Preview
  • The Chrysalids

  • By: John Wyndham
  • Narrated by: Noah Reid
  • Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (204 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Chrysalids

By: John Wyndham
Narrated by: Noah Reid
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.87

Buy for $22.87

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

David Strorm's father doesn't approve of Angus Morton's unusually large horses, calling them blasphemies against nature. Little does he realise that his own son, his niece Rosalind and their friends have their own secret aberration that would label them as mutants. But as David and Rosalind grow older it becomes more difficult to conceal their differences from the village elders. Soon they face a choice: wait for eventual discovery or flee to the terrifying and mutable Badland....

About the author: John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Benyon Harris was born in 1903, the son of a barrister. He tried a number of careers including farming, law, commercial art and advertising, and started writing short stories, intended for sale, in 1925. From 1930 to 1939 he wrote stories of various kinds under different names, almost exclusively for American publications, while also writing detective novels. During the war he was in the Civil Service and then the Army. In 1946 he went back to writing stories for publication in the USA and decided to try a modified form of science fiction, a form he called 'logical fantasy'.

©1955 John Wyndham (P)2021 Audible, Ltd
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Chrysalids

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    138
  • 4 Stars
    49
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    151
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    119
  • 4 Stars
    44
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Performance was amazing

Noah Reid did such an amazing job with this book. I’ve listened to many audio books and his reading is incomparable. His voice, his tone, and the different characters are flawless.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

second time just as good

This was one of my favorites and really enjoyed the audio book some 30 years later

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

All around brilliant

I cannot believe this wasn’t required reading through my HS years, and that I hadn’t heard of it until now. This is such a masterful piece of writing by John Wyndham. Further praise to Noah Reid’s brilliant interpretation of characters, his inflection giving way to each person within the story without being a distraction. His smooth voice easily guided this story though my mind, painting a vivid picture for me to ponder for some time to come.
Highly recommend & hope to hear Noah do more projects like this!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So good

This story was intriguing and easy to follow. Noah Reid’s reading is really great and easy to listen to. Overall, I would recommend this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Years ahead of its time

Although I had read Day of the Triffids, and so was familiar with the author, I didn't know what to expect. Was pleasantly surprised by this truly timeless story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Alright story with excellent narration

This story was alright but I’m not a sci-fi person. I picked it up purely because Noah Reid was the narrator and he did not disappoint. I would listen to this man read the phone book. I hope he plans for more audio books in the future.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Compelling Narration of a Solid Story

I love a good dystopian novel, and while The Chrysalids might not top my list, it certainly ranks. Born into a post-apocalyptic, puritanical Unpleasantville called Labrador, protagonist David takes us on his journey, first of survival within the only world he has ever known, and then in attempted escape to a place where he and his companions can live safely despite their deviations from "God's image." For the most part, the story was a well-paced page turner, though I did feel it wrapped a little abruptly.

Noah Reid's narration brought the story to life, which I'm sure comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with his work. I have to think that the casting people at Audible saw his performance in Igor Drljaca's short film, The Archivists, and immediately reached out. He brought a unique voice and personality not only to the main character David, but to every major and minor character in the story. Though I imagine a career in narration is not among his plans, if he decides to narrate another book, I'll be listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book is fantastic

I first read it some years ago in fact in high school over 20 years and it came back to my mind the other day. Honestly, I was so pleased to see it on audible so I had to listen. The story is really interesting and suspenseful as it unfolds. It’s almost like a parallel universe with Labrador and the Zealand. It’s worth the listen and the cost or credit. #fantastic futuristic and frightfully written.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It is awfully exciting

This time, Petra darling.

I wouldn’t have picked this off of a shelf or chosen it out of a virtual library … mainly because I am a simpleton when it comes to choosing literature at this moment in my life. But, lured here by unofficial PR of Noah’s fandom, I am so glad to be here. What a beautiful story.

tldr: came here for the reader, stayed for the words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Netflix, wake up!

When I first read this book, the title of the paperback was “Rebirth” — maybe an old American edition. That was in c. 1983. I’ve read it many times since. The only real regret and frustration I feel is how Wyndham treated Sophie, and what happened to her and her family. This is not a spoiler because there’s nothing to spoil.

The story is a What If? the survivors of near nuclear extinction either were religious or turned to religion as a result. It’s very convincing. I appreciate the absence of fantasy. There is no magic, but there is mutation. All this takes in a dystopian Waknuk, a farming community in southwestern Labrador, Canada. The narrator gives a terrific performance, with every character having a singular voice.

John Wyndham was a brilliant writer. His prose in this book is matter-of-fact, but sprinkled with some lovely descriptions and observations. I wish it would be adapted as a miniseries. Frankly, I wonder that it hasn’t been, already.

He wrote two other very famous books, both having been made into films: The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos. If you understand how the cuckoo raises its young, you’ll understand the title and the premise. However, Hollywood must think us all idiots, so their title for the 1960 film is Village of the Damned. Despite that title, it stars George Sanders and is better than the usual Hollywood fare. So why hasn’t someone adapted The Chrysalids? Beats me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful