Dark Universe

By: Daniel F. Galouye

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer, Richard Dawkins (Introduction)

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Richard Dawkins Recommends this science-fiction classic in which a race of survivors lives underground, as far from the Original World as possible and protected from the ultimate evil, Radiation. Then terrible monsters, who bring with them a screaming silence, are seen and people start to disappear. One young man realizes he must put everything he knows behind him, and question the nature of Darkness itself.

BONUS AUDIO: In an exclusive introduction, evolutionary biologist and best-selling author Richard Dawkins explains why, "of all the novels I have ever read, this is, perhaps, the one that I find myself describing to others more often than any other".

©2000 Gollancz (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

good sci fi

this was a good sci fi story. I like the performance and will look for more books read by him.

Interesting and plausible

Although written in the 60s this book has a plausible branch of truth to it. The book was not the usual dribble of easily guessable plot twists and held my attention for the most part. I rate it 4 for the content and a 3 for ease of reading (I was bored on occasion).

Literal & spiritual examination of darkness

Not only is this a very well imagined world where nobody can see - it is a world where humans have lost any understanding of sight; even the verb "to see" is lost to language.

While the premise might be a bit on the edge of believability (how many generations, really, would it take for humans to forget they ever could see?), the author is very consistent - there are no "slip ups" in referencing any aspect of sight.

The book has a philosophical look at light versus darkness (in both a literal sense and in a spiritual one) and this is also quite well-done: it doesn't feel at all patronizing or moralizing.

The story is perhaps a bit "dry" and involves a lot of rushing around, and the interpersonal relationships seem a bit contrived, but is very interesting in the different perspective it provides, more than for its storyline.

The narration is very good. (I skipped the ~7 minute introduction by Dawkins, however, because it was rather boring and not very well spoken.)

Enjoyable Classic Science Fiction

Good story and narration for a classic science fiction tale with some interesting concepts.

NOTE: Audible has not matched the book's chapters with the audible chapters which is a bit weird.

Very good idea, very interesting story

What does Eric Michael Summerer and Richard Dawkins (Introduction) bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Beware that the introduction from Richard Dawkins contains spoiler. I recommend to skip the introduction and go to the book. And then listen to the introduction after listening to the whole book. This introduction would better be a post-script.

Any additional comments?

I understand that people sometimes behave extremely unpredictably and illogically, but in my opinion the main character's behavior later in the book is quite exaggerated. However it is very difficult to predict what fears and psychological roadblock may prevail in person's had in such extreme situation. Otherwise the story is excellent.

60's era nuclear post-apocalyptic

Daniel F Galouye's Dark Universe is a post-apocalyptic tale where humanity lives underground in the dark and has developed echolocation as a means survival. While their origin is left vague (until the end), references to the demons of cobalt and strontium suggest a nuclear armageddon. In addition to these groups, a splinter sect has also evolved the ability to see infrared. Society is heavily religious with references to 'seeing' and 'light' aligned with a hereafter paradise. The introduction of outside creatures capturing people eventually results in resolution and closure.

Galouye was certainly channeling the terror of all out nuclear war and underground complexes as the only defense. At the same time, he demonstrates societal deprecation into religious explanations when science and technology fail. Whether or not adaptations for hearing and infrared vision could have developed over the course of a couple of generations is questionable. Given its publication date, it begs the question whether this tale suggested the concept for Marvel's superhero Daredevil.

The narration is well done with good character distinction and pacing.

Gimmicky, weak characters, weak sense of place

I wouldn't have even finished this book if it weren't for Richard Dawkins' recommendation. It's from 1961 and reads like one of those pulp sci-fi novels of that era where the writer thinks up a good gimmick (in this case, a world without light) and then inhabits it with cardboard characters, slight sense of place and regular action that has no tension. Gimmicky, that's the word that comes to mind - with silly uses of language that hammer us over the head - people curse with the word "Radiation!" and whenever one of us might shout "Oh God!", the characters instead say "Oh Light!" There are so many interesting things that could've been done with the mechanics of a world without light but the author doesn't even explain how they get their vitamin D and what the livestock live on. No one ever goes to the bathroom in the entire book -- yet they live in enclosed caves where the stench from open pit latrines would be overwhelming. Even the novel's, last sentence is weak. The concept that so intrigued Dawkins is not fleshed out and could've been better told in a short story. The previous reviewer said he was bored at times but gave it four stars. I was bored most of the time, except at the end when (not a spoiler) there's discussion of how people adjust to encountering light. One star.