The Speed of Dark

by Elizabeth Moon

This novel won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2004. I acquired it at the Texas Book Festival in Austin in October of 2003, and Ms. Moon was kind enough to sign it for me. Then it sat - for months- since I assumed it was more of her space opera, which is good, but (ahem) there is better out there.

Boy, was that a mistake. I have read it now, and while it barely qualifies as science fiction, it is a great read and an even better look at humanity. You can just tell that this one came from close to where Ms. Moon lives. The protagonist is autistic, although very high-functioning thanks to the miracles of modern medicine. As fate would have it, Ms. Moon's son is autistic. This story really takes a look at isolation, prejudice, the limits of the human spirit, and at the end...hope. Like I said, its a great read.