoos seem a particularly apt comparison.

6. What do you think Chocky looks like?

WARNING -- SPOILERS BELOW.



1. What scientific, supernatural, and/or psychological explanations are offered to Matthew’s parents to explain Chocky? Which ones do they find most tenable and why?
First, they believe it is a simple case of an imaginary friend. They also consider the possibility that Matthew has a mental illness, like schizophrenia. The idea that he is possessed by an entity (not necessarily a demon) is offered by a doctor. Matthew’s mother simply continues to believe it is a stage he will grow out of. His father is open to the other ideas. The book suggests that he is a bit more rational, or at least why Chocky chooses to speak to him directly.

2. What does Chocky turn out to be and what is her goal? Is she something to be feared or welcomed?
Chocky is a scout from an alien planet, communicating with Matthew via telepathy. She is scary at first, as we don’t know what she is or what she wants. We gradually learn that she is not only harmless, but even helpful. Even though Earth does not suit the aliens’ purpose of building a new colony, they recognize the value of fostering intelligence anywhere they encounter it: ““But intelligent life is rare… very rare indeed… the rarest thing in creation… But the most precious. For intelligent life is the only thing that gives meaning to the universe. It is a holy thing to be fostered and treasured.”

3. Chocky’s critique of Earth’s unsustainable energy resources was written in the late 1960s. How relevant do her observations remain? What do you make of her solution to humanity’s “finite sun-based economy?”
I thought this was one of the best things about the book, especially since it was written over 50 years ago. Wyndham was prescient in identifying humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels as hugely problematic: “dirty, noisy, poisonous” oil engines. I am not sure that “radiation” is necessarily the best alternative. That said, maybe Chocky and her ilk know how to use it in a safe and clean manner.

4. What do you make of the book’s ending? Do you find it optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?
Kind of in-between. Chocky is wise enough to realize that big business interests would find Matthew a threat, but she seems confident that she can gradually impart her lessons to others. The pessimism is about the elements of human civilization (see below).

5. This was Wyndham’s final book, published after an eight-year hiatus and only shortly before his death in 1969. How does it compare to his other books? The creepy kids of The Midwich Cuckoos seem a particularly apt comparison.
The aliens in The Midwich Cuckoos use a dangerous form of mind control. Perhaps Chocky could do the same thing – she takes over Matthew’s body and helps him swim so he won’t drown, for example – but she is not innately harmful. It almost seems like after the cuckoo children and the giant plants of Day of the Triffids Wyndham wanted to present a form of alien life that wasn’t threatening, that was actually trying to help us. Elements of human civilization – big business, government – are the threat to humanity.

6. What do you think Chocky looks like?
Whatever it is I think it’s creepy. She knows we couldn’t handle it.

1. What scientific, supernatural, and/or psychological explanations are offered to Matthew’s parents to explain Chocky? Which ones do they find most tenable and why?
The simplest explanation is an imaginary friend, like Polly’s Piff. This appeals to the parents as it’s easy to understand and will resolve itself naturally, but it becomes clear that Chocky is not like that. Mary is worried about any other explanation as it implies more difficulties, e.g schizophrenia which has a stigma. Landis suggests a supernatural explanation - ‘possession’ - and the use of this word spooks Mary, also she wants a quick solution and is impatient with the ‘wait and see’ approach.

2. What does Chocky turn out to be and what is her goal? Is she something to be feared or welcomed? Chocky is a kind of scout, sounding out other planets as a suitable place for her people to colonise. She also refers to herself as a teacher, sharing expertise about conserving resources, and educating her chosen person about physics and maths. Her motives are benign but most people would fear something they don’t understand.

3. Chocky’s critique of Earth’s unsustainable energy resources was written in the late 1960s. How relevant do her observations remain? What do you make of her solution to humanity’s “finite sun-based economy?"
Like Jane, I appreciated Wyndham’s prescience about fossil fuels and I think her observation are still very relevant. I liked the point that we build machines that use power to consume more and more power. I thought it was a bit of a cop out that Matthew didn’t have a word for the kind of power she was proposing, but it was certainly a kind of radiation.

4. What do you make of the book's ending? Do you find it optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?
I think the ending is optimistic. Although Chocky feels that Earth is not suitable for her people, she is going to stick around and make more observations. There will be progress albeit slower than she intended. A more pessimistic note, or maybe warning, is the realisation of what lengths the authorities or private enterprises might go to in order to gain access to Chocky’s powers, and the consequences of that.

5. This was Wyndham’s final book, published after an eight-year hiatus and only shortly before his death in 1969. How does it compare to his other books? The creepy kids of The Midwich Cuckoos seem a particularly apt comparison.
I found this a gentler book than his previous ones. Chocky is not malevolent although her presence is unsettling and makes everyone uncomfortable. This is less of an action book, no bombs or car chases, more cerebral and thoughtful.

6. What do you think Chocky looks like?
I didn’t really picture her during the book, I thought of her only as a voice. Thinking about it now, I guess she would be scaly as she comes from a hot country, and with large insect-like eyes outside her head (as Matthew’s paintings had a strange perspective that she later helped him to correct)!

1. What scientific, supernatural, and/or psychological explanations are offered to Matthew’s parents to explain Chocky? Which ones do they find most tenable and why?

