Trouble with Lichen: Classic Science Fiction

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Of course not,’ Diana said patiently, ‘but they don’t feel about it the same way. A man may fear death just as much, but in general he doesn’t resent age and death quite as woman do. It’s as if a woman lives—well, on more intimate terms with life; gets to know it more closely, if you understand me. And it seems to me, too, that a man is not so constantly haunted by thoughts of time and age as woman is. Generalizations, of course, but averagely valid, I think. ...’ Lichens are literally everywhere in Shetland, all around us. They are actually a partnership of a fungus – which gives the lichen its scientific name and an algae. A symbiotic relationship – one that benefits both participants. The algae produces sugars by photosynthesis and the fungi steals these sugars so that it can grow. In return the fungus provides protection and gathers nutrients and moisture from the environment. Tell a woman: “woman’s place is in the home”, or “get thee to thy kitchen” and she doesn’t like it; but call it “being a good housewife”, which means exactly the same thing, and she’ll drudge along, glowing with pride.” This is not a post-apocalyptic story, nor is it even apocalyptic, although it explores the trials and tribulations, moral dilemmas and philosophical discourses of the two main protagonists who semi-independently discover a rare strain of lichen that has the most unusual properties. Both realise that the effects on society could be earth shattering but both envisage different problems. First they wrestle with keeping the secret and when that proves no longer possible, they try to manage what happens. A very British book of science, discovery, and ramifications. While many Wyndham plots have made it into movies, this one strangely has not. I read it as a 2021 reading by Vanessa Kirby, who did a great job.

It was mainly the fact that I didn’t fully understand it that made me curious to reread it. As a child, I was an above average reader, but naturally my reading skills continued to develop through adulthood as well, so the way I read now is obviously superior to the way I read decades ago. I wanted to see if I would like the book now that I could fully understand it.Why would I do such a silly thing with my limited reading time? Well, let’s say it was an experiment. The only things I remembered about Trouble with Lichen, besides the general premise and a few random details, were that I didn’t like it, didn’t understand it, and couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Several group members, of all ages, found the characterisation that the working classes would not benefit from longer life problematic. In the novel it seemed that only those with privilege and power were judged capable of taking on the responsibility of longer life. Yet group members did not relish the prospect of working for over a hundred years. This was especially true of those group members of working age in their 30s and 40s who are already considering that they will work longer than their parents’ generation with rising life expectancies and delayed retirement ages. Most group members of all ages suggested that not only would money and resources be required to sustain a longer life but also good health. Comparisons were made with the economic and health inequality that exists in contemporary UK society, and group members discussed whether living longer would be beneficial in this context. Time and the Future At least the characters being subjected to this disquisition got a good luncheon. I got nothing. I think I at least deserve some avocado toast (and maybe a cup of minestrone) for having put up with this book. The story involves two scientists who discover a lichen, which can slow down the aging process considerably. They work independently to develop the drug, and keep their findings secret – even from each other, though they had identified the lichen together. Trouble With Lichenreceived a mixed reception from the members of the reading groups. While some really enjoyed it as a novel with lots of action which posed interesting questions about longevity, others found that it was very much a product of the time in which it was written. Members of the reading groups of different ages, and especially women, thought that Diana’s characterisation and decisions reflected the sexist attitudes inherent in society in the late 1950s/early 1960s. There are many flaws in this book, the most blatant of which is not like the other girls , a trend which I tend to hate, but a trend which, is at least well pulled off and relatively subtle in that our heroine is the smart girl . Her trope is smoothed out, the sharp edges dulled by the fact that she truly cares about other women, and by the fact that smart girl was a rare breed in the day she was written. Not that women would have been less intelligent, no, just less inclined to show it, especially in school when it would have gotten them the accolades to press further into a career instead of a housewifery. I also take somewhat exception to the romance in this novel. The way it is presented is probably alluding to Wyndham's own sweetheart and her steadfast adoration through a war. Love at first sight, she was, after all, there for the usual reason - the prospective husband was simply married, with children almost her age.

