Introduction
1970 novel by John Christopher The Guardians is a young adult science fiction novel written by John Christopher and published by Hamilton in .1970 novel by John Christopher The Guardians is a young adult science fiction novel written by John Christopher and published by Hamilton in .
Set in the year 2052, it depicts an authoritarian England divided into two distinct societies: the modern, overpopulated "Conurbs" and the aristocratic, rarefied ".Set in the year 2052, it depicts an authoritarian England divided into two distinct societies: the modern, overpopulated "Conurbs" and the aristocratic, rarefied ".
Crowded city districts and all pervasive technology make up the Conurbs while manors and rolling countrysides typical of 19th century England make up the .Crowded city districts and all pervasive technology make up the Conurbs while manors and rolling countrysides typical of 19th century England make up the .
The story follows a young Conurban orphan named Rob as he experiences life in both worlds, uncovering truths and choosing sides in the .The story follows a young Conurban orphan named Rob as he experiences life in both worlds, uncovering truths and choosing sides in the .
Christopher (Sam Youd) and The Guardians won the annual Guardian Children's Fiction Prize from The Guardian newspaper, coincidentally, which is judged by a panel of British children's .Christopher (Sam Youd) and The Guardians won the annual Guardian Children's Fiction Prize from The Guardian newspaper, coincidentally, which is judged by a panel of British children's .
Escape
Following the suspicious death of his father, 13 year old Rob Randall is sent to a State boarding school, where harsh disciplinary measures and hazing by seniors soon make life .Following the suspicious death of his father, 13 year old Rob Randall is sent to a State boarding school, where harsh disciplinary measures and hazing by seniors soon make life .
In his desperation, Rob devises a plan of escaping to the County, reasoning that he will avoid detection there much more easily than anywhere in the .In his desperation, Rob devises a plan of escaping to the County, reasoning that he will avoid detection there much more easily than anywhere in the .
He is further driven by the fact that his mother was also from the County, and had herself crossed over into the Conurbs to be with his .He is further driven by the fact that his mother was also from the County, and had herself crossed over into the Conurbs to be with his .
Slipping out and making his way to Reading, Rob comes up against the Barrier dividing the Conurbs from the County .Slipping out and making his way to Reading, Rob comes up against the Barrier dividing the Conurbs from the County .
The Barrier proves much less of a challenge than popular rumour suggests, and, finding a spot at which he is able to dig a gap underneath, Rob crosses over into the .The Barrier proves much less of a challenge than popular rumour suggests, and, finding a spot at which he is able to dig a gap underneath, Rob crosses over into the .
He takes in his expansive surroundings as he continues north west but does not manage a long distance before he is .He takes in his expansive surroundings as he continues north west but does not manage a long distance before he is .
A figure on a horse spots him and gives chase, catching up quickly as Rob twists his foot .A figure on a horse spots him and gives chase, catching up quickly as Rob twists his foot .
The rider turns out to be a boy perhaps a year or less older than Rob .The rider turns out to be a boy perhaps a year or less older than Rob .
He appears to be sympathetic to Rob's plight and, introducing himself as Mike Gifford, tends to the blisters on Rob's feet before taking him to a nearby cave where he can rest in .He appears to be sympathetic to Rob's plight and, introducing himself as Mike Gifford, tends to the blisters on Rob's feet before taking him to a nearby cave where he can rest in .
Mike attempts to make the cave more hospitable by appropriating food, blankets and such from the Gifford household, but these discrepancies are eventually noticed by the housekeeper and reported to Mike's mother, whose suspicion is also aroused by Mike's staying out .Mike attempts to make the cave more hospitable by appropriating food, blankets and such from the Gifford household, but these discrepancies are eventually noticed by the housekeeper and reported to Mike's mother, whose suspicion is also aroused by Mike's staying out .
She finds the cave and confronts .She finds the cave and confronts .
Uncertain about how to proceed, Mrs Gifford allows Rob to remain in the cave one more .Uncertain about how to proceed, Mrs Gifford allows Rob to remain in the cave one more .
The following morning, both Mike and Mrs Gifford visit the cave and speak to Rob; Mrs Gifford proposes that, as he will not willingly return to the Conurbs, and as Mike is determined to help him, the only plausible option is to fit Rob into the .The following morning, both Mike and Mrs Gifford visit the cave and speak to Rob; Mrs Gifford proposes that, as he will not willingly return to the Conurbs, and as Mike is determined to help him, the only plausible option is to fit Rob into the .
So, declaring him a relative raised in Nepal and playing out his supposed arrival from the nearest station, Rob is inducted into the Gifford .So, declaring him a relative raised in Nepal and playing out his supposed arrival from the nearest station, Rob is inducted into the Gifford .
