Sam Youd (16 April 1922 – 3 February 2012) was a British writer best known for

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

written under the name of John Christopher, including the novels '' The Death of Grass'', ''The Possessors'', and the young-adult novel series '' The Tripods''. He won the

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize or Guardian Award was a literary award that annually recognised one fiction book written for Children's literature, children or young adults (at least age eight) and published in the United Kingdom. It was conf ...

in 1971 and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1976. Youd also wrote under variations of his own name and under the pseudonyms Stanley Winchester, Hilary Ford, William Godfrey, William Vine, Peter Graaf, Peter Nichols, and Anthony Rye.

Biography

Sam Youd was born in

Huyton Huyton ( ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England. Part of the Liverpool Urban Area, Liverpool Built-up Area, it borders the Liverpool suburbs of Dovecot, Merseyside, Dovecot, Knotty Ash and Netherley, Liverpool, ...

, Lancashire (though Youd is an old

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...

surname). Youd was educated at Peter Symonds' School in Winchester, Hampshire, then served in the

Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications an ...

from 1941 to 1946. A scholarship from the

Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The foundation was created by Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller (" ...

made it possible for him to pursue a writing career, beginning with ''The Winter Swan'' (Dennis Dobson, 1949), published under the name Christopher Youd. He wrote science fiction short stories as John Christopher from 1951, and his first book under that name was ''The Twenty-Second Century'', a collection of science fiction stories; a few of the stories included had first appeared in magazines under the name Sam Youd. His first science fiction novel, ''Year of the Comet'', was published by Michael Joseph in 1955, also under the name John Christopher. His second novel under the Christopher pseudonym, '' The Death of Grass'' (Michael Joseph, 1956) was Youd's first major success as a writer. It was published in the United States the following year as ''No Blade of Grass'' (Simon & Schuster, 1957). An American magazine published ''Year of the Comet'' later that year and it was issued in 1959 as an Avon paperback entitled ''Planet in Peril''. Youd continued to use the pen name John Christopher for the majority of his writing and all of his science fiction. ''The Death of Grass'' has been reissued many times, most recently in the Penguin Modern Classics (2009). In 1966 Youd started writing science fiction for adolescents, using the name John Christopher in every case. The Tripods trilogy (1967–68), '' The Lotus Caves'' (1969), '' The Guardians'' (1970) and the '' Sword of the Spirits'' trilogy (1971–72) were all well received. He won the annual

for ''The Guardians''. In 1976 he won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, youth fiction category, for the same novel in its German translation, ''Die Wächter''. In 1946 he married Joyce Fairbairn, with whom he had five children (one son and four daughters). He divorced in 1978, marrying Jessica Ball. Youd lived for many years in

Rye, East Sussex Rye is a town and civil parish in the Rother District, Rother district of East Sussex, England, from the sea at the confluence of three rivers: the River Rother (Eastern), Rother, the River Tillingham, Tillingham and the River Brede, Brede. An ...

and died in

Bath, Somerset Bath (Received Pronunciation, RP: , ) is a city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman Baths (Bath), Roman-built baths. At the 2021 census, the population was 94,092. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, Bristol, River A ...

, on 3 February 2012, of complications from bladder cancer.

Film and television adaptations

'' The Death of Grass'' was adapted as a film by Cornel Wilde under its American title, '' No Blade of Grass'' (1970). '' The Tripods'' was partially developed into a British TV series. '' Empty World'' was developed into a 1987 TV movie in Germany, ''Leere Welt''. '' The Guardians'' was made into a 1986 TV series in Germany, '' Die Wächter''. '' The Lotus Caves'' was in development in 2007 as a film from Walden Media, to have been directed by Rpin Suwannath. Later, in 2013, a TV pilot based loosely on ''The Lotus Caves'' was developed by Bryan Fuller and titled ''High Moon''. The pilot did not get picked up as a series, but was released on SyFy and

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

in 2014.

