Word is spreading of a sad loss in the speculative fiction community, that of British Writer Samuel Youd, on February 3, only two months shy of his 90th birthday. <Update: Locus has confirmed Youd’s passsing.>
As John Christopher, Youd provided two of the great texts of my childhood, both of which have survived the recent pogroms of excess literature cluttering the household shelves: The Tripods and The Sword of the Spirits trilogies. Tripods in particular made a strong impression.
This is barely scratching the surface of his output published under numerous pseudonyms.
He ranked up there with the likes of Garner, Cooper and Le Guin in my early reading. I hope more generations come to appreciate his legacy.
Update: the Guardian looks at Youd’s work and provides a short obituary and a longer one.
That’s a great obituary, Jason (although he was in fact nearly 90 …)
Quite right, I will correct my faulty midnight mathematics
I loved the Tripod books. Got to them via the TV show, which was great too. Never read anything else of his though.
I never saw the TV show. I’ve been recommended The Lotus Caves, amongst a couple of others.
Lovely tribute, Jason. SY, writing as John Christopher, was one of my first and favourite spec fic authors as a child. I loved his Sword of the Spirits and Tripod trilogies and remember devouring many more titles including Fireball, The Guardians and Death of Grass. His stories always spoke to me and I still have dog-eared paperback editions on my bookshelf.
This is sad news, but brings fond memories. Samuel Youd was an inspiration. I also think it interesting that he never valued his John Christopher novels as much as some works he crafted under other pseudonyms – and yet his JC books touched generations of readers. A great legacy. Vale Samuel.
Lovely, Cheryse (hope you’re on the mend!)
Dad would have very much appreciated your comments, Jason and Cheryse – particularly given that you mention ‘Sword of the Spirits’, which were his own favourites amongst his many many books …
Thanks, Rose. I’m now even more embarrassed about my bad maths. I hope all the tributes might provide some comfort in what must be a very dark time.
I’ve always been a fan and I’ve always kept my battered ‘Death of Grass’ copy from my youth, missing a front cover.
On Sunday I was fortunate to pick up 4 of his books on a car boot, not far from the Yorkshire farm where ‘Scent of White Poppies’ is based. I’ve gone through 2 of them already and my wife is threatening divorce!!
Such a massive talent, mind and imagination.
Lovely to hear from you, Nigel!