Trouble with Lichen is a science fiction novel by British writer John Wyndham, first published in 1960 by Michael Joseph.
Overview
The novel is a work of speculative fiction that explores the societal implications of a discovery that dramatically slows the human aging process. It is considered one of Wyndham's notable works, alongside The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos.
Plot
The story follows two biochemists, Diana Brackley and Francis Saxover, who independently investigate the properties of a rare species of lichen. Diana notices that a trace of the specimen prevents milk from turning sour, leading both scientists to extract a new drug from the lichen, which they name "Antigerone." This drug slows the body's aging process, enabling people to live to approximately 200–300 years.
Francis uses the drug only on himself and his immediate family (without their knowledge). Diana, however, establishes a cosmetic spa and administers low doses of Antigerone to a clientele of influential women, preserving their youth and beauty. Her motive is not profit but female empowerment: she believes that if Antigerone became publicly known, it would be reserved exclusively for men in power.
After a customer suffers an allergic reaction, the secret begins to emerge. Diana fakes her own death in an attempt to inspire women to fight for the rights she sought to secure for them. Francis eventually tracks her to a remote farm where she has succeeded in cultivating the lichen, and she plans to re-enter the world under the guise of being her own sister.
Publication Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | John Wyndham |
| Cover artist | Hugh Marshall |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Michael Joseph |
| Publication date | 1960 |
| Pages | 189 |
Adaptations
- 1962: A 90-minute radio adaptation by Archie Campbell was broadcast on the BBC Home Service on 26 November 1962, starring Rosalie Crutchley as Diana Brackley and Hugh Latimer as Francis Saxover.
- 2007: A five-part abridged reading by Joanna Tope was broadcast on BBC Radio 7, with subsequent re-broadcasts in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Themes
The novel examines scientific ethics, gender politics, class dynamics, and the societal disruption that would result from a dramatically extended human lifespan. Wyndham speculates on how power structures might respond to a technology that could fundamentally alter the human condition.