Plenty of explanations are put forward, from a normal(ish) childhood "invisible friend" to demonic possession or ghosts. Matthew's mother hates the possession idea and clings to the hope that Chocky will go away in time (which they eventually do, so although Mary is presented as being stubborn and blinkered, she kind of gets it right). Matthew's father's best idea seems to be schizophrenia, so he pushes for psychological help.

2. What does Chocky turn out to be and what is her goal? Is she something to be feared or welcomed?

Chocky turns out to be an alien with the goal of helping intelligent life become more intelligent and adept, therefore something to be welcomed in theory, although the way they present through Matthew is not ideal. Matthew's parents are right to be scared for him.

3. Chocky’s critique of Earth’s unsustainable energy resources was written in the late 1960s. How relevant do her observations remain? What do you make of her solution to humanity’s “finite sun-based economy?"

It's even more relevant today. I liked the idea that a solution we cannot yet imagine will come, although if it relies on getting help from friendly aliens, we may still be in trouble ;)

4. What do you make of the book's ending? Do you find it optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?

Optimistic. The novel offers a hope of continuing human life on earth after all the fossil fuels are gone, even if it involves technology currently unimaginable.

5. This was Wyndham’s final book, published after an eight-year hiatus and only shortly before his death in 1969. How does it compare to his other books? The creepy kids of The Midwich Cuckoos seem a particularly apt comparison.

I agree it is gentler than his other books. No one dies, for a start. Chocky's species has no interest in colonising earth, and they are friendly. When bad things happen because of Chocky, it's a mistake on their part, as they explain to Matthew's father at the end.

6. What do you think Chocky looks like?

I imagined that Chocky would be long and thin, maybe even like a wire or a spiral. Or like a worm, perhaps. Worms are hermaphrodite, too. When the characters were discussing Chocky's gender, I was surprised nobody came up with worms as an example. But perhaps Wyndham didn't want to give us any image that might suggest how Chocky looked.

Although I enjoyed and appreciated this book, I didn't think it belonged on the list, and I wasn't surprised to see that it was quickly removed (2008).

1. What scientific, supernatural, and/or psychological explanations are offered to Matthew’s parents to explain Chocky? Which ones do they find most tenable and why?

As everyone above has said, they ranged from annoying imaginary friend to mental illness. It seemed it a leap for Mary to accept that Matthew may be suffering from mental illness, but I did find her dismissal of the local doctor amusing (her assumption that he would just recommend 'healthy outdoor activities').

2. What does Chocky turn out to be and what is her goal? Is she something to be feared or welcomed?

Chocky is an alien and their goal is to increase human knowledge (because humans were/are lacking). The majority of the novel you are unsure if this is something to be worried about, but at the end they are trying to help humans.

3. Chocky’s critique of Earth’s unsustainable energy resources was written in the late 1960s. How relevant do her observations remain? What do you make of her solution to humanity’s “finite sun-based economy?"

It is disappointing how little has changed in this regard. As a life long reader of science fiction I kind of thought we'd be more advanced given the speculation that occurred in these novels.

4. What do you make of the book's ending? Do you find it optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?

Perhaps Wyndham was trying to lean toward optimism, but reading this 58 years later it's kind of depressing. We haven't really learned anything (and no, I don't think friendly aliens are here to help us with this). The rapacious 'dirty energy' interests haven't changed either (that Chocky refers to).

6. What do you think Chocky looks like?

I thought Chocky would look like the stereotypical 'B' movie alien. Tall, very thin, long fingered.....

I have to add:
I was pretty horrified with the events involving the famous psychologist.

1. What scientific, supernatural, and/or psychological explanations are offered to Matthew’s parents to explain Chocky? Which ones do they find most tenable and why?

Both parents wanted to believe in the beginning that this was just an overactive mind but both come to the conclusion that it was more than that. Mary seemed more practical and thought it a medical diagnosis but the father was more open to it being something else entirely. The father was ‘chosen’ for Chocky to talk to since he would believe more.

2. What does Chocky turn out to be and what is her goal? Is she something to be feared or welcomed?

Chocky explains that she is an explorer/teacher but doesn’t have the right words. I assume she was an extraterrestrial being on Earth to explore. Chocky’s people need to leave their planet because it is old and colonize a new planet. Chocky said she did not wish to harm Matthew. Chocky was advised to be detached from her host people. She advised Matthew to become an artist to avoid suspension.


3. Chocky’s critique of Earth’s unsustainable energy resources was written in the late 1960s. How relevant do her observations remain? What do you make of her solution to humanity’s “finite sun-based economy?”

Squandering sources of power, sources of power are finite. Look for a source of infinite power. Intelligent forms are rare.

4. What do you make of the book's ending? Do you find it optimistic or pessimistic about the future of humanity?

I didn’t find the ending pessimistic but I am not sure it was optimistic either. I thought the ending was appropriate.

5. This was Wyndham’s final book, published after an eight-year hiatus and only shortly before his death in 1969. How does it compare to his other books? The creepy kids of The Midwich Cuckoos seem a particularly apt comparison.

This book started out as very heartfelt and warm. I developed much sympathy for the family and especially Matthew. The Midwich Cuckoos was much more science fiction from the beginning.

6. What do you think Chocky looks like?

I think unlike humans since she did not want to show herself.