The Speed Of Dark – Elizabeth Moon

Description

The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon is a quietly powerful, thought-provoking novel set in a near-future society where most genetic conditions are eliminated at birth. Yet one generation remains — adults born before these breakthroughs. Lou Arrendale is one of them: a high-functioning autistic man leading a careful, ordered life with a job, fencing club, and close-knit community of fellow autistic adults.

When a controversial new treatment promises to “cure” autism in adults, Lou faces a dilemma that cuts to the core of identity: if autism is a fundamental part of who he is, what would remain if it were taken away? Would he still perceive the world in patterns, love classical music’s intricate harmonies, or feel the same way about the woman he quietly admires? Or would he become a stranger to himself in pursuit of a socially convenient normality?

Winner of the Nebula Award, The Speed of Dark is an intimate, beautifully written exploration of neurodiversity, humanity, and personal choice. Elizabeth Moon, whose own son is autistic, brings authenticity and deep empathy to Lou’s voice, offering readers a rare glimpse into the mind of a character navigating both external prejudice and his own profound existential questions.

This is a quietly stunning novel for anyone drawn to introspective, character-driven fiction that tackles identity, difference, and the meaning of being human.