Moon, Elizabeth: The Speed of Dark
The Speed of Dark
Writer: Elizabeth Moon
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 240
Between my crit partners digitalclone and tcastleb, it was hard not to hear about this book. It tickled my curiosity since it's soft SF, and when I heard Betsy Mitchell sing its praises at the SHU June 2006 residency, I decided to put this book on "the list." And when michaelmay gave it to me for my birthday, I decided it'd be a great addition to my required reading list this term. After all, at times I think my own novel is soft SF, and since this book is recent and soft SF, it'd be a good read at this stage in the game.
Turns out, my own novel has more in common with this than I thought, in a good way. I'm very glad I finally sat down to read it.
Autism has fascinated me ever since I first "learned" of the disease while reading my Baby-Sitter's Club books WAY back in the day. One particular title focused on a baby-sitter's struggles to deal with an autistic girl, who had a genius at the piano. This title, I remember, broke my heart, and triggered an avid interest in autism that I never really followed up on, but was always eager to hear about if the topic ever came up.
The main character of this book, Lou, is autistic. In this near-future, certain procedures are available to help adult autists lead "normal" lives, and where infants can be cured of the disease. Told mostly in the first person (present tense, yayness!), we get inside the mind of an autist, learn his obsessions and his lifestyle, see society through his eyes. Despite the somewhat choppiness of his narrative (which is intentional on the author's part, no doubt), it doesn't take long to relate to Lou. His observations of society and human behavior are keen, and right on the money. His choices and passions make him a sympathetic character, and the events of the story trigger a change in him that is as gradual as it is profound. Never once do I question what he's going through, and I'm amazed at how realistic his change is. His love for Marjory, his devotion to his friends, his need to do the right thing and "be normal" and not cause trouble. His true genius with patterns, and his ability to learn: fascinating. All of this sets up for the major climax of the book, wherein Lou must decide whether or not to undergo an experimental procedure that will eliminate his autism and make him "normal."
It's hard not to draw parallels to Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon, which makes for great tension, because that book was so damn heartbreaking. I prepared myself for a similar story here, but this is where Moon works the comparisons to her advantage. As already mentioned, Lou gradually changes, grows into himself and his potential, so that the procedure becomes the climax of the book, and not the inciting incident, as in Flowers for Algernon. The biggest danger, for Lou, becomes the merging of two selves: will he lose his past, his memories, his uniqueness, if he eliminates the very thing that made him into who he is? Who will he become, if the procedure works at all?
So much leads up to this. Moon paints a realistic near-future, with just enough furturized gadgets (for my personal tastes) to remind us this isn't our current reality, she shows how human nature manages to stay the same. The book is populated with good Samaritans, lost causes, and domineering corporate bosses. I'm particularly fond on Moon's treatment of Mr. Crenshaw, the corporation's resident ass-hole manager, because his character and motivations are so damn realistic. Anyone who doesn't think so clearly hasn't worked with men like Crenshaw, or with companies' whose only goal is to make as much money as they can on a minimal workforce, companies who'll do whatever it takes to maximize their profits.
And then there's the subtle way Moon incorporates religion, and how it effects Lou. Amazingly done, without being preachy. And I have to admire the way Moon is allowed to "info-dump," because her protagonist is a man who NEEDS to think things through, who others feel the NEED to explain how things work, because Lou may not understand. Well done in this regard. Too bad all writers can't borrow that nifty little trick.
But it was the perceived disability (and how society treats these people) and the experiment that really made me draw parallels to my own work-in-progress. Some excellent stuff to consider from a social standpoint, as well as an ethical one. Great food for thought as I write and later, revise.
The end is bittersweet. It's both a good and sad ending, but mostly good. Hopeful, where Flowers for Algernon was heartbreaking.
This is a title I can easily recommend. If you enjoy soft SF, this is a must read. If you enjoy well-crafted "other/alien" points of view, this is a must read. If you're looking for SF that isn't too heavy and written with a literary hand, this is a must read. Love well-developed characters? Yep, this is a must read. I'm quite glad to own this novel, and I look forward to reading more of Elizabeth Moon's work, even though I know this title is a departure from her usual fare.
One other note, the particular copy I read (which I linked to at the beginning of this entry), has a great interview with Elizabeth Moon, where she talks about this novel, her inspirations, and being a parent to an autist. Make no mistake, this woman writes from experience, and from her heart.
Next up: Best New Paranormal Romance, edited by Paula Guran