The Speed of Dark tells the story of Lou Arrendale, an autistic man living in the near-future. Scientists have developed a treatment that could cure Lou of his autism. What Lou begins to wonder, though, is if he really needs to be cured. This book raises fascinating questions about what it means to be normal, abnormal, gifted and disabled. Moon does a wonderful job of developing Lou's character by showing him in a variety of situations with many different personalities. Some of the supporting characters can feel a little weak, and the shifts in points of view can be a little distracting, but Lou's story of self discovery is so engrossing that these issues don't detract as much as they might have if the main character had been less compelling. I recommend the book! ( )

Lou Arrendale is an autistic man who is content with his life despite the annoyances (like his mandatory visits to his clueless psychiatrist) and the anxiety that his autism brings. Lou is a genius at his job where he works at a pharmaceutical company, he fences--very skillfully--with a group of friends who he cares for deeply, and he is romantically interested in a particular woman. This routine is interrupted when his company begins to attempt to force Lou and his fellow autistic workers to try the highly experimental 'cure' for autism. Lou must decide if this 'cure' is something he truly wants, consider if it will change the very nature of what makes him Lou, and combat a want to be 'normal' with a life he thought he was happy with.

Lou's story takes place in an unspecified "near future". The story can be considered as a very, very light science fiction. In Speed of Dark the major advancements of this near-future are in the medical field. Disease and 'defects' are eliminated either before birth or during early child hood. Due to his age, Lou missed out on these medical benefits. Regardless, Lou is utterly real and beautiful as a person. Moon's prose reinforces all of Lou's thoughts, obsessions, worries, and other details of life. Every second of the book is a second inside of Lou's very real character. Moon created Lou so that he's utterly believable and sympathetic. I was rooting for him the entire book, worrying along with him and wanting to actually be there with him. That alone is a fantastic feat for an author.

Then Moon throws in an absolutely worthwhile and well-done moral dilemma. Society has a firm, ignorant view about people who are autistic. Why wouldn't an autistic person want to be normal? Therefore, when Lou is being coerced into trying the 'cure', most do not understand his hesitance. Their blithe reassurances do not calm Lou, because it is his decision and he needs to gather all knowledge and think things through before making it. Lou is often told what he should want--by his employers and by his psychiatrist and by others who think they know better--but Lou has to figure out what exactly he wants. Lou's not unhappy with his life, even when the actions of others tell him he's not 'normal'. In fact, Lou's doing pretty well for himself and I loved to see that strength.

In fact, I have no problem with the novel at all until the end. I won't say anything specific and spoil it for any potential readers, but I definitely felt that the ending was emotionally cheating. The ending didn't address properly Lou's main concerns through the novel or the major theme of the novel well at all. I felt cheated; I felt like Lou had been cheated. However, I've heard arguments both ways, though, as to the reception of the ending with readers, so it may very well be that I'm in the minority here. That wouldn't be too unusual.

So many things about THE SPEED OF DARK were so right. Lou was perfect down to the last detail. The book is insightful, interesting, and heartbreaking in many ways--absolutely graceful and beautiful. The only issue I have with THE SPEED OF DARK is the ending, which actually makes me quite angry. Even still, I think this is a book that should be read.

AS A NOTE: It's really difficult to rate a book that's near perfection until the last chapter or two. I'm giving it 5 stars, but only because of how well the text before the end stands on its own. ( )

A very good book about a man with autism. Based on the author's personal experience, this is about a slightly future world where most autism has been cured after birth, leaving only older cases. Lou and his friends work and live among us 'normals' and struggle to understand how they fit in, especially when radical cure is offered. I found this hard to put down. ( )

Sept09:

Characters: Lou was just an endearing character through and through. I would consider reading the book again just for him.
Plot: Well, there really wasn't *that* much plot. It was more about self discovery. There were some fun twists and turns though.
Style: That's what this book was all about. How would the world appear to a functioning autistic? What if there was a cure, should you seize it? What about love? ( )

Really fascinating book - I loved it! Lou was a really likable character, and the plot and thought-writing and what-ifs of the near future were intriguing. Story stays with me for a long time afterwards. ( )