by John Wyndham
First published 1970
Matthew Gore's imaginary friend isn't imaginary at all. Chocky—an alien consciousness—has chosen Matthew as a conduit, transforming a typical suburban childhood into an extraordinary encounter with extraterrestrial intelligence. As Matthew begins manifesting impossible knowledge and strange behaviors, his parents realize something unprecedented is happening. Government and scientific authorities start tracking the boy, sensing both a potential threat and an unprecedented opportunity. Matthew becomes a living bridge between human and alien understanding, with his family caught between protecting their son and confronting a transformative intelligence that could change everything.
Genres: science-fiction, coming-of-age, aliens, psychological-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Midwich
Period: 20th-century
154 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Penguin