The Speed of Dark

By: Elizabeth Moon

Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

In the near future, disease will be a condition of the past. Most genetic defects will be removed at birth; the remaining during infancy. Unfortunately, there will be a generation left behind. For members of that missed generation, small advances will be made. Through various programs, they will be taught to get along in the world despite their differences. They will be made active and contributing members of society. But they will never be normal.

Lou Arrendale is a member of that lost generation, born at the wrong time to reap the awards of medical science. Part of a small group of high-functioning autistic adults, he has a steady job with a pharmaceutical company, a car, friends, and a passion for fencing. Aside from his annual visits to his counselor, he lives a low-key, independent life. He has learned to shake hands and make eye contact. He has taught himself to use "please" and "thank you" and other conventions of conversation because he knows it makes others comfortable. He does his best to be as normal as possible and not to draw attention to himself.But then his quiet life comes under attack.

It starts with an experimental treatment that will reverse the effects of autism in adults. With this treatment Lou would think and act and be just like everyone else. But if he was suddenly free of autism, would he still be himself? Would he still love the same classical music - with its complications and resolutions? Would he still see the same colors and patterns in the world - shades and hues that others cannot see? Most importantly, would he still love Marjory, a woman who may never be able to reciprocate his feelings? Would it be easier for her to return the love of a "normal"?

There are intense pressures coming from the world around him - including an angry supervisor who wants to cut costs by sacrificing the supports necessary to employ autistic workers. Perhaps even more disturbing are the barrage of questions within himself. For Lou...

©2002 Elizabeth Moon (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

Nebula Award, Best Novel, 2003

• Favorite Audiobooks of 2010 (Fantasy Literature)

Gripping

First time listening to a story about an autistic main character. I know very little about the neuro divergent. This story is an interesting take between choosing the type of self to be.

Totally Recommended!

Lou Arrendale is a high functioning Autistic whose world is turned upside down with the news that there may be a possible cure for his condition. Set in the near future this is a deeply absorbing story that makes for a compulsive listening experience. A deserved Nebula award winning novel that would certainly appeal to fans of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME. If you are not a Sci-Fi aficionado, relax. This is a deeply compassionate journey into the mind of a man trying to find his place in the world. Joins my all time top 10 Audio experiences.

Interesting perspective

I could relate to this book, having a condition that makes me need to think about my behavior being within the norm. Elizabeth Moon did a good job but the end was a little rushed.

Interesting held my attention

This was interesting to May because I have a brain injury and Kurt could relate to a lot of things they were talking about. Not sure how interesting it would be to the general public? I wish More of the book pertained to after the operation. Reader Could use some help with women’s voices.

Just not great

Not bad, but not great. Some of the characters are so inaccurate in today’s workplace, that it made them seem like the disabled ones. Specifically Crenshaw. See like the narrator have a hard time distinguishing different voices.

Brings up some interesting issues for the future

I listened to this for far longer periods than I should have especially toward the end. The author did a wonderful job with helping me to understand what high level autists might be thinking and feeling through a most interesting story.

It was also a fascinating look at issues that may well arise from medical experimentation in the future.

Excellent read

An excellent read though I docked it a half star for an epilogue that seemed tacked on to give the book a "Hollywood" ending and another half star because, despite being set some 40 years into the future, the book felt very dated in many ways.
The story is primarily told from the point of view of Lou Arrendale, a high functioning autistic with a job working as a data analyst at a pharmaceutical company. He has a pretty good life with friends and coworkers that he regularly socializes with and hobbies that he partakes in but he's constantly working within the limitations that his autism places on him. The central dilemma in the story comes when an experimental treatment that could potentially cure his autism becomes available does he want to take it if he won't be the same person who comes out of the treatment at the end?
The story is very well written, the main characters are well developed and mostly believable (view spoiler) though some of the secondary characters seem to be more caricatures (tyrannical boss, unsympathetic doctor, angry ex-girlfriend, biased psychologist, etc) they don't really distract from the story. The plot hangs together well, though it does spin off a few threads that never really get adequately tied up.









Minor nits...

* For a story written in this century and set in the 2050-2060's, it seems very odd that every phone call is placed from a land line.
* The only people who we see who have portable computers/tablets are doctors and police officers, everyone else apparently uses desktops.
* The epilogue felt very much like a wish-fulfillment ending, as if the author didn't want to deal with the difficulties the new Lou would have integrating back into his old life. I thought that was a bit disappointing because after exploring the difficulties of life with autism, I certainly wouldn't think that Lou's life post-autism would be all cupcakes & kittens and that would have been an interesting coda to the story. As it stands I think the story would have been better without the epilogue at all.

Interesting and a bit different

Enjoyed the different perspective and would recommend it. I found the ending a bit anti climactic though.

I had forgotten how amazing this book is!

I first read this book when it was originally published in hardcover. I had not remembered the wonder of the story...and it still gives me goosebumps!

Brilliant

I have Aspergers Syndrome and can relate to Lou to an extent. I really enjoyed it when I first read it about 20 years ago in high school. Reading it again was great, although I no longer have the difficulties Lou has. The issue surrounding the cure is brilliant, engaging, and suspenseful. I highly recommend this book not only for Autistics, but for everyone else as it can help better understand the disability.