The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

It took me a while to realize this was a science fiction novel. Largely because it’s not one of those SciFi novels where the Sci drives the Fi, but rather the reverse.

Told mostly from the POV of an autistic person (as was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time), I was once again struck with the feeling of being autistic after reading it. The pattern and the rhythm of the words sink into my brain, and I have to fight off talking or thinking similarly. I can’t help but think I’m a few bad neurons away. Of course, that’s part of the theme of the book, so perhaps mission accomplished on Elizabeth Moon’s part.

There are four classifications of (fictional) books for me.

1) Books I actively search out time to continue reading because I feel a certain amount of psychic pain at being separated from the storyline¹.
2) Books I read when time is available and enjoy, but don’t go out of my way to make the time.
3) Books I want to have read, but don’t necessarily look forward to reading.
4) Sucky books. May they die, die, die!

This book fell comfortably into category 1, though I thought the antagonists were a bit cartoonish at times.

I wonder if it is easier to write a book with an autistic narrator, since you don’t have to avoid stilted language. Perhaps, though, it is more difficult to make stilted language readable.

Regardless, I’m definitely off to buy some underwear at KMart. Definitely.

Next on the Reading list: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

¹ Note that this is not necessarily a sign of superior quality; I experienced psychic pain from having to leave in the middle of watching School of Rock.