Customer Reviews

Chocky (Athena books)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

John Wyndham's Chocky is a rather humanistic story about how a family deals with one son's mysterious unseen friend, Chocky. At first they thought their son was suffering from an over-exercised imagination. Then it becomes plainly that Chocky is real, and is literally from out of this world. Trite? In a way, yes. But I found the characterizations, especially of the parents, to be very well judged. So from a science fiction perspective Chocky doesn't enthrall, but otherwise it stands fairly well on its own.

However I expected much more. John Wyndham has written some very intriguing books which really makes one think of social/environmental issues. The Chrysalids, for me, is his best. Wyndham simply didn't try to achieve such heights with Chocky, which is unfortunate.

Bottom line: a curious and very readable novel. But Wyndham has done much better.

John Wyndham was a great writer. But you knew that already. "Chocky" was one of his last (and one of his best) books.

The narrator is David. He and his wife Mary are worried parents. Their adopted young son Matthew has developed a habit of talking to himself. Matthew asks strange questions, the kind that children wouldn't normally ask. He becomes good at things in which he previously had no great ability.

And then Matthew mentions Chocky. For David and Mary it looks as if Matthew's "imaginary friend" is growing more and more influential, driving Matthew further away from reality. Matthew is frustrated because Chocky really exists. Chocky is an invisible entity from another planet. She uses Matthew as an interpreter while she studies our planet.

This book was made into a children's programme, and inspired two more spin-offs. "Chocky" is a book about growing up, friendship, and the pain of saying goodbye. The end of the book is particularly touching. This is a book people should read at school.

Another triumph by the greatest British science-fiction writer (sorry Aldis, you don't compete; & Clarke is a purely international phenomenon) This is later in his body of work, dating to 1968 (he died in '69), but carries the same authority, the same questions, the same hope for the future as his other works of the second flowering of his talent, that dating from the fifties and sixties, when he wrote as John Wyndham and not Benyon Harris or some other variation from his name. Chocky is, apparently, a being from another planet, star system, galaxy even, who is able to communicate by mind with a young boy ~ the protagonist's son. Naturally, the alien culture, science, technology, civilisation are all well in advance of ours; Chocky's task is to be a teacher, to guide us into a more mature use of the Earth and, especially, x-x-x-x-x ~ a power system based on the interstellar radiation ~ which will enable us to develop properly. Unfortunately, for her task, Chocky becomes emotionally involved where she ought to be detached, and her mission is, this time, a failure. Wyndham's interest is not so much the story, though that is fascinating, but the ideas behind the story, and, more particularly, the questions raised by the suppositions of the plot. What would happen if a child heard a voice from outside itself? Why can mind not be cast across space since, as Chocky points out, it is massless and maybe not subject to the terminal velocity of light? And, though this is a secondary question, can there be points of contact between alien species? Wyndham's answer appears to be that at least one such point might be art, a curious suggestion. © Elsie Wilson, 2002.

John Wyndham has one of the best writing styles of any science fiction writer. It is a simple style, very clear and concise with no wasted words. Despite being a simple, clear style, the author never fails to look directly at complex issues.

This book and all of John Wyndham's other books (see "Day of the Triffids", and especially "The Chrysalids") for more of this author. If you liked "Chocky", you will not be dissapointed with these other books.

Story aside, the kindle edition in the first few pages is already rife with spelling errors, half words and extra characters in the middle of words. It makes it this book somewhat difficult and annoying to read.

When young children start to hold conversations apparently with themselves, we normally pass it off as another case of `imaginary friends'. But Chocky is no figment of the imagination. 11-year-old Matthew causes his parents alarm and then concern when he holds lengthy and articulate discussions with something clearly not of this world, as the questions he seemed to hear and respond to were pertinent and intelligent ones, as though asked by a being interested in learning more about our Planet.