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Home » News and Blogs » What to look for this week - The trouble with lichen What to look for this week - The trouble with lichen This brought us to what would make group members want to live longer. Diana’s argument in the novel is that ‘we’ needed ‘Time to grow wise enough to build a new world’ (p. 123). Some group members, of all ages, wondered exactly who would want to take on this responsibility, others in their 60s and 70s suggested that this was for the ‘middle generation’, those in their 30s and 40s, to consider. Several group members also thought that we don’t need the ability to live longer to make changes and that it was important for people to explore what we can do now for our own futures as well as those of future generations. All groups explored how societal change could be achieved collectively and intergenerationally. Discussions considered practical ways of bringing together people of different ages: from the availability of shared public spaces and activities open to all in local community centres, to families playing games together with several generations at family gatherings. Members in the groups also suggested, in a variety of ways, that it was important to ensure that our lives had space and time for such community activities, whether hobbies or local volunteering. Older group members in their 50s-70s in one group suggested that time was particularly in short supply for people in middle age who are often caring for children and perhaps older relatives too. A book of its time? As each scientist wrestles with the implications and practicalities of exploiting the discovery, the world comes ever closer to learning the truth.... how many people are going to favour the prospect of long life at the cost of, say, two or three hundred years as an underling[…] because behind them all is the assumption that the days of our age are three score years and ten, or thereabouts. Take that away, and they won’t work, most of them will even lose their whole raison d’etre’. John Wyndham, Trouble With Lichen (Penguin, 1960 (this edition 2008)), p. 87 The plot concerns a young female biochemist who discovers that a chemical extracted from an unusual strain of lichen can be used to slow down the ageing process, enabling people to live to around 200–300 years. Wyndham speculates how society would deal with this prospect.

Trouble with Lichen is a scintillating story of the power wielded by science in our lives and asks, how much trust should we place in those we appoint to be its guardians? PDF / EPUB File Name: Trouble_with_Lichen_-_John_Wyndham.pdf, Trouble_with_Lichen_-_John_Wyndham.epub Although I sympathise with Diane’s cause, I do find her a bit naïve. Some of the women she takes into her confidence do use their extra time to make a difference. But, I feel that by far the majority will do nothing positive with their extended life span. In general, we live longer now that we did 50 years ago. We are no wiser, no more philanthropic, all our efforts seem to go into making our own private lives more comfortable and finding more ways to kill or subdue our perceived enemies. And a strategy involving only women will not work long term. A “sharp, amusing story” ( The Guardian) about the fountain of youth and its implications for women’s rights, by one of the twentieth century’s most brilliant—and neglected—science fiction and horror writers, whom Stephen King called “the best writer of science fiction that England has ever produced.” This shared task (1-6 players) begins with in Lichen Creep, approximate location -1355, 1110, -740 (accessed only via portal - location of portal needed).

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The astute reader will notice that Wyndham did not name his book "THE Trouble with Lichen" (as might normally have been expected); such a title would of course have suggested a single solitary problem. And the troubles that the big reveal of the antigerone's existence causes are indeed manifold. One would think that such a discovery--the Fountain of Youth, the alchemist's Elixir of Life, realized at last--would be hailed as a modern-day miracle blessing by the world's populace, but as the author shows us, such might not necessarily be the case. Thus, there are troubled discussions of what might happen to the institution of marriage, when faced with a "till death do us part" vow that could last for three centuries. (We see this dilemma most starkly through the eyes of Francis' daughter, Zephanie, and her fiancé Richard.) At one point, Diana even wonders if the concept of "wife" might not soon be outmoded, to be replaced by the more practical "companion." Diana later ponders whether or not the current school system will be sufficient to prepare a child for a 300-year span. And what of the life insurance companies, which might soon be paying out annuities for many hundreds of years? And eventually, of course, the Church puts its two cents (or rather, pence) in, declaring it an abomination for the scientists to give mankind more than the "three score years and ten" spoken of in the "9th Psalm." And then the morticians start making noise about being put out of business, and the Russians declare that they have discovered the magical lichen first, and the Chinese move to seize the Manchurian wonder drug for themselves, and the conservative British papers start wailing about the unemployment and starvation guaranteed to follow, and...as you can see, there surely are more troubles than anyone could have imagined, following the announcement of the miracle substance, and Wyndham takes the time, in his densely written, compact book, to explore many of the ramifications.