The Speed Of Dark
"Not knowing expands faster than knowing. So the speed of dark could be greater than the speed of light. If there always has to be dark around the light, then it has to go out ahead of it."
The speed of light is fast, possibly the fastest thing known to physics. But when the light arrives somewhere, the dark is already there waiting. So, logically, the dark must have got there first. So dark must travel faster than light.
This analogy for knowledge and ignorance is just part of the intricate plot that Elizabeth Moon has woven into her book, "The Speed Of Dark", published 2002 in the UK by Orbit.
The central character, Lou, is autistic. We are given a profound insight into the way he sees the world, the way he is different from "normal" people. Lou has a job doing pattern analysis for a pharmacutical company. He is really good at recognising patterns and seeing details that "normal" people can't see. And yet he is unable to understand "normal" idioms and the way people use metaphore in every day language. He has difficulty recognising facial expressions and interpreting nuances of behavior.
And now, someone has invented a possible cure for autism in adults, and his employer has bought the rights to the research. And they want Lou to take the treatment as one of a number of human guinea pigs.
Ms Moon handles the whole subject sensitively, and in a way that made me wonder who was the more "normal"! As usual, a rich cast of characters bring the story alive. The narrative switches between Lou telling his own story in the 1st person, to the 3rd person narrative of the other characters points of view. (Actually, there is one small paragraph in the book where the author forgets which tense she is using and gets it wrong!)
A very enjoyable read, filled with drama, tension, and more than a touch of pathos. I, for one, will never think of autism in the same way again.
The speed of light is fast, possibly the fastest thing known to physics. But when the light arrives somewhere, the dark is already there waiting. So, logically, the dark must have got there first. So dark must travel faster than light.
This analogy for knowledge and ignorance is just part of the intricate plot that Elizabeth Moon has woven into her book, "The Speed Of Dark", published 2002 in the UK by Orbit.
The central character, Lou, is autistic. We are given a profound insight into the way he sees the world, the way he is different from "normal" people. Lou has a job doing pattern analysis for a pharmacutical company. He is really good at recognising patterns and seeing details that "normal" people can't see. And yet he is unable to understand "normal" idioms and the way people use metaphore in every day language. He has difficulty recognising facial expressions and interpreting nuances of behavior.
And now, someone has invented a possible cure for autism in adults, and his employer has bought the rights to the research. And they want Lou to take the treatment as one of a number of human guinea pigs.
Ms Moon handles the whole subject sensitively, and in a way that made me wonder who was the more "normal"! As usual, a rich cast of characters bring the story alive. The narrative switches between Lou telling his own story in the 1st person, to the 3rd person narrative of the other characters points of view. (Actually, there is one small paragraph in the book where the author forgets which tense she is using and gets it wrong!)
A very enjoyable read, filled with drama, tension, and more than a touch of pathos. I, for one, will never think of autism in the same way again.