The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

[Vertigo]

Which reminds me that I'm supposed to be getting around to reading the Midwich Cuckoos, which has somehow slid down my wish list. Time to move it back up!

 

[Bick]

Very nice review Toby, thanks for that, and I agree with your summation.

I suspect that, if written now, it would be twice as long, and every plot twist would be accompanied by large chunks of teenage emoting.

As to this... I would say yes, unless it was written by someone who was actually a good writer and who's editor wasn't a nincompoop.

 

[Danny McG]

One of my fave reads too The Chrysalids.
As pointed out in this thread, Wyndham kept his stories concise. That, apart from the odd pot boilers like Dune, seemed to be a common thing with sci fi novels back then. Have we came to expect 700 pages plus as a typical book nowadays?