One of my first introductions to science fiction was the young adult series known as The Tripods
. John Christopher’s tale of alien invasion and subjugation is not well remembered generally, though it is still in print. But I’ll wager most science fiction fans of my generation think back fondly on that series. He also wrote a post-apocalyptic Prince in Waiting
series, which was brutal. I’ll have to re-read those and put up a review some day.
I’ve been on a mission to get copies of all John Christopher’s work. I read all of them that I could get my hands on as a teen. In 7th grade, my language arts teacher assigned our class the project of writing to an author we liked. I chose John Christopher. Most got back form letters from their authors. A few received personally written letters, but they all contained stock responses. John Christopher actually wrote me a nice letter back. I had written of some pattern I saw in his books, and he responded by telling me he didn’t think the pattern held. I wish I could remember what that pattern I saw was.
Wild Jack I can’t recall whether I read it or not as a teen. It’s also post-apocalyptic as the Prince In Waiting series was. However, instead of reverting to a medieval level of technology, humanity has separated into affluent cities and savage Outlands, with a drastically reduced population. The cities have nuclear power, and a life of ease. They tell stories of the savages outside. Life in the Outlands isn’t easy, but without a modern population to support, living off the land could be considered similar to the 17th century.
Clive Anderson’s father is a councilor in London. While his dad is away on holiday, Clive is sent to a prison island for youth on a trumped up charge. There he befriends several other outcasts. Despite expecting to be released when his father returns from holiday, he impulsively joins his friends in escape, and they eventually reach the Outlands. And then he finds that things aren’t quite as he was raised to believe.
On reading the book, one thing stood out to me. That was the antagonism between Clive and authority figures. How when he’s dragged off to reform island the headmaster, the guards, and many others are portrayed as cruel sadistic monsters. Maybe it’s just because I mentor high school students now, but I notice that sort of mentality among some of the teens a lot. Everyone has it out for them. In general, the kids feel so very deeply about everything. You are friends or you are not. You are best friends or you are enemies. There is very little of the take it or leave it with the kids I see. This matches up very well with that.
However, the city/country separation seemed so much more trite than what I recall of Christopher’s other writing. City life is lazy and fascist. Country life is hard but well-earned and freedom-loving. That theme seemed a bit overbearing to me.
Title: Wild Jack
Author: John Christopher (Samuel Youd)
Imprint / publisher: Collier / Macmillan
Format: Mass market paperback
Length: 147 p.
Publication date: 1978 (originally 1974)
ISBN-10: 0-02-042410-8
LC classification: PZ7.C457Wi 1978
3 Comments
I remember the tripods! Now that I think back on it, I do remember some sort of trite libertarian politics in those books. Maybe I should reread them.
Success!!!
What I wanted to say was how much I agree with you about John Christopher and I wish that more of his work was still in print. Did you read a trilogy that i think began with a book called ‘New World’ that explored the notion of parallel worlds before ever either Diana Wynne Jones or Philip Pullman did? I can’t find any of those now, not even in the library system. My favourite, however, was a stand alone book, called ‘The Guardians’. It covered some of the same notions that John Wyndham had written about, but for a slightly younger audience. Again, I think it must now be out of print. It’s a real shame. There are far too few writers of good sci-fi for children.
I read some of that series, but it was so long ago I don’t know which ones I read.