# The Speed of Dark - Paperback

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by **Elizabeth Moon** (Author)

**Thoughtful, provocative, poignant, unforgettable, _The Speed of Dark_ is a gripping journey into the mind of an autistic person as he struggles with profound questions of humanity and matters of the heart.  
**  
In the near future, disease will be a condition of the past. Most genetic defects will be removed at birth; the remaining during infancy. Lou Arrendale, a high-functioning autistic adult, is a member of the lost generation, born at the wrong time to reap the rewards of medical science. He lives a low-key, independent life. But then he is offered a chance to try a brand-new experimental "cure" for his condition. With this treatment Lou would think and act and _be_ just like everyone else. But if he was suddenly free of autism, would he still be himself? Would he still love the same classical music--with its complications and resolutions? Would he still see the same colors and patterns in the world--shades and hues that others cannot see? Most important, would he still love Marjory, a woman who may never be able to reciprocate his feelings? Now Lou must decide if he should submit to a surgery that might completely change the way he views the world . . . and the very essence of who he is.

**Tenth anniversary edition - With a new Introduction by the author**

**Praise for _The Speed of Dark_**

"Splendid and graceful . . . A lot of novels promise to change the way a reader sees the world; _The Speed of Dark_ actually does."--_The Washington Post Book World_

"\[A\] beautiful and moving story . . . \[Elizabeth\] Moon is the mother of an autistic teenager and her love is apparent in the story of Lou. He makes a deep and lasting impact on the reader while showing a different way of looking at the world."--_The Denver Post_

"Every once in a while, you come across a book that is both an important literary achievement and a completely and utterly absorbing reading experience--a book with provocative ideas and an equally compelling story. Such a book is _The Speed of Dark_."--Fort Lauderdale _Sun-Sentinel_

"A remarkable journey \[that\] takes us into the mind of an autistic with a terrible choice: become normal or remain an alien on his own planet."--Mary Doria Russell, author of _The Sparrow_

"A powerful portrait . . . an engaging journey into the dark edges that define the self."--_The Seattle Times_

### Front Jacket

Thoughtful, poignant, and unforgettable, "The Speed of Dark is a gripping exploration into the world of Lou Arrendale, an autistic man who is offered a chance to try a brand-new experimental "cure" for his condition. Now Lou must decide if he should submit to a surgery that might completely change the way he views the world . . . and the very essence of who he is.

### Author Biography

**Elizabeth Moon** grew up on the Texas border, served three years of active duty in the USMC (1968-71), and now lives with her husband, also a veteran, near Austin, Texas. She has published more than twenty-five novels, including Nebula Award winner _The Speed of Dark,_ Hugo finalist _Remnant Population,_ and the enduring epic fantasy series The Chronicles of Paksenarrion. She has published more than fifty short-fiction pieces in anthologies and magazines and in four of her own short-fiction collections, most recently _Moon Flights_ and _Deeds of Honor_. When not writing, Moon enjoys photographing native plants and wildlife, knitting socks, and cooking.

**Number of Pages:** 384

**Dimensions:** 0.9 x 8.2 x 5.5 IN

**Publication Date:** March 02, 2004

**Accelerated Reader:**

**Quiz Name:** Speed of Dark

**Interest Level:** Upper Grades, 9-12

**Reading Level:** 5.1

**Point Value:** 19

## Details

- **Price:** 28.0 GBP
- **Vendor:** BooksCloud
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books, Fiction, Hard Science Fiction, Literary, Price Written on Book, Science Fiction, Technological, Thrillers

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 28.00 GBP | In stock |

## Images

- The Speed of Dark

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> Updated: 2026-08-22