A new life
Changing his surname from Randall to Perrott, Rob does his best to adapt to life in the Gifford house, getting to know Mr Gifford and the servants, as well as Cecily, Mike's younger .Changing his surname from Randall to Perrott, Rob does his best to adapt to life in the Gifford house, getting to know Mr Gifford and the servants, as well as Cecily, Mike's younger .
Cecily is not told Rob's story, as it is feared that she is too young to keep the secret .Cecily is not told Rob's story, as it is feared that she is too young to keep the secret .
Rob is taught various skills such as horse riding to help him blend in with County .Rob is taught various skills such as horse riding to help him blend in with County .
These skills are put to the test when the Giffords hold a garden party and Rob is questioned by Sir Percy Gregory and an elderly man named .These skills are put to the test when the Giffords hold a garden party and Rob is questioned by Sir Percy Gregory and an elderly man named .
Under the stress, Rob fears his answers are unconvincing; but Harcourt dismisses Rob's mannerisms as typical of a "Nepalese ".Under the stress, Rob fears his answers are unconvincing; but Harcourt dismisses Rob's mannerisms as typical of a "Nepalese ".
Several months pass and Rob becomes increasingly confident and assured of his position, even going so far as to win third place in the archery contest of the year, beating Mike who comes in .Several months pass and Rob becomes increasingly confident and assured of his position, even going so far as to win third place in the archery contest of the year, beating Mike who comes in .
Rob joins Mike at school; though he notices Mike's attitude toward him has .Rob joins Mike at school; though he notices Mike's attitude toward him has .
Mike brings Rob to a gathering held by a senior boy named Daniel Penfold, where a heated discussion on both the failings and the merits of the current social system .Mike brings Rob to a gathering held by a senior boy named Daniel Penfold, where a heated discussion on both the failings and the merits of the current social system .
While most of the boys present laugh it off, Rob notices Mike does .While most of the boys present laugh it off, Rob notices Mike does .
Later, Mike shares with Rob his knowledge of a gang of organised revolutionaries and hints that Rob should .Later, Mike shares with Rob his knowledge of a gang of organised revolutionaries and hints that Rob should .
Rob refuses, both on principle and for fear of his secret being .Rob refuses, both on principle and for fear of his secret being .
Christmas arrives and Rob celebrates it in the way of the County .Christmas arrives and Rob celebrates it in the way of the County .
Mrs Gifford speaks to him about his good progress at school, noting that Mike is not doing as .Mrs Gifford speaks to him about his good progress at school, noting that Mike is not doing as .
As Mike and Rob are about to visit the Penfold family, she also raises her suspicions about Mike's dealings with them, especially with the older Penfold boy, Roger, whose Army record is not entirely .As Mike and Rob are about to visit the Penfold family, she also raises her suspicions about Mike's dealings with them, especially with the older Penfold boy, Roger, whose Army record is not entirely .
The visit passes largely uneventfully for Rob, in spite of Roger Penfold's somewhat seditious talk during .The visit passes largely uneventfully for Rob, in spite of Roger Penfold's somewhat seditious talk during .
On the ride home, Mike and Rob again fall to arguing over the state of affairs; Mike declares that he probably would not have been interested in these issues if he had not run across .On the ride home, Mike and Rob again fall to arguing over the state of affairs; Mike declares that he probably would not have been interested in these issues if he had not run across .
The revolt
Another school term .Another school term .
One Friday, Mike pulls out of a planned fishing trip with Rob, saying that he must ride to Oxford to see about a .One Friday, Mike pulls out of a planned fishing trip with Rob, saying that he must ride to Oxford to see about a .
Several hours later, news arrives that a rebellion has begun and that both Oxford and Bristol have been taken by armed .Several hours later, news arrives that a rebellion has begun and that both Oxford and Bristol have been taken by armed .
Rob returns in haste to the Giffords' where Mrs Gifford demands he tell her what he knows about Mike's .Rob returns in haste to the Giffords' where Mrs Gifford demands he tell her what he knows about Mike's .
He does, and she rebukes him angrily, reminding him of Mike's kindness to him when he was in .He does, and she rebukes him angrily, reminding him of Mike's kindness to him when he was in .
Ashamed, Rob prepares to ride out to meet a band of vigilantes countering the insurrection, but Mrs Gifford asks him to stay as all the men of the house have already ridden .Ashamed, Rob prepares to ride out to meet a band of vigilantes countering the insurrection, but Mrs Gifford asks him to stay as all the men of the house have already ridden .
The next morning, Mr. Gifford and his men return to the house; the revolt had been put down without their .The next morning, Mr. Gifford and his men return to the house; the revolt had been put down without their .
The younger Penfold is said to have been killed and there is no news of Mike, though his name is not on the incomplete list of dead and .The younger Penfold is said to have been killed and there is no news of Mike, though his name is not on the incomplete list of dead and .
