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kcrouth's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. It is fiction, set in the near future, when an experimental cure for Autism is found. The book is mainly from the point of view of an independent young adult with Autism. I especially enjoyed his viewpoints and following along in his thought processes as he experiences his life. I also enjoyed his "commentary" on how he perceived so-called "normal" people and his experiences with them, and his personal deliberation as to whether it is better to become normal, or to remain himself with Autism. The question of how much of himself is a result of having Autism and experiencing the world from that perspective is presented, and the risk of losing that part of himself if he decides to pursue treatment and cure. The ending is not what i expected or hoped for, but as it is, leaves me asking even more questions, about why it ended the way it did. This is a great book for contemplation and discussion, which further expands my perspective on the lives of folks with "disabilities", specifically Autism. I recommend this story!
cassmdurell's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
In general I liked a lot about this book. But the way autistic people were portrayed was not always the best. And I found it especially upsetting that the main character was so brilliant and complex and still opted to have his brain broken down into an infant for the chance to be “normal”. And then he could only fulfill his dreams once he wasn’t autistic. The messaging there is exceptionally screwed up.
grayjay's review against another edition
5.0
Speed of Dark is a complex and layered character novel about a man with Autism names Lou. Much of the novel is first person and builds up a highly sympathetic sketch of this underrepresented character.
Lou works for a tech company in an entire unit made up of workers with Autism who were hired for their specialized pattern recognition abilities. He is also a recreational fencer and is in love with a member of his fencing club.
When the company acquired a medical company researching a treatment for adult Autism, it unethically pressures its staff to become test subjects in the experimental treatment, and Lou and his co-workers have to decide between taking the treatment and risking their livelihoods.
I enjoyed the in-depth character study.
Lou works for a tech company in an entire unit made up of workers with Autism who were hired for their specialized pattern recognition abilities. He is also a recreational fencer and is in love with a member of his fencing club.
When the company acquired a medical company researching a treatment for adult Autism, it unethically pressures its staff to become test subjects in the experimental treatment, and Lou and his co-workers have to decide between taking the treatment and risking their livelihoods.
I enjoyed the in-depth character study.
this_fishy_reads's review against another edition
4.0
In showing a normal life of someone with autism, Elizabeth Moon forces us to examine just what we mean when we say anything in life is "normal." The smattering of science fiction in the novel doesn't make this question possible, but it certainly makes it easier. And I can't decide if that's a weakness or a strength.
debs4jc's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I could find more books just like this one! Through the eyes of the main character, Lou, the reader explores a futuristic world with timeless conflicts. Lou was born with autism, and while advanced therapies have helped him adapt to the "normal" world he still wonders what
thestoryowl's review against another edition
3.0
What a fascinating plot! I liked the technical parts, they made me feel smart for understanding them instead of frustrated because they were too far over my head. Still, I felt so sad at the end, even though I knew I should be happy.
joellenroberts's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tani's review against another edition
4.0
Lou was born at an awkward time. If he'd been born a bit later, his autism would have been detected and cured in utero. If he'd been born earlier or less privileged, he might not have received the early interventions that allowed him to become a functioning member of society. As it is, he has a good job, hobbies, a satisfying life, and even a woman that he might like to date. However, when a potential cure becomes available, he's faced with the toughest decision of his life.
This is a book that I've basically been meaning to read since it came out, so I'm so glad that I finally got to read it! Seriously, I'd been dragging this book around for ages. So, thanks to my book club for finally giving me that push I needed! Now, onward to my slightly muddled review.
This is a weird one to talk about. It's kind of slow for a lot of it. Although we know the initial hook, it takes a while for the book to even get there, which can be annoying. I am pretty okay with a slow start, but this one was a bit too slow, even for me, especially with the length of the book being quite moderate. By the time we got to the actual quandary of the cure, I imagine most people would be feeling pretty impatient. I didn't mind too much, personally, but I can see how it would be frustrating for other people, for sure.
I did like the care that went into crafting Lou and his life. I admired the way that he had taken his limits and worked within them in order to create a life that was fulfilling for him. However, that also made the discrimination that he faces even more of a stark contrast. He often talks about not disclosing certain aspects of his life, in particular his fencing, because he feels that it will get him in trouble. I do feel like that's a bit dated - I can say that just based on my knowledge of working with the developmentally disabled population. We've clearly come a long way toward a more people-centered approach than was common when this was written, so if you're someone who has worked with this population, you might feel a bit of cognitive dissonance reading this.
I think the biggest thing that is sticking with me in terms of this book is definitely the ending. I really felt like the book was building toward something specific, with all of the crafting decisions that were made, and then the ending completely overturned that, and not in a way I very much appreciated. It just didn't really fit with what had come before, and I do think that it was problematic in that I think that the ending would have been more powerful if that hadn't been the case. I do think that the ending is kind of a love song by Moon, and I felt like it was very sweet in that aspect, but just not quite satisfying in terms of the story that came before.
