Fay Sampson

[Len]

I am suggesting Fay Sampson's earliest books from the 1970s and early 80s. Ms Sampson is still active as a writer and her later novels of Pangur Ban, adult thrillers and historical novels are readily available. The early novels, more or less for young adults, had a general almost dystopian theme of scientific tinkering, disposing of nuclear waste and police control. Some are quite difficult to find though when they appear they are not particularly expensive. I couldn't honestly recommend them as works of literature, they are a little too preachy and very well meaning. However, as books which resonate with the times of their publication in the UK they are worth a second look.

F.67, Hamish Hamilton, 1975 (F.67 is a bacteria developed to eat plastic waste. Unfortunately it escapes into the wider environment resulting in Britain having to be evacuated. The story is that of one of the many white British families sent as refugees to Africa. The parents and their children become separated and must struggle to reunite and then survive as there will be no return to Britain)

The Watch on Patterick Fell, Dennis Dobson, 1978 (“The lives of two top-level scientists involved in nuclear waste disposal and their two teenage children are drastically altered by wide-spread public concern for nuclear safety” - Google Books)

Landfall On Innis Michael, Dennis Dobson, 1980 (Roger and Elspeth move to an island guarding nuclear waste, but the former inhabitants have other ideas)

The Hungry Snow, Dennis Dobson, 1980 (Dartmoor is in the grip of blizzards and girl babies are mysteriously dying. Can Marie save her newborn sister?)

The Chains Of Sleep, Dennis Dobson, 1981 (The following is the only description of the plot that I have been able to find. It comes from Fay Sampson's own website and is used widely. “Fantasy set on the Isles of Scilly, as Sarah and Lew wake an old power.” On the face of it there is a hint of King Arthur – the sleeper who will wake when Britain is in need – but that would be out of place with the other stories in this group)

Sus, Dennis Dobson, 1982 (The members of the school rock group Woolly Bear have had some minor problems with the police but things start to become more serious after a CND march turns violent and they become subject to the police's SUS law – stop and search – and a bit of racism)

[Capn]

Holy crap, these sound awesome!!!

Did you know that there is commercially-available (or soon-to-be) plastic-eating bacteria on the market now?! :O Wow - 1975?! Serious foresight! Love it!

The Chains of Sleep is going STRAIGHT to the top of my search list!!! Thanks, Len! EDIT: just ordered a copy. I love you, Len! :D