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Description
In the community of Waknut it is believed mutants are the products of the Devil and must be stamped out. When David befriends a girl with a slight abnormality, he begins to understand the nature of fear and oppression. When he develops his own deviation, he must learn to conceal his secret.
Cast of Characters/Important People
- David Strom: narrator of the story. David is one of a small group of youngsters who can communicate with each other via telepathy. However, their community's theological prejudice against anyone who is abnormal means he and the others must keep their abilities carefully hidden.
- Sophie Wender: a young girl born with six toes on each foot. Sophie lives with her parents in an isolated cottage, her deviation from the "norm" keeping her from associating with other children.
- Joseph Strom: the father of David and Petra. He is deeply religious and unyielding on the subject of mutations and blasphemy, punishing David severely for an unintentionally blasphemous remark about "needing an extra hand" to apply a bandage
- Uncle Axel: a widely traveled former sailor, is open minded and willing to question conventional religious precepts. Upon discovering David's telepathy, he counsels reticence and extracts a promise that David take great care not to allow others to learn of his mutation
- Petra Strom: the youngest of the Strorm children and the group of telepaths discovers her ability is extraordinarily strong and difficult to resist, placing the group at greater risk of discovery.
- Rosalind Morton: the daughter of David and Petra's half-Uncle Angus (who owns the neighbouring farm). Rosalind is David's closest friend among the group of telepaths.
Memorable Quotes
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“The essential quality of life is living; the essential quality of living is change; change is evolution: and we are a part of it. The static, the enemy of change, is the enemy of life, and therefore our implacable enemy.”
Sealand Lady
First Sentence
When I was quite small I would sometimes dream of a city -which was strange because it began before I even knew what a city was.
Table of Contents
Authors & Contributors
- John Wyndham (Author)
Other Contributors:
- David Harrower (Adapter) - Playwriter
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