Bibliography

Except where stated otherwise, all items listed are novels or novellas published as books. Satellite science fiction 195708

John Christopher

* '' The Twenty-Second Century'' (1954) (short story collection) * '' The Year of the Comet'' ( Michael Joseph, 1955); US title, ''Planet in Peril'' (Avon, 1959)"John Christopher – Summary Bibliography"
ISFDB. Retrieved 2 August 2012. * '' The Death of Grass'' (Michael Joseph, 1956); US title, ''No Blade of Grass'' (

Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster LLC (, ) is an American publishing house owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts since 2023. It was founded in New York City in 1924, by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. Along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group US ...

, 1957) * '' The Caves of Night'' (1958) * '' A Scent of White Poppies'' (1959) * '' The Long Voyage'' (US title '' The White Voyage'', 1960) * '' The World in Winter'' (US title ''The Long Winter'', 1962) * '' Cloud on Silver'' (US title ''Sweeney's Island'', 1964) * '' The Possessors'' (1964) * '' A Wrinkle in the Skin'' (US title ''The Ragged Edge'', 1965) * '' The Little People'' (1966) * '' The Tripods'' trilogy (expanded to tetralogy, 1988) ** '' The White Mountains'' (1967) Macmillan (US);

Hamish Hamilton Hamish Hamilton Limited is a publishing imprint and originally a British publishing house, founded in 1931 eponymously by the half- Scot half- American Jamie Hamilton (''Hamish'' is the vocative form of the Gaelic Seumas eaning James ''Jame ...

(UK) *** 35th anniversary edition, with revised text and preface by author,

, (2003) ** '' The City of Gold and Lead'' (1967) Macmillan (US); Hamish Hamilton (UK) ** '' The Pool of Fire'' (1968) Macmillan (US); Hamish Hamilton (UK) ** '' When the Tripods Came'' ( prequel) (1988) * ''Pendulum'' (1968) * '' The Lotus Caves'' (1969) Macmillan (US); Hamish Hamilton (UK) * '' The Guardians'' (1970) * The '' Sword of the Spirits'' trilogy ** '' The Prince In Waiting'' (1970) ** '' Beyond the Burning Lands'' (1971) ** '' The Sword of the Spirits'' (1972) *''In the Beginning''

Longman Longman, also known as Pearson Longman, is a publisher, publishing company founded in 1724 in London, England, which is owned by Pearson PLC. Since 1968, Longman has been used primarily as an imprint by Pearson's Schools business. The Longman ...

(1972) * '' Dom and Va'' (1973) * '' Wild Jack'' (1974) * '' Empty World'' (1977) * The ''Fireball'' trilogy ** '' Fireball'' (1981), E. P. Dutton, ** '' New Found Land'' (1983), Dutton (US), . Gollancz (UK), ** ''

Dragon Dance Dragon dance () is a form of traditional dance and performance in China, Chinese culture of China, culture. Like the lion dance, it is most often seen during festive celebrations. The dance is performed by a team of experienced dancers who man ...

'' (1986) Dutton (US) ; Viking Kestrel (UK), * '' A Dusk of Demons'' (1993) * '' Bad Dream'' (2003)

Christopher Youd

* ''The Winter Swan'' (1949)

Samuel Youd

* ''Babel Itself'' (1951) * ''Brave Conquerors'' (1952) * ''Crown and Anchor'' (1953) * ''A Palace of Strangers'' (1954) * ''Holly Ash'' (US title ''The Opportunist'', 1955) * ''Giant's Arrow'' (1956); as Anthony Rye in the UK, Samuel Youd in the US * ''The Choice'' (UK title ''The Burning Bird'', 1961) * ''Messages of Love'' (1961) * ''The Summers at Accorn'' (1963)

William Godfrey

* ''Malleson at Melbourne'' (1956) - a

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

novel, volume 1 of an unfinished trilogy * ''The Friendly Game'' (1957) - volume 2 of the trilogy

William Vine

* "Death Sentence" (short story), ''Imagination Science Fiction'', June 1953 * "Explosion Delayed" (short story), ''Space Science Fiction'', July 1953

