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The Chrysalids by John Wyndham is a novella about outcasts in an oppressive society. The story takes place after a large nuclear war in Waknuk (a small region in Canada), and the society present outlaws all kinds of Mutants (outcasts that are not normal mostly from nuclear leftovers) and deems them not human. The main character, David, gains a greater insight regarding his community and soon learns that he also may not be safe at home.
I thought this book was a great metaphor for today’s society, even though it is set in a science fiction setting. Through nuclear mutations, Wyndham portrays the harms that unaccepting standards have against people’s identities. I really enjoyed the book because it represented the discriminations that people face, including race, sexual orientation and identity, and more. The struggles that David and others around him face mirror everyday experiences, which I enjoyed through a new lens.
My favorite part of The Chrysalids was when David held discussions with his uncle. One of my favorite monologues from his uncle was when he described that many of the standards present in Waknuk were, in fact, inaccurate. People who had an extra toe or another power did not mean the person was less important than another who did not have any of those traits. Instead, it is up to a person’s interpretation of what the “acceptable” person is. I believe this idea is important as several minorities are deemed “unacceptable,” but it is only the minds of the oppressors who create these standards.
One thing I felt could be improved was the ending. Like many stories, the general outline was well-paced and developed, but the ending felt very abrupt and seemed inhumane compared to the rest of the story. Still, the fact that The Chrysalids is a book representing LGBTQ+ culture suited the book extremely well.
Overall, I would recommend the book to someone who enjoys science fiction but also social justice and equality.
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