The Chrysalids

The Chrysalids, John Wyndhams' evergreen tale of a future blighted by fallout, mutation and intolerance is in the Radio 4 "Classic Serial" slot over the next couple of weeks and it's perfect listening for the summer hols. I read the novel for the first time whilst in my early teens, then re-read it again straight after. Not something I was, or am, in the habit of doing but I was obsessed by the story for that summer. The local library also had an excellent unabridged audio-book performed by actor Robert Powell if memory serves.  Auntie Beeb's original radio drama really shows it's age now when you listen back to it, so it's great to be getting this new adaptation 31 years later. It's a long standing audio drama pet-hate of mine, when an adult female voice is cast in the role of a boy and the aforesaid 1981 version has that in spades. I don't know who they thought they were fooling but thankfully at least, the practice seems to have died out in recent times. Also, as was common in radio drama of that time and earlier, there's a plethora of plummy RADA type accents of the old school, which really don't fit the post-apocalyptic agrarian community they are portraying.

I'm pleased to confirm the new 2012 adaptation is a big improvement so far upon first listen. You can catch up with both episodes here until the 12th of August.