Peter Graaf

* ''Dust and the Curious Boy'' (1957); US title, ''Give the Devil His Due'' - volume 1 in the Joe Dust series * ''Daughter Fair'' (1958) - volume 2 in the Joe Dust series * ''The Sapphire Conference'' (1959) - volume 3 in the Joe Dust series * ''The Gull's Kiss'' (1962)

Hilary Ford

* ''Felix Walking'' (1958) * ''Felix Running'' (1959) * ''Bella on the Roof'' (1965) * ''A Figure in Grey'' (1973) * ''Sarnia'' (1974) * ''Castle Malindine'' (1975) * ''A Bride for Bedivere'' (1976)

Peter Nichols

* ''Patchwork of Death'' (1965)

Stanley Winchester

* ''The Practice'' (1968) * ''Men With Knives'' (1968); US title, ''A Man With a Knife'' * ''The Helpers'' (1970) * ''Ten Per Cent of Your Life'' (1973)

Short stories

Youd's first published story was "Dreamer" in the March 1941 ''

Weird Tales ''Weird Tales'' is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger in late 1922. The first issue, dated March 1923, appeared on newsstands February 18. The first editor, Edwin Baird, printe ...

'', as C.S. Youd. He had stories published in the magazines ''

Astounding Science Fiction ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'', ''

Science Fantasy file:Warhammer40kcosplay.jpg, Cosplay of a character from the ''Warhammer 40,000'' tabletop game; one critic has characterized the game's setting as "action-oriented science-fantasy." Science fantasy is a hybrid genre within speculative fiction ...

Serializations

''No Blade of Grass'' was serialized in ''

The Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine published six times a year. It was published weekly from 1897 until 1963, and then every other week until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely circulated and influ ...

'' in 1957. ''Caves of Night'' was serialized in '' John Bull Magazine'' in 1958. ''The Little People'' was serialized in ''

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy fiction magazine, fantasy and science-fiction magazine, first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence E. Spivak, Lawrence Spiv ...

'' in 1967.

Anthologies

*''The Best SF Stories'' 3rd Series by Grayson & Grayson (1953) *''Avon Science fiction and Fantasy Reader #1'' (1953) *''The Twenty-Second Century'' Grayson & Grayson (1954) *''Gateway To Tomorrow'' edited by John Carnell, published by Panther (1963) *''Avon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader No. 2'' *''The Best Science Fiction Stories Third Series'' edited by Everett F. Bleiler and T. E. Dikty *''The Tenth Pan Book of Horror Stories'', edited by Herbert Van Thal (1969) *''Young Winter’s Tales'' No. 2, ed. M. R. Hodgkin, London: Macmillan (1971) *''In Time to Come'', Topliner (1973) *''The Best of British SF 1'' Orbit Books (1977) *''The Random House Book of Science Fiction Stories''

Random House Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the foll ...

(1997) () *''The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings'', (1997), edited by Dennis Pepper,

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

References

External links

* *
The SYLE Press
publishing the novels of Sam Youd

Sam Youd family history

John Christopher
at ''

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' (''SFE'') is an English language reference work on science fiction, first published in 1979. It has won the Hugo Award, Hugo, Locus Award, Locus and BSFA Award, British SF Awards. Two print editions appea ...

''
Obituary
at '' Locus Magazine''
John Christopher obituary
by

Jo Walton Jo Walton (born 1964) is a Welsh-Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer and poet. She is best known for the fantasy novel '' Among Others'', which won the Hugo and Nebula Awards in 2012, and '' Tooth and Claw'', a Victorian-era novel w ...

John Christopher Obituary
by Christopher Priest, ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

''
Obituary
by Paul Vitello, ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

''
Interview with John Christopher
Colin Brockhurst, 1999 * of works by John Christopher, linked to records under six other names {{DEFAULTSORT:Christopher, John 1922 births 2012 deaths British Army personnel of World War II English children's writers English science fiction writers Cricket writers Deaths from bladder cancer in England Guardian Children's Fiction Prize winners Royal Corps of Signals soldiers 20th-century English novelists English male novelists