Plan for Chaos

Plan for Chaos

First edition hardcover
Author	John Wyndham
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Liverpool University Press
Publication date	2009
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages	263 (first edition, hardcover)
ISBN	978-1-84631-179-6
OCLC	461263735
Preceded by	Web

Plan for Chaos is a science fiction novel by British writer John Wyndham, first published in 2009. Wyndham was working on it about the same time as The Day of the Triffids, but it was rejected by publishers on both sides of the Atlantic and never published in his lifetime. Wyndham himself abandoned it, telling Frederik Pohl (his US agent) in 1951: "I've messed about with the thing so much that I've lost all perspective".

It was eventually re-discovered after the John Wyndham Archive was acquired by the University of Liverpool in the UK and was published on the fortieth anniversary of the author's death, under the planned US title Plan for Chaos; the planned UK title had been Fury of Creation.

Plot

Johnny Farthing is a freelance photographer working in America, although he has mixed European heritage having been born in Austria, but raised in England before moving to America. He has a strong family bond to such an extent that he and his German cousin Freda plan on getting married, with their extended family's blessing. Freda's mother, Aunt Martha was a dedicated Nazi before and during the war, and was suspected of being in Hitler's bunker on the day he died. As a result Freda has no immediate family on her own side. Based on the ages of Johnny and Freda it is assumed to be around 20-30 years after the end of the war.

During his work he comes across several women who have recently died - by suicide, accident or suspected murder - and all look exactly the same as Freda. It soon becomes apparent that as well as Freda doppelgangers there are multiple versions of Johnny - he is mistaken for them and vice versa several times. Eventually Freda is kidnapped by the doubles and while investigating Johnny is also captured. Taking advantage of their similarity he knocks out and takes the place of one of his doubles - who is then killed as "Johnny" tries to escape - and infiltrates the operation, being taken to their base by flying saucer along with another group of doubles.

Johnny is eventually found out and taken to see "The Mother" who oversees the operation. This turns out to be an aged Aunt Martha, who was indeed with the Fuhrer on his last days, but became disillusioned with him and his personal ideology after he accepted defeat. Taking advantage of the situation she, her followers and a number of gifted scientists absconded to a secret redoubt prepared for the Fuhrer's use - where they have been ever since. Various scientific breakthroughs have given her cloning for her doubles, flying saucers for transport and the ability to control the satellite nuclear weapons of other nations. Her plan is to start a nuclear war and once the world has been devastated, her doubles will create a Fourth Reich with her as the new Fuhrer.

Johnny and Freda soon establish that there is dissent in the base, with several factions all wanting different outcomes. Many of the doubles are unhappy with their isolation, and want the freedom of the outside world - some have gone so far as to create lives for themselves while off-base, and a few have refused to return at the end of their assignments. These are the double women being eliminated by hit squads. There is also conflict between base security, the scientific wing and Martha's personal security. Freda discovers underlying resentment between the male and female doubles, with occasional skirmishes between the two genders slowly escalating. Eventually this culminates in a three-way coup which mortally wounds Martha and allows Johnny and Freda (now impersonating Martha) to escape in a flying saucer, along with Martha's security detail and personal doctor. Upon landing at an outpost they are ambushed by Australian armed forces and several doubles are killed, as well as the doctor. The flying saucer proves impervious to small arms fire and escapes with the remainder of the doubles. Johnny and Freda are interrogated by the Australians who learn little as neither Johnny or Freda know the base's location, and the doctor - who did - was killed. Johnny muses that little has changed as the base still exists, as does the technology for cloning, and he can still expect a "plan for chaos" at some point in the future.

Reception

Science fiction author M. John Harrison was unimpressed by the book, declaring it "almost unreadable". Jake Kerridge from The Daily Telegraph, however, stated that Wyndham utilised some of his later themes in the novel resulting in an entertaining read. Leo Mellor from The Independent conceded that it was not "an extraordinary lost masterpiece", but was nevertheless "fascinating."

See also

• The Boys from Brazil (novel)

Further reading

• Ketterer, David. "John Wyndham's World War III and His Abandoned *Fury of Creation* Trilogy." In *Future Wars: The Anticipations and the Fears*, ed. David Seed (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2012), 103–29.