The Speed of Dark

No cover

Elizabeth Moon: The Speed of Dark (2002, Orbit Books)

English language

Published Nov. 16, 2002 by Orbit Books.

OCLC Number:
313426
Goodreads:
540488

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4 stars (23 reviews)

Speed of Dark (released in some markets as The Speed of Dark) is a near-future science fiction novel by American author Elizabeth Moon. The story is told from the first person viewpoint of a person with autism. It won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2003, and was also an Arthur C. Clarke Award finalist.

5 editions

Review of 'The Speed of Dark' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

The story of a man with autism and his difficult decision to undergo an experimental cure.
Although science fiction in the sense of being set in future and the cure needing science, that is not the centre of the book.
The central character is in a different place on the spectrum than anyone I know but Moon's son has autism and the character feels real. It is told mostly in first person from his perspective. Even if inaccurate, I found myself thinking from this perspective for at least a few minutes after each reading session.

Review of 'The speed of dark' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

It doesn't happen often that I give a book 5 stars. To be really fair, this book warrants 4.5, not 5, but because of GR's system, I will round it up to 5.

If you want to know what it means to have autism, read this book.

Moon has some experience with autism, through her son. It shows in this book. As an autistic (Asperger Syndrome, high functioning) woman myself, I found the main character Lou Arrendale, very relatable. His story is told through first person perspective, and his way of thinking and the impact of the world on his person, his well-being is very accurate for, I think, most autistic persons.
Autism in women is somewhat different from autism in men, but the core principles remain the same, and Moon managed to write a very true-ringing high functioning autistic person.

Aside from the wonderful viewpoint, it is a great …

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