The being's activities were not limited to asking questions. When Matthew's younger sister was in danger of drowning, impelled by the commands of this being, Matthew, who has never been a strong swimmer, dives in and rescues her, making himself a local hero. Matthew, however, would not take credit for the brave deed and attributes it to Chocky, who he cannot determine as male or female but merely a being from another planet who is communicating with him telepathically.
Through Chocky's eyes, Matthew produces startling artwork of everyday Planet Earth things seen from Chocky's perspective. Intrigued, Matthew's schoolteacher enters, without Matthew's permission, one of these drawings to a children's art competition. This raises a lot of suspicion and also speculation on what's ailing young Matthew. The psychiatrist is convinced that Chocky is a manifestation of subconscious conflicts within the boy. Matthew's parents are not so sure.
The only grownups, apart from Matthew's parents, who are actually convinced that Matthew has been visited, in his mind, by an extra-terrestrial intelligent life form wish the boy harm and kidnap him in order that they can exploit the abundant knowledge Chocky has given Matthew. Aware of the danger Matthew is in, Chocky communicates his/her reasons for `choosing' Matthew to his parents and then leaves for good.
`Chocky' is a plausible story, beautifully written to provoke thinking and not panic. What sets `Chocky' apart from other alien-invasion / alien-possession stories of that era is the amazing dialogues Matthew has with Chocky to convince the readers that Chocky is unfamiliar with our planet and is unable to comprehend the things we take for granted, for instance, why the months have different numbers of days and why animals such as cows have limited intelligence whereas people do not. Such keen observations demonstrate that Wyndham has an analytical and philosophical mind.
After Chocky's departure, Matthew reports feeling grief, but also greater awareness of his environment. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson from Chocky and have more open and inquiring minds and no longer take our world for granted.

I first read this book about 20 years ago,I recently re-read it and I was not disappointed with how it has stood the test of time.It is as fresh as ever.I do think however that some reviewers are slightly missing the most important point of the story(I think anyway) The idea as Wyndham once said was,What would happen if? This is the basic premise of most of his latter works.He shows very clearly how all of peoples prejudice,fears,resentments and all of mankinds vices come bubbling to the surface when the occasion presents itself. I think it is a book for anyone who studies human nature. A book well worth reading. A word of caution to any sensitive readers,The end still brings a tear to my eye,in a nice way. A real gem.

I first read this book two years ago, and I have re-read it many times since then. The idea behind the book is, perhaps, not the most original idea in the world, but the way in which it is portrayed is wonderful. The problens that Chocky has with understanding our systems makes the reader feel inclined to look at the way in which we live in a new light.

...delightful surprises!

Matthew, 11, a bright, pre-adolescent boy has been receiving visits from a mysterious, possibly alien being called Chocky. He and Chocky have long, esoteric conversations that suggest that perhaps Chocky is not a resident of Planet Earth. The question is, does Chocky exist? And what gender is Chocky? Matthew initially identified Chocky as male, then later on Chocky is referred to as being female.

The dialog is nothing short of brilliant; the dynamics are uncannily convincing. This is an excellent book.

Matthew has a highly irritating younger sister. I just loved it when their father told her to shut up when she wanted to drone on about Twinklehooves, a fictional horse in one of her books. What a foolish girl chock full of inane chatter. I also thought that response served her right as nobody wanted to listen to her silly palaver. Matthew, on the other hand had an open, receptive mind and was able to receive Chocky.

Chocky comes through for Matthew's irritating sister. When she nearly drowns, Matthew saves her, but says that Chocky saved her. His drawings become startlingly sophisticated, a talent he also attributes to Chocky. Matthew starts to view the world through Chocky's eyes and when his work is submitted to an art show without his permission, Chocky's "existence" snowballs.

The boy's parents fear he will be kidnapped for his knowledge of esoteric matters via Chocky. Chocky realizes Matthew is in danger and that others will try to use him to get to him/her, Chocky and Chocky's information. Once Chocky imparts this final message, s/he leaves Matthew, never to return in any form. It is believed that Chocky is an extra terrestrial.

The conversations between the boy and the being are deep and profound; they expound on questions of routine existence that many take for granted. Chocky raises Matthew's level of appreciation for his life and the people in it.

John Wyndham has such a definitive British style, most apparent in "Chocky". The stiff upper lip element is obvious, when an alien intellignence infiltrates the mind of Matthew, son of a middle class family. It is an understated read, which adds to the "real" element of the atmosphere, which is strong...it alsocreates an air of nostalgia too...Matthew is a delightful character and the family dynamics are all too real, if you grew up in that type of environment. I recommend Wyndham to anyone wanting to test the waters of Science Fiction, but have a fairly conservative outlook.