That night, Mike steals into the house and visits Rob, unbeknownst to the .That night, Mike steals into the house and visits Rob, unbeknownst to the .
It is his last visit; he is fully aware of his status as a fugitive and realises that his involvement in the revolt means that he can no longer remain in the .It is his last visit; he is fully aware of his status as a fugitive and realises that his involvement in the revolt means that he can no longer remain in the .
He declares his intention to cross the Barrier into the Conurbs, where the movement has ".He declares his intention to cross the Barrier into the Conurbs, where the movement has ".
Rob tries to dissuade him and threatens to raise the alarm but is restrained by the thought that Mike had not turned him in when he had been in a similar .Rob tries to dissuade him and threatens to raise the alarm but is restrained by the thought that Mike had not turned him in when he had been in a similar .
Mike gives Rob an address in the Conurb where he can be found, should he change his mind and decide to join .Mike gives Rob an address in the Conurb where he can be found, should he change his mind and decide to join .
They shake hands and he rides .They shake hands and he rides .
The next day, a patrol stops at the Gifford house with orders to escort Rob for .The next day, a patrol stops at the Gifford house with orders to escort Rob for .
Rob's initial apprehensions about this are calmed when he is taken not to law enforcement but to Old Hall, Sir Percy Gregory's .Rob's initial apprehensions about this are calmed when he is taken not to law enforcement but to Old Hall, Sir Percy Gregory's .
Over coffee and cherry cake, Rob recounts his old Nepal backstory again in response to Sir Percy's prompting .Over coffee and cherry cake, Rob recounts his old Nepal backstory again in response to Sir Percy's prompting .
Sir Percy, however, shocks him when complimenting him by using his real .Sir Percy, however, shocks him when complimenting him by using his real .
It becomes clear that Rob's true identity has been known to him, and the authorities have tolerated his presence in the .It becomes clear that Rob's true identity has been known to him, and the authorities have tolerated his presence in the .
Using this as leverage, Sir Percy attempts to manipulate Rob into .Using this as leverage, Sir Percy attempts to manipulate Rob into .
Rob tells him everything except for Mike's late night visit and the secret address; this seems to satisfy Sir .Rob tells him everything except for Mike's late night visit and the secret address; this seems to satisfy Sir .
Disturbingly, Sir Percy tells Rob of what is to be done with Mike if he is found: a certain surgical procedure on the brain which renders the subject docile and .Disturbingly, Sir Percy tells Rob of what is to be done with Mike if he is found: a certain surgical procedure on the brain which renders the subject docile and .
He also tells Rob of the secret group of overseers responsible for the present system (the titular "Guardians") and, having appraised the intelligence and initiative Rob has shown in coming this far, offers to recruit .He also tells Rob of the secret group of overseers responsible for the present system (the titular "Guardians") and, having appraised the intelligence and initiative Rob has shown in coming this far, offers to recruit .
Epiphany
Rob returns home by .Rob returns home by .
Mrs Gifford tells him that she is aware of Mike's visit the night previous – having again noted the absence of some household articles, such as food and clothing – and again rebukes Rob for not doing what she feels would have been the right .Mrs Gifford tells him that she is aware of Mike's visit the night previous – having again noted the absence of some household articles, such as food and clothing – and again rebukes Rob for not doing what she feels would have been the right .
To justify himself, Rob explains about the operation that would have been performed on Mike had he turned him .To justify himself, Rob explains about the operation that would have been performed on Mike had he turned him .
Mrs Gifford reveals that she knows of this, and that Mr Gifford himself had been subject to it; hence his preoccupation with bonsai and little .Mrs Gifford reveals that she knows of this, and that Mr Gifford himself had been subject to it; hence his preoccupation with bonsai and little .
This revelation causes an epiphany for Rob .This revelation causes an epiphany for Rob .
He realises that Mike had inherited a spirit of freedom from his father, and though his father had been forced into submission, Mike had not grown up entirely blind to the oppression around .He realises that Mike had inherited a spirit of freedom from his father, and though his father had been forced into submission, Mike had not grown up entirely blind to the oppression around .
Rob also realises that he had almost bought into the groupthink himself by assimilating into the gentry with such determination that he had forgotten his Conurban past, even taking up the offer to join the .Rob also realises that he had almost bought into the groupthink himself by assimilating into the gentry with such determination that he had forgotten his Conurban past, even taking up the offer to join the .
He makes a decision: either he can remain in the place he has won in County society, now in perfect safety, or he can join the movement which has fled to the Conurbs and struggle alongside Mike in liberating the .He makes a decision: either he can remain in the place he has won in County society, now in perfect safety, or he can join the movement which has fled to the Conurbs and struggle alongside Mike in liberating the .
The story closes with Rob leaving the Giffords at night and returning to the Barrier, trowel in .The story closes with Rob leaving the Giffords at night and returning to the Barrier, trowel in .