Anyway, all that makes it seem like I didn't like this. I did. I liked the careful attention to Lou's character, as well as his interactions with the people around him. I liked the way that it made me think about the issues presented. I just wish the ending had worked better for me.
This is a book that I've basically been meaning to read since it came out, so I'm so glad that I finally got to read it! Seriously, I'd been dragging this book around for ages. So, thanks to my book club for finally giving me that push I needed! Now, onward to my slightly muddled review.
This is a weird one to talk about. It's kind of slow for a lot of it. Although we know the initial hook, it takes a while for the book to even get there, which can be annoying. I am pretty okay with a slow start, but this one was a bit too slow, even for me, especially with the length of the book being quite moderate. By the time we got to the actual quandary of the cure, I imagine most people would be feeling pretty impatient. I didn't mind too much, personally, but I can see how it would be frustrating for other people, for sure.
I did like the care that went into crafting Lou and his life. I admired the way that he had taken his limits and worked within them in order to create a life that was fulfilling for him. However, that also made the discrimination that he faces even more of a stark contrast. He often talks about not disclosing certain aspects of his life, in particular his fencing, because he feels that it will get him in trouble. I do feel like that's a bit dated - I can say that just based on my knowledge of working with the developmentally disabled population. We've clearly come a long way toward a more people-centered approach than was common when this was written, so if you're someone who has worked with this population, you might feel a bit of cognitive dissonance reading this.
I think the biggest thing that is sticking with me in terms of this book is definitely the ending. I really felt like the book was building toward something specific, with all of the crafting decisions that were made, and then the ending completely overturned that, and not in a way I very much appreciated. It just didn't really fit with what had come before, and I do think that it was problematic in that
Spoiler
everyone seemed set to make the same decision, with very little variation, even those who insisted that they liked themselves the way that they were.Anyway, all that makes it seem like I didn't like this. I did. I liked the careful attention to Lou's character, as well as his interactions with the people around him. I liked the way that it made me think about the issues presented. I just wish the ending had worked better for me.
hank's review against another edition
3.0
Tough to find much science fiction in here but the little there was, was well used. I found the autism device an interesting take on what is normal, what makes us, us and how society treats outsiders. Moon did a fantastic job of getting me attached to Lou as an autistic. It sounds like she has personal insight into the autistic brain and it shows.
Much of the book however was drowing a bit in the mind of the autistic, I was interested in some of it but it got old and repetative after a while. The ending, while sad was not, fulfilling and it seemed like it was done in a rush.
Much of the book however was drowing a bit in the mind of the autistic, I was interested in some of it but it got old and repetative after a while. The ending, while sad was not, fulfilling and it seemed like it was done in a rush.
suzemo's review against another edition
4.0
This book nearly got three stars because of the ending.
Lou Arrendale is an autistic near genius (definitely autistic, and the genius is implied) who works at a pharma company in their bioinformatics department. He and several other autistics are employed by the company and are given accommodations so that they can work comfortably and efficiently. Their section (Section A) has proven efficient and profitable for the company.
A new man, higher up (under the new CEO) is resentful of their accommodations, seeing their "privileges" as a waste of monetary resources and when the company somehow secures the rights to a new experimental process that has helped an "autistic" ape, seeks to (illegally) force the section into experimentation.
I thought it was interesting, especially looking at the world in a different light (through Lou's eyes), and I really enjoyed the book. It's very much a character driven book, and even the few plot points in the book are still used to focus on the character development.
Through most of the book, I was preparing myself to be annoyed with the only ending I thought Moon could give, which is one where we are either unsure if Lou is going to elect to undergo the experiment, or he does undergo the experiment, but we're left hanging on whether or not it worked (and was worth it). Unfortunately, we did get an ending, and it was entirely to twee for me, and I wish I had stopped just short.
Lou Arrendale is an autistic near genius (definitely autistic, and the genius is implied) who works at a pharma company in their bioinformatics department. He and several other autistics are employed by the company and are given accommodations so that they can work comfortably and efficiently. Their section (Section A) has proven efficient and profitable for the company.
A new man, higher up (under the new CEO) is resentful of their accommodations, seeing their "privileges" as a waste of monetary resources and when the company somehow secures the rights to a new experimental process that has helped an "autistic" ape, seeks to (illegally) force the section into experimentation.
I thought it was interesting, especially looking at the world in a different light (through Lou's eyes), and I really enjoyed the book. It's very much a character driven book, and even the few plot points in the book are still used to focus on the character development.
Spoiler
Through most of the book, I was preparing myself to be annoyed with the only ending I thought Moon could give, which is one where we are either unsure if Lou is going to elect to undergo the experiment, or he does undergo the experiment, but we're left hanging on whether or not it worked (and was worth it). Unfortunately, we did get an ending, and it was entirely to twee for me, and I wish I had